Program Advantages

Unique Pathology, High Volume, ALL Local

Summa’s Orthopaedic Surgery residency is a fully accredited five-year program offering four positions per year. Our program provides a unique experience where we learn and operate with an academic faculty team coupled with a large private practice group. We have dedicated rotations for all specialties (including Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery & Orthopedic Oncology) within the city of Akron, OH. Our operative experiences range from a tertiary care level I trauma center, a nationally recognized children's hospital, a high volume orthopedic inpatient hospital, and a high volume orthopedic outpatient surgery center.  

Dedicated Orthopaedic Facilities 

In addition to working with the Summa Health Medical Group Orthopaedic Surgeons, we also work closely with the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center, a large private practice group.  On November 1, 2021, Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center opened a new inpatient hospital, one of the only hospitals in the world dedicated exclusively to orthopaedic and plastic/reconstructive care. This is an uniquely supportive teaching environments with a high volume of surgical caseload. The entire staff specializes in orthopaedics, from administrators to physicians and nurses.

New Orthopedic Surgery Residency Department - Summa Health System-Akron Campus

The Summa Health Orthopedic Surgery Residency Department is committed to providing the resources necessary to deliver quality healthcare that is responsive 
to the orthopedic needs of our community. 
In an effort to continue fostering creative ideas and outcomes, the Summa Health Orthopedic Surgery Residency Department has relocated to Akron City Hospital in a brand new department. The new state-of-the-art environment features a variety of benefits for our orthopedic residents and faculty, including personal workspaces with computers and storage, a dedicated chief resident office, and a lecture hall with innovative 4k projection. All of which will be conveniently located near our operating rooms, call rooms and cafeteria. Click HERE to view a short video highlighting the new space. 

Committed Teaching Staff

Many of our faculty members came through Summa's Orthopedic Residency themselves and feel a deep loyalty to the program. They consider themselves to be peers and colleagues to our residents, providing individualized teaching with a uniquely personal dedication to their success.

Team Physician 

Gain hands-on experience in the growing field of sports medicine as you have the opportunity to serve the University of Akron and Kent State University sports teams. Specifically, PGY3 residents are responsible for covering all the University of Akron home football games.

University of Akron Football
Kent State University Football

Research Excellence

Summa places a high value on research, with dedicated time set aside in the PGY 3 year. Choose from basic science and clinical research projects. While several attending orthopedists have ongoing projects, residents are encouraged to develop and explore their own areas of interest under the mentorship and guidance of an attending physician and our dedicated Research Director and Committee. Resident research is routinely presented at regional and national meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals.

While the majority of resident research is presented at regional and national meetings, local opportunities for research meetings do exist. Summa hosts an annual Postgraduate Research Day and Summa Orthopedic Surgery and Akron General Orthopedics host an annual Akron Research Day.

Education Resource Support 

• Yearly stipend for educational materials
• Yearly subscription to OrthoBullets PASS system
• Yearly conference attendance including lodging, travel, food & conference fee.
• PGY1: AO Trauma Course
• PGY2: Arthroplasty Course
• PGY3: Arthroscopy Course
• PGY4: Conference of choice (typically in field of fellowship)
• PGY5: AAOS Academy Meeting & Miller's Review Course
• Travel expenses coverage for research meetings in which residents are presenting
• Full online access to AAOS textbooks