Orthopedic Surgery Residency Admissions and Benefits

Applications will be processed only through the Electronic Residency Application Service from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Graduates from United States medical schools should contact the student affairs office at their medical schools to apply through the ERAS program.

International graduates should contact the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates for distribution and process of SWS kits for students and graduates of foreign medical schools. Baylor College of Medicine requires international medical graduates to meet the requirements for a Physician in Training permit (as outlined by the Texas Medical Board), and the documents necessary for a J-1 Visa.

By Nov. 1, all application materials must be received in the Academic Office of The Joseph Barnhart Department of Orthopedic Surgery.

Requirements for the orthopedic residency applications through ERAS include:

• ERAS application with a recent photograph
• Current curriculum vitae
• Personal statement
• Dean's letter and transcript
• USMLE Board scores
• Three letters of recommendation from faculty members
• All application materials must be received by Nov. 1

By Nov. 1, the Residency Selection Committee will only review complete ERAS application files. Once the applicant's file is complete, the selection committee reviews it. If the committee feels the applicant is competitive for our program, the applicant will be invited for a formal interview.  As of the 2025-2026 academic year, all interviews will be in person with the exception of home and rotating medical students who will interview virtually.

At the interview session, the program director and coordinators will greet the candidates prior to the interview process. Each applicant will interview with the program chair, program director, associate and assistant program directors, selected faculty members, and chief residents. Interview locations will be sent out prior to the interview. Breakfast and Lunch will be provided.

For any additional questions regarding the residency-training program, please contact the department’s Academic Offices at 713-986-7390 or email.

Interview dates: 

Friday, Dec. 19, 2025 – Interview Day #1
Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 – Interview Day #2
Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 – Virtual Interviews for Home and Away Students

Fourth-year medical students from across the country are invited to join us at the Joseph Barnhart Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. Each medical student will rotate at Ben Taub Hospital for two weeks and spend the other two weeks either at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center or Texas Children’s Hospital. All visiting rotations will be in person and onsite. The department does not offer virtual medical student clerkships.

As part of the rotation, students will attend all resident conferences and spend time in both operating rooms and clinic spaces. Students will also assist the second-year residents on overnight weekday call and 24 hour weekend call shifts at our Level 1 Trauma Center, Ben Taub. 

Visiting student clerkships are offered from July – November each academic year. The department accepts six students for each block. The number of away rotation positions offered each July will vary depending on the number of home students.

Students can apply for an away rotation through the VLSO portal starting the beginning of January. Applications and reviewed and ranked. If you are offered an away rotation, you will receive an invite from our educational administrative staff through VLSO. 

Rotating students will meet as a group with Dr. Christoper Perkins near the end of their rotation and will each meet with residency leadership including Dr. Nicole Montgomery and  Dr. Melvyn Harrington individually. If you are invited back for an interview, the interview will be conducted virtually.

Requirements:
Applicants must be a 4th year medical student in good academic standing with their institution at the time the application is submitted. An up-to-date CV is required. There are no minimum Step 2 scores. Additional requirements may be sent to each applicant through the registrar’s office. 

View stipends and benefit information on the Baylor College of Medicine’s graduate medical education website. Stipend levels are at the national average, but Houston's cost of living ranks among the lowest of metropolitan areas in the United States.

Maintaining your physical and emotional wellness is a prerequisite to professional success. Our residents have access to a number of programs to support their well-being. View wellness resources.

Information about vacation and leave of absences is available on the graduate medical education website.

This program has a number of educational honors awarded and recognized at the annual commencement ceremony, all of which include monetary awards:

Bronze Hammer Award

The Bronze Hammer Award is funded through the generosity of Joseph Barnhart, M.D., and is awarded to a fourth-year resident. However, it is not necessarily given each year. The receiver of this award is an honest individual with respect for people, gentle in manner, selfless in judgment, honest in application of skills, inventive in skills. Benefits consist of a certificate, an engraved bronze hammer and $10,000 for travel expenses in orthopedic studies. The study may be done as an elective during a rotation in the final year of training.

Hugh S. Tullos Research Award 

The Hugh S. Tullos Award was established to promote research and to encourage excellence in papers prepared by residents. The paper must be considered publishable and achieve a high level of excellence as judged by the award committee. A certificate and a monetary award of $1,000 are presented to the winner at the annual graduation ceremony. All residents at all levels are encouraged to participate in submitting research papers for consideration.

Orthopedic In-Training Exam Award

The Orthopedic In-Training Exam Award was established to recognize an outstanding resident on behalf of the Residency Review Committee. The recipient is given a monetary award of $1,000. Furthermore, the recipient also receives a certificate in recognition for being the graduating resident with the highest mean score on the OITE exam during the last four years of the residency program.

Michael J. Epstein “Wooden Pager” Award 

Established by the graduating class of 2009, The Michael J. Epstein Award was established to recognize an outstanding junior resident on behalf of the members of the graduating chief class. The recipient is given a monetary award of $2500. He or she also receives a plaque of recognition for being the junior resident who has demonstrated principles of professionalism, work ethic, humanism and a sincere dedicated commitment to orthopedic medicine.