As our footprint continues to grow, so too does the demand for highly qualified orthopedic physicians. We incubate future talent through our fellowship programs and our strategic relationship with Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim School of Medicine. All the Institute’s physicians hold faculty positions in the medical school, conduct academic research and work directly with students and fellows in both the classroom and the operating room.
The new UHZ Adult Reconstruction Fellowship offers intensive post-residency training in adult hip and knee reconstruction. The first graduate of the program, Giovanni Paraliticci, M.D., joined the Institute as an orthopedic oncologist, in addition to practicing at Miami Cancer Institute.
Orthopedic Sports Medicine Fellowship
This ACGME-accredited fellowship provides a concentrated educational experience in the field of sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery, emphasizing the broad spectrum of shoulder, elbow and knee disorders as well as exposure to hip arthroscopy and sports-related foot and ankle cases.
The program concentrates on caring for competitive athletes at all levels of participation. Student athletes come from Miami- Dade County Public Schools, Florida International University, Barry University and St. Thomas University. Professional athletes include the NFL Miami Dolphins, NBA Miami HEAT, NHL Florida Panthers and NAS Miami FC. Fellows also participate at other events such as Orange Bowl, Miami Open, Miami Marathon and Half Marathon, Escape Miami Triathlon and the Miami Beach Bowl.
Since its founding in 1988, the orthopedic sports medicine fellowship has trained 57 orthopedic surgeons. Forty past fellows attended the 30th anniversary celebration in 2019. Dr. John Uribe is the fellowship founder and program director; faculty members are Drs. Keith Hechtman, Lionel Lazaro, Harlan Selesnick, Gautam Yagnik and John Zvijac.
Foot and Ankle Fellowship
This program offers comprehensive exposure to a wide spectrum of foot and ankle conditions in a high-volume clinical practice. Traditional and innovative techniques are taught covering the gamut of sports medicine/arthroscopy, reconstructive and trauma surgery. Two attending surgeons serve as the foot and ankle consultants to several of Miami’s professional and collegiate sports teams.
Dr. Thomas San Giovanni is the program director and Dr. Christopher Hodgkins is a faculty member. The program has trained four orthopedic surgeons since its founding in 2013.
Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction Fellowship
Offering vast experience in custom knee arthroplasty and direct anterior approach in primary and revision hip arthroplasty, this fellowship also teaches the complete continuum of care of the arthroplasty patient. The program emphasizes surgical decision making, indications and postoperative care, as well as identifying and managing complications.
Dr. Juan Carlos Suarez is the program director; the faculty includes Drs. Carlos Alvarado and Alexander van der Ven. The program graduated its first fellow in July 2019.
Family Medicine – Sports Medicine Fellowship
This fellowship is a one-year, ACGME-accredited program open to physicians who have completed residency training in the field of family medicine. In this program, fellows learn the breadth of sports medicine and orthopedics so they can prepare to care for the musculoskeletal needs of the community they will serve. Faculty members are uniquely positioned to provide an exceptional hands-on educational experience, engaging with athletes from local high schools and the most prestigious professional sports teams in South Florida. The program was established in 2017 at West Kendall Baptist Hospital.