Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program in its Third Year
By Luis R. Vela, DO, DME, Program Director; and Nancy Bell, Vice President Academic Affairs
Years ago Samaritan Health Services President/CEO Larry Mullins, DHA, envisioned community-based medical education programs to offset physician shortages in the mid-Willamette Valley. In collaboration with others, Samaritan Health Services began medical clerkships in 2007, residency programs in 2009, and opened a new health sciences campus, home to medical school COMP-Northwest, in 2011.
The orthopedic residency program is based in Corvallis, Oregon, at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, the largest tertiary care hospital with Samaritan Health Services. The orthopedic residency program began with three residents in 2010, currently has nine residents and when fully mature, will have a total of 15 residents (three per year). The program is proud to currently have the following residents in training:
- Seth Criner, DO, PGY 3 (Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific)
- Brian Hodges, DO, PGY 3 (University of North Texas Health Science Center-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine)
- Erik Natkin, DO, PGY 3 (Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific)
- Jason Malone, DO, PGY 2 (Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Midwestern University)
- Blake Obrock, DO, PGY 2 (Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Midwestern University)
- Kelli Spencer, DO, PGY 2 (Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific)
- Ryan Callahan, DO, PGY 1 (Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center)
- Craig Gillis, DO, PGY 1 (Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific)
- Andrew Nelson, DO, PGY 1 (Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific)
Our faculty includes orthopedic surgeons from within the Samaritan system, as well as those in independent practice. Many faculty members are fellowship trained in various subspecialties including joint reconstruction, foot and ankle, hand and upper extremity, sports medicine and trauma. Some subspecialty rotation needs have been addressed by collaborating with organizations outside of Samaritan Health Services to enhance experience and education.
During their training, residents have Pediatric rotations at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Portland and Legacy Emanuel Medical Center to gain additional exposure in level 1 trauma during their third and fourth years. In addition to these rotations, residents attend courses including AO Trauma and Enneking for MSK Oncology, and also participate in arthroscopy skills lab, sponsored by Arthrex, twice a year in Tracy, California. These cadaveric courses, as well as our new dry lab, ensure opportunities for our residents to become more proficient in their skills.
Academic half-days are held every Friday morning and include x-ray and fracture review, CORE lectures, OITE review, casting clinics as well as cadaveric experiences at COMP Northwest. The residents have a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with athletic training students and PAC-12 athletes at nearby Oregon State University, spending time in the training room and at athletic events.
It has been exciting being a part of the development of a community-based graduate medical education program that includes not only orthopedics but also general surgery, family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry and cardiology. Our mission is to create a legacy of quality physicians and lifelong learners through a rigorous academic program integrated with clinical practice. We look forward to continuing the development of our program in the mid-Willamette Valley and working with our partners to strengthen orthopedic education in Oregon.
