The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is active in providing educational opportunities for medical students in surgical and other aspects of the specialty.

The department consists of the following specialty areas through three adult teaching hospitals:

• Sports medicine
• Adult joint reconstruction/total joint replacement
• Ortho-oncology
• Pediatric orthopaedics
• Hand surgery
• Spinal surgery
• Trauma
• Shoulder/elbow surgery

At St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, the Orthopaedic Center for Children encompasses pediatric sports medicine, cerebral palsy, scoliosis, limb lengthening, gait analysis and a broad range of other medical and surgical orthopaedic treatments for children.

The department at Drexel University College of Medicine consists of four divisions:

• Upper extremity surgery
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Joint reconstruction
• Orthopaedic trauma

Norman A. Johanson, MD, chair of the department, is a nationally recognized orthopaedic surgeon for his highly-skilled revision surgery on failed knee and hip implants.

Medical School Courses

Second Year

Medical students begin orthopaedic education in the Introduction to Clinical Medicine course. The musculoskeletal physical examination is covered.

Third and Fourth Years

The Department offers teaching in orthopaedics and musculoskeletal disease in the third year of the curriculum as compulsory one-week experience in Musculoskeletal Medicine and an additional one-week elective in Orthopaedic Surgery. A pathway focusing on orthopaedic and musculoskeletal for the fourth year students with career goals in orthopaedics helps them achieve their goals.

Research Programs

Primary areas of clinical research are total joint replacements (hip and knee), lumbar and cervical spine disease, hand surgery and pediatric orthopaedic disease. Ongoing research in biomechanics is conducted in collaboration with Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. The Biomechanics and Orthopaedic Research Laboratories are located on campus and at Drexel University. Research scientists are active participants in the education program. Residents and students are encouraged to participate in laboratory research.