A Message from our Program Director

Welcome to the Henry Ford Genesys Hospital Orthopedics Residency Program and we thank you for your interest. We are proud of our fifty year history of training highly qualified orthopedic surgeons serving every part of the country. With the program’s origin in a community based osteopathic hospital, the initial curriculum was that of early patient contact and a preceptorship model with hands on surgical experience. With this background it was a natural evolution to the mentorship model, (similar to the Mayo Clinic), that is the program’s core today. It has been able to retain the emphasis of early patient contact, guided patient focused decision making and extensive surgical experience, while incorporating strong academics and research consistent with ACGME Orthopedic Common Program Requirements.

The faculty is composed of Orthopedic and Neurosurgeons with fellowship training in trauma, sports medicine, adult reconstruction, spine, hand and foot & ankle surgery. The program’s graduates routinely obtain acceptance into some of the most prestigious Orthopedic Fellowships in the country. However, we are just as proud of our graduates who elect to go directly into the practice of general orthopedic surgery in community hospitals across the country, fulfilling an increasing critical need in the US Healthcare System.

Without question, the strongest attribute of the program is the quality of our residents and the culture of collaborative learning and support. Coming from diverse backgrounds, each year the incoming class is welcomed into this culture incorporating their unique attributes that only make the program stronger. This was never more apparent than during the current pandemic crisis. Lead by the chief residents, and in a collaborative manner, the residents adjusted to this challenge while continuing to provide safe, accessible, and uncompromising care to the Genesee County community.

As we move into the future of our premier program we strive to progress with the times and modernize training, while continuing our strong foundation of early patient contact. Initially as a college student, then med student, resident and faculty, now program director, I’ll lean on those experiences to propel this program as an ideal learning environment for each and every stage of learning. We are sure that you will enjoy that environment and your opportunity to train here.

Ryan Nelson, DO
Program Director