Orthopedic Surgery Residency

29

Active Clinical Trials

285,908

Patient Encounters in 2023

73

Peer-Reviewed Publications in 2023

24,018

Surgical Cases in 2023

Welcome to Our Residency



Left to Right:
Front Row: Sree 'Marty' Vemu, MD; Reece Rosenthal, MD; Jennifer Liu, MD; Sanjiv Gopalkrishnan, MD; Austin Nguyen, MD; Tanner Hafen, MD
Back Row: Clyde Fomunung, MD; Thomas Yetter, MD; Ricard Fuld, MD; Justin Walsh, MD; Justin Aflatooni, MD; Kevin Credille, MD
Not Pictured: Erin Orozco, MD; Alysa Birnbrich, MD

Our Team

Message from the Program Director

Houston Methodist has been a teaching hospital in Orthopaedics since the early 1940’s—first for the University of Texas, then for Baylor College of Medicine, and now as an independent academic institution-- and has been home (and center for major discoveries) for many of the greatest academic surgeons and orthopaedic surgeons in the country including DeBakey and Harrington. As such, we have a long history of dedication to the best clinical care, cutting-edge research, medical student and resident education, and giving back to community. And it is these ‘four legs’ that define our program. Our residents graduate having become solid surgeons, capable researchers, dedicated teachers, and good medical citizens; ready to pursue top-flight fellowships and academic careers, or simply to bring these skills to smaller local communities.

We hope you take an opportunity to become familiar with our program at Houston Methodist. We encourage you to browse the website and to consider a visit.

Shari Liberman, MD
Program Director, Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program

Kevin Varner, MDDepartment Chair

Shari Liberman, MDProgram Director

Joshua Harris, MD

Jason Ahuero, MD

Timothy Brown, MD

William Bryan, MD

Terry Clyburn, MD

Darrell Hanson, MD

Robert Jack, MD

Koroush Jafarnia, MD

Kwan 'Kevin' Park, MD

Brian Parsley, MD

Patrick McCulloch, MD

Robert Neff, MD

Mark Prasarn, MD

Jeffrey Ratusznik, MD

John Seaberg, MD

Karim Shafi, MD

Joshua Woody, MD

Scott McKay, MD
Attending Physician, Texas Children's Hospital
Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine (Pediatric Rotation)

Ravi Karia, MD
Active Medical Staff Instructor, UTHSCSA – San Antonio, Texas (Ortho Trauma Rotation)

Valerae Lewis, MD
Active Medical Staff Instructor, Professor and Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Oncology, MD Anderson – Houston, Texas (Orthopedic Oncology Rotation)

Eligibility and Application

Houston Methodist Hospital participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP):


Criteria
  • All PGY-1 positions are offered through the NRMP.
  • Applications must be processed through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
  • Paper applications are not accepted.
  • "Pre-Match" positions are not offered.
  • All applications are carefully reviewed with selected applicants notified electronically to interview through ERAS.
  • Please limit inquiries into application status.

Houston Methodist is committed to improving the health of our patients, employees, and communities around us. As a health care provider, it’s our responsibility to promote a healthier environment for our employees.


Responsibility
  • Drug and Tobacco Screening- Job seekers will be tested for nicotine and drug usage during the post-offer physical. If a job seeker tests positive for nicotine use, including nicotine gum and patches, the offer will be rescinded, and individuals will be given the opportunity to participate in a free Houston Methodist-provided tobacco cessation program. Job seekers wishing to reapply after testing positive for nicotine may do so 90 days after the date the initial offer was rescinded. If the job seeker tests positive for drug use, the offer will be rescinded. Job seekers wishing to reapply after the drug screening is positive may do so one year after the date the initial offer was rescinded.
  • Background Check - Prior to employment start date, job seekers must complete a criminal background check.
Our Residents
Justin Aflatooni, MD - PGY5
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Norfolk, VA
Alysa Birnbrich, MD - PGY5
University of Arizona College of Medicine
Phoenix, AZ
abirnbrich@houstonmethodist.org
Richard Fuld, III, MD - PGY5
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Aurora, CO
Andrew George, MD - PGY5
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL
Sanjiv Gopalkrishnan, MD - PGY4
Dell Medical School at the University of Texas
Austin, TX
Jennifer Liu, MD - PGY4
University of Texas Medical School Southwestern
Dallas, TX
Sree 'Marty' Vemu, MD - PGY4
McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas
Houston, TX
Erin Orozco, MD - PGY3
McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas
Houston, TX
Justin Walsh, MD - PGY3
Rush University Medical College
Chicago, IL
Kevin Credille, MD - PGY2
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI
Austin Nguyen, MD - PGY2
University of Illinois College of Medicine
Chicago, IL
Thomas Yetter, MD - PGY2
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, TX
Clyde Fomunung, MD - PGY1
Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine
College Station, TX and Houston, Tx
Tanner Hafen, MD - PGY1
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Rochester, MI
Reece Rosenthal, MD - PGY1
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Tx
Our Alumni

Class of 2024
Brian Phelps, MD – Spine Surgery Fellowship, Washington University - St. Louis, MO
Austin Wininger, MD – Adult Recon. Fellowship, Mayo Univeristy - Phoenix, AZ

 

Class of 2023
Michael Cotton, MD – Foot & Ankle Fellowship, Mercy Medical Center - Institute for Foot & Ankle Recon. Baltimore, MD
Alex Han, MD – Hand Surgery Fellowship, University of California- San Francisco
Takashi Hirase, MD –  Spine Surgery Fellowship, HSS, New York, NY
                Oncology Fellowship, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

 

Class of 2022
Rachel Bratescu, MD – Spine Surgery Fellowship, NYU-Langone, New York City, NY
                Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Fellowship, Weill Cornell , New York, NY  
Stephanie Gardner, MD – Foot and Ankle Fellowship, University of Tennessee-Campbell Clinic, Memphis, TN
Varan Haghshenas, MD – Spine Surgery Fellowship, Houston Methodist, Houston, TX

 

Class of 2021
Derek Klavas, MD – Foot and Ankle Fellowship, Rush University, Chicago, IL
Hannah Morehouse, MD – General Orthopedics Practice, United States, Air Force
Hudson Seidel, MD – Hand Fellowship, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA

 

Class of 2020
Andrew Kay, MD – Adult Recon. Fellowship, Rothman Institute, Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Katherine Miller, MD – Pediatric Orthopedic Fellowship, Seattle Children's Hosp., Seattle, WA;
                Paley Pediatric Limb Deformity Fellowship, West Palm Beach, FL
Angelina Vera, MD – Sports Medicine Fellowship, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ

 

Class of 2019
Robert Jack, MD – Sports Medicine Fellowship, Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, PA
Carlos Mehexu, MD – Adult Recon. Fellowship, Florida Orthopedic Institute, Tampa Bay, FL
Kyle Sochacki, MD - Sports Medicine Fellowship, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

 

Class of 2018
Derek Bernstein, MD – Hand Fellowship, Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, PA
Nickolas Boutris, MD – Sports Medicine Fellowship, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City, NY

 

Class of 2017
Matthew Burn, MD – Hand Fellowship, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Ronald Mitchell, MD – General Orthopedics Practice, United States Navy
Kevin Smith, MD – Sports Medicine Fellowship, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

Class of 2016
Jason Alder, MD – Spine Fellowship, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Preston Smith, MD – Sports Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Andrea Gale, MD – Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship, Humphrey Shoulder Clinic, Boise, ID;
                                   Hand & Upper Extremity Fellowship, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT

Curriculum

PGY-1

Rotation Duration
General Ortho 6 months
Vascular Surgery 1 month
Emergency Medicine 1 month
SICU 1 month
Plastic Surgery 1 month
General Surgery Trauma (MHH) 1 month
Rheumatology 1 month

PGY-3

Rotation Duration
Joints 2 months
Pediatric Ortho (TCH-West) 2 months
Ortho Trauma (San Antonio) 4 months
Research 2 months
Adult Reconstruction 2 months

PGY-5

Rotation Duration
Electives 6 months
Hand 2 months
Pediatric Ortho (TOH) 2 months
Sports (WB/HMH) 2 months

Get In Touch

Program Contact

Alyssa Bryan, C-TAGME
Senior Residency Coordinator
6445 Main St. Ste. 2500
Houston, Tx 77030
713.441.3556 - Phone
Email: afbryan@houstonmethodist.org

Program Director

Shari Liberman, MD
Program Director
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
6445 Main St., Suite 2500
Houston, TX 77030

Upcoming Academic Events

Grand rounds, tumor boards, regularly scheduled series and case presentations are offered in multiple clinical disciplines and Houston Methodist locations.
Weekly Multidisciplinary GI Grand Rounds – January

Multiple Speakers

Jan 24 @ 7AM

See Details
Research Seminar - Guangyu Wang, PhD

Guangyu Wang, PhD

Jan 28 @ 9AM

See Details

55

Grand Rounds conducted in 2023
These educational events are held according to varying schedules by departments and divisions within the Houston Methodist Academic Institute

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