Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Minnesota

Congratulations to UMN medical students Audrey Wethington and Madeline Wethington, who each received a University of Minnesota Foundation Medical Student Research Grant!

These competitive awards support two independent, student-designed orthopedic research projects:

🩻 Audrey’s study examines whether reverse total shoulder arthroplasty may create barriers to screening mammography by limiting shoulder mobility and making positioning more difficult.

🦴 Madeline’s study investigates the relationship between hormone replacement therapy and adhesive capsulitis in peri- and postmenopausal women.

The projects are mentored by Allison Rao, MD, and Alicia Harrison, MD, with contributions from research fellow and current medical student Fatuma Adan.

Congratulations to the entire shoulder research team, and thank you to the University of Minnesota Foundation for supporting student-led research!

Looking forward to a strong start to the new academic year! Our PGY-1 interns are completing PGY-2 bootcamp activities to build essential skills for the journey ahead. Last week, they participated in orientation and hands-on training at Gillette Children's Hospital.

On June 5, Dr. Deb Bohn accepted the Pediatric Upper Limb Project Europe (PULPe) award for the best congenital upper limb article published in 2025. The award was presented during the PULPe session at the FESSH annual meeting in Basel, Switzerland.

The award-winning study, “Syndactyly release with skin graft or skin graft substitute: a within-subject controlled trial,” was conducted at Gillette by Drs. Deb Bohn and Ann Van Heest, along with the Gillette research team.

For 25 years, the Department of Orthopedic Surgery has hosted the annual James House, MD Lectureship & Hand Skills Day, honoring Dr. House's legacy at the University of Minnesota.

The Annual James House MD Hand Skills Day is a specialized, hands-on event that offers participants immersive training in microsurgical techniques, tendon repairs, and upper extremity procedures.

This year’s Hand Skills Day was especially memorable, as Dr. House and his wife, Jan, announced a generous $1 million legacy gift to establish the James H. House, MD, MS Endowed Professorship in Hand Surgery.

In recognition of her excellence in patient care, pediatric hand research, and dedication to training the next generation of physicians, Deborah Bohn, MD, FAOA, has been named the inaugural recipient of the James H. House, MD, MS Endowed Professorship in Hand Surgery.

➡️ Learn more about Dr. House's legacy: https://med.umn.edu/ortho/news/endowing-future-continuing-tradition-excellence-hand-surgery-through-james-house-md-professorship

At a recent pickleball event, faculty and residents came together for some friendly competition and lots of laughs. Events like these help strengthen our sense of community and teamwork, both on and off the courts!

A huge thank you to our amazing residents for organizing this event!

Last month, we hosted our largest Boot Camp yet! Fourteen ortho-bound medical students completed our for-credit, 4-week intensive course.

This achievement would not have been possible without the incredible dedication of our 30 Faculty and 20 Resident volunteers, as well as the support from coordinators across all our sites. Together, we delivered an outstanding experience for the next generation of orthopedic surgeons.

Our Boot Camp featured a comprehensive mix of clinic assignments, 24-hour trauma call, interactive lectures, hands-on labs, skills sessions, and much more. The collaborative spirit and commitment from everyone involved made this course truly remarkable.

Congratulations to our students and heartfelt thanks to all who made this Boot Camp a resounding success!

We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements and contributions of our faculty and trainees at the recent Minnesota Orthopaedic Society (MOS) meeting.

Congratulations to David Polly, MD, who was honored as this year’s James House Heritage speaker. We are also proud of our Department Chair, Brad Nelson, MD, who delivered the 2026 MOS Presidential Speaker Lecture.

Thank you to Jacob Ristow, MD, for his service on the planning committee this year, and congratulations to Venus Vakhshori, MD, who will join the planning committee next year. We are also excited to share that Caitlin Chambers, MD, was voted MOS President for 2026-27.

Our department was well represented with a robust turnout of medical students and residents presenting their research. We are grateful for their dedication and innovation, which continue to advance the field of orthopedic surgery.

Thank you to everyone who made this year’s MOS meeting a memorable success!

Congratulations to Dr. Deb Bohn on receiving the John Song Distinguished Mentoring Award! 🏆

This honor recognizes Dr. Bohn’s outstanding dedication to mentoring medical students and her commitment to advancing medical education. Faculty selected for this award are celebrated for their inclusive approach, lasting impact on trainees’ careers, and unwavering availability to support and guide their mentees.

Dr. Bohn was recognized with this distinction during the Dean’s Tribute to Excellence in Education at the Bell Museum. Her commitment to nurturing the next generation of medical professionals truly embodies the spirit of mentorship and community.

Congratulations, Dr. Bohn, and thank you for making such a meaningful difference!

Last month, our spine fellows, Dr. Sanjay Dhawan and Dr. Saurabh Rawall, were at the AO Spine Fellows Forum in beautiful Banff, Canada! 🇨🇦✨

We’re grateful for the ongoing fellowship support from AO Spine North America that makes these opportunities possible.

Dr. Jeff Macalena, Dr. Marc Swiontkowski, and Dr. Jacob Ristow were at the Mid-America Orthopedic Association annual meeting.

Special congratulations to Dr. Macalena, who was introduced as association president for the coming year, and to Dr. Ristow, who will serve as program committee chair!

A big shout-out to residents Spencer Comfort and Chris Chermside Scabbo, who tied for first in the resident quiz bowl and each presented their research.

We’re proud of our team’s leadership, commitment to education, and contributions to orthopedic research!