Dr. Paul Clarkson
Clinical Associate Professor,
Director of Undergraduate Education

The Department of Orthopaedics is involved in the delivery of three core courses in the medical school undergraduate curriculum. The basic science of bone and cartilage is taught in the problem based learning Musculoskeletal/Locomotor Block for four weeks in the second year of the medical school. During this block the theme of the first week is normal bone growth and structure as well as normal fracture healing. The second week's theme is normal cartilage structure and well as joint mechanics. In the third week the theme is abnormal bone physiology and osteoporosis. The forth week is abnormal cartilage physiology and inflammatory arthritis. Concurrent with the PBL course is a Gross and Radiographic anatomy course that is integrated with the teaching of a five week Clinical Skills course.

The Department teaches a mandatory two week clerkship rotation in orthopaedics in the third year of the medical school. The clerkship combines mandatory reading of case based material as well as exposure to inpatient and outpatient orthopaedic practice. Students may elect to do a further two weeks of orthopaedics if they wish although it is encouraged that third year electives are spent outside the usual teaching hospitals.

In the fourth year of the medical school one month elective rotations are offered in subspecialty orthopaedics.

For more information, email elizabeth.denton@vch.ca

Clerkship Electives Program: http://www.med.ubc.ca/electives
The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS): http://www.carms.ca