About the Fellowship
The Western Orthopaedic and Rose Medical Center Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship is focused on providing an orthopedic fellow with the opportunity to develop critical diagnostic and treatment skills to excel as a shoulder and elbow surgical specialist. The fellowship is based at a high-volume practice in Denver, Colorado. The surgeons perform over 800 shoulder and elbow cases per year. Approximately 35% of the cases are primary and revision arthroplasty, 50% are arthroscopic shoulder surgery (including cuff repair and instability procedures), and 15% are elbow procedures and humerus fracture (proximal and distal).
The fellow will be the only individual being trained at this site. The fellow will have one-on-one time with each of the faculty members which will allow the fellow to gain clinical and surgical skills specific to the faculty member’s expertise. This will provide the fellow an opportunity to understand different clinical and surgical approaches to common shoulder and elbow pathology.
In addition to clinical and surgical education, the fellow will participate in the following meetings:
- monthly case conference discussing patient evaluation, diagnosis and treatment options;
- quarterly journal club;
- quarterly sports medicine case conference (Denver metro area physicians); and
- weekly complex orthopedic case conference (optional attendance)
Research Opportunities
Our faculty is committed to research and has been collecting shoulder arthroplasty outcomes for over 14 years. In addition, the site participates in multi-site national studies as well as FDA monitored clinical trials. The fellow will be expected to be involved in clinical research, working closely with our research personnel 2 days per month. The fellow will identify a research topic to manage as well as submit two papers, as first author, to a peer reviewed journal. In addition, there will be ample opportunity for training and collaboration with multiple private cadaver lab training facilities located in the metro Denver area.
Current research projects at Western Orthopaedics Research and Education Foundation include:
- Analysis of 5-year radiographs in patients with canal sparing anatomic shoulder arthroplasty with further correlation to outcomes.
- Shoulder arthroplasty options in young patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis
- Superior capsular reconstruction outcomes
- Influence of component combinations on outcomes after reverse shoulder arthroplasty
- Effect of arthroplasty planning technology on complications and outcome
Opportunity to Observe Pascal Boileau in Nice, France
Through his own fellowship training, Dr. Hatzidakis has maintained a working relationship with Professor Pascal Boileau of Nice, France. As such, the fellow may have the opportunity to use the vacation time allowed during this fellowship to travel to Nice and observe Dr. Boileau in his clinical practice (this is an optional opportunity and expenses related to this will be the fellow’s responsibility).
Meet our Faculty
Armodios Hatzidakis, MD (fellowship director)
Meet Our Fellow
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Dr. B. Gage Griswold, MD came to the Western Orthopaedics and Rose Medical Center Fellowship from a history of prior medical training in the Southern U.S. Dr. Griswold attended medical school at the University of Alabama School of Medicine and his internship and residency was completed at Augusta University Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Auburn to earn his undergraduate degree.
Apparently, Dr. Griswold was looking to get away from the highly competitive football culture of the SEC and he became the 2nd Shoulder and Elbow fellow at Western Orthopaedics. His residency training thoroughly prepared him for the variety and challenges in the type of shoulder and elbow pathology he is looking forward to managing during his fellowship year. Dr. Griswold also has an interest in research having participated in the publication of 6 manuscripts related to shoulder pathology during his residency.
In his free time, Dr. Griswold may be trying to get out of town to spend time with his wife who is in fellowship in at Walter Reed Medical Center or playing with his dog or out on the golf course. He is looking forward to taking advantage of his time in Colorado by spending some time at the numerous ski areas the state has to offer.
Denver is a vibrant city offering that will provide numerous options for your leisure time. The restaurant scene is constantly evolving, offering extensive options in neighborhoods throughout Denver. The Denver Center for Performing Arts offers plays, national musical groups, and a world-class symphony. Denver’s sports scene includes professional football, basketball, hockey, soccer, and baseball as well as numerous opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast whether it be skiing, local hiking, flyfishing in blue-ribbon waters, or climbing one of the state’s 58 fourteen-thousand-foot peaks.
