Dr. Sanj Kakar with fellow and resident in operating room scenario

Graduate medical education in orthopedic surgery at Mayo Clinic

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Overview

The Hand Surgery Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is structured to provide you with the experience and resources to develop into ethical and competent hand surgeons, but more importantly to become leaders in your community. The program consists of a preceptor-style format where you work one-on-one with faculty members, designed to foster mentorship and facilitate autonomous practice.

Program highlights include:

  • A robust curriculum with many extra-curricular learning opportunities
  • Diverse, world-renowned faculty who are leaders in an array of areas
  • Exceptional resources for clinical and basic science research
  • Domestic and international outreach opportunities
  • A high volume of outpatient and surgical experiences

The strength of the program is the depth and diversity of the nationally recognized faculty from both orthopedic surgery and plastic surgery, combined with the breadth and variety of surgical pathology that fellows are exposed to. After a year of training, you will be well-prepared to succeed in private practice or in academia with unending support from the tremendous network of Mayo Clinic hand surgery alumni as you transition into independent practice.

Hand Surgery Fellowship

Hand Surgery Fellowship

Video overview

Mayo Clinic surgeons in an operating room performing hand surgery.

Your training experience

As a fellow at Mayo Clinic, you'll have access to robust clinical, educational, and research resources. You'll find support both inside and outside of the campus to promote physical and mental wellness and ensure your work/life balance.

Sanjeev Kakar, M.D.

Director's welcome

Welcome to the Hand Surgery Fellowship program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota! We are thrilled to have you join our esteemed community, where you will learn from our outstanding faculty, renowned for their expertise and commitment to excellence. This fellowship offers unparalleled training opportunities that will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the field of hand surgery.

Anatomy Lab - Procedural Skills Lab and Classroom, Stabile Building

Anatomy Lab - Procedural Skills Lab and Classroom, Stabile building

Microvascular Lab, Stabile Building

Microvascular Lab, Stabile building

Gonda Building

Lobby, Gonda building

Workstations to practice procedures and enhance skills with video capabilities to track progress, located at the Center for Procedural Skills Mastery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Center for Procedural Skills Mastery, Mary Brigh building

Accreditation

The program fulfills the training requirements as defined by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Certification

After successfully completing your primary board certification requirements and this fellowship, you will be eligible to take one of the subspecialty certificates for added qualification in hand surgery examinations offered through the:

Program history

The Hand Surgery Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, began in 1972. Since that time, over 180 physicians have completed training. We anticipate that four trainees will complete this program annually.

Mayo Clinic faculty and alumni have held prominent positions in professional societies including seven past presidents of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) and 12 recipients of the prestigious Sterling Bunnell Traveling Fellowship through the ASSH.

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