From staff reports

Sanford Health is launching an orthopedic residency program in collaboration with the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences next summer.

Sanford is funding the program.

It will create three residency positions per year that will study in Fargo and Sioux Falls, eventually resulting in 15 residents training at a time during the five-year program.

Bruce Piatt

“Given the exceedingly high demand for physicians nationwide, it’s imperative that Sanford get involved with educating the next generation of orthopedic surgeons,” said Dr. Bruce Piatt, a Sanford orthopedic physician and UND medical school orthopedic residency program director.

“As a teaching hospital, Sanford is drawn to the importance of education and teaching tomorrow’s physicians to prepare for the future needs of our community. We know that a majority of physicians stay and practice where they are trained.”

The program is the first of its kind in North Dakota and South Dakota.

Residents will see a range of orthopedic disorders for adults and pediatric patients that include adult reconstruction, orthopedic trauma, spine, hand, foot, ankle, amputations, athletic injuries and orthopedic oncology. They will also focus on research and improving patients’ care and treatments.

Residents will spend time in Fargo and Sioux Falls working with surgeons and providers in each region.

Sanford Fargo and Sanford Sioux Falls offer residency education for internal medicine, family medicine, general surgery and psychiatry.