How do you become an Orthopaedic Surgeon?

All locally trained Australian Orthopaedic surgeons graduate from medical school/university (4-6years).

We then do an intern year combining medicine, surgical and emergency rotations. (1 year)

Surgically inclined doctors then undertake surgical residency years (1-3+ years).

Prior to undertaking ‘accredited’ training years as an orthopaedic registrar, doctors do ‘unaccredited/service’ registrar year/s (1-6+ years).

Accredited training via the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA) and RACS (Royal Australiasian College of Surgeons) takes 5 years on the previous SET program. It is now competency based so trainees can do these years in 4-8 years.

Following completion of the above training years (15-20years), one then obtains Fellowship with RACS/AOA and is an Orthopaedic Surgeon.

Kade has worked as a doctor since 2011. And has over 15 years experience caring for patients.

So what is sub-specialist fellowship training? and Why do it?

This additional & optional training further refines a surgeons skill and expertise to be able to deal with complex issues and ensure optimal outcomes for patients in their chosen areas of interest/expertise. Not all orthopaedic surgeons have completed post-fellowship fellowship training.

Dr Collins is a sub-specialist trained arthroplasty (joint replacement) fellowship surgeon, having undertaken two prestigious competitive fellowships in the United Kingdom.

Kade undertook a fellowship with Edinburgh Orthopaedics that focused on hip and knee arthroplasty, both complex primary and revisions, as well as robotic surgery. He was also fortunate to further his hip and knee arthroscopic surgery and joint preservation surgical skills and techniques.

Kade had anterior approach hip replacement surgery training throughout his formal/accredited training years in Victoria and Tasmania and was lucky enough to be trained by some of our best to become one of our best. Nonetheless, in his pursuit for excellent patient outcomes he undertook a further fellowship focusing on hip surgery with Professor Field in London (UK’s leading anterior hip replacement surgeon), this focused on anterior hip replacement surgery, including bikini incision, and hip arthroscopy & preservation techniques.

Why? To offer you the best.