How Much Training Does an Orthopaedic Surgeon in Sydney Undergo?

Sep 30, 2012

Becoming an orthopaedic surgeon is a long process that combines medical education with years of supervised surgical training. Patients are often surprised at just how much training is involved before a surgeon is able to practise independently.

The Training Pathway

After completing a medical degree, doctors work for several years in hospital-based internship and residency positions, building general medical and surgical experience. From there, those wishing to specialise in orthopaedic surgery must apply for a place in an accredited orthopaedic surgical training program, run under the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). This program typically takes around five years to complete and includes rotations through different orthopaedic areas, along with ongoing exams and assessment.

In total, most orthopaedic surgeons complete well over a decade of combined study and supervised training – spanning medical school, prevocational hospital years and the surgical training program – before being admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS).

Why This Matters for Patients

This lengthy, structured pathway is designed to ensure that by the time a surgeon is practising independently, they have broad experience across the range of orthopaedic conditions and procedures. Dr Mark Haber is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in Orthopaedic Surgery, with a particular clinical focus on shoulder surgery, and sees patients across Sydney CBD, Macquarie University, Wollongong and Campbelltown.

If you have a shoulder or orthopaedic concern you’d like assessed, call us on 1300 747 077 or email reception@so.com.au to arrange a consultation.