The Department of Orthopaedics participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).  Each year, Brown Orthopaedics matches six first-year residents (PGY-1s).  All applications are handled through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).  This year we are participating in the ERAS supplemental application and program signaling.

Application Requirements

• Photograph
• Personal statement
• Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) - "Dean's letter"
• Medical school transcript
• USMLE Step 2 score
• 3 letters of recommendation (The CORD eSLOR is preferred but not required), a Chairman's letter is not required. 

Please review the Brown Orthopedic Residency ORIN page for annually updated Brown Orthopedic Residency program and application data.

Electronic Standardized Letter of Recommendation (eSLOR)

 The Electronic Standardized Letter of Recommendation (eSLOR) provides orthopaedic residency programs a concise perspective on a candidate. It replaces a separate narrative letter of recommendation.

It was devised and adopted by the members of the Council of Orthopaedic Residency Directors (CORD), which represents a substantial portion of orthopaedic residency programs in the United States and Canada.

Required Steps for Applicants

Prior to creating an eSLOR, medical students must:

• Sign an agreement
• Provide their ERAS AAMC ID

Medical students: Complete this step

Please do not email or mail additional documents directly to the program.  All documents must be uploaded in ERAS.

Application Deadline 

The deadline for submitting application material in ERAS is October 1, 2025. Any application submitted after this date will not be considered. 

Interview Day

Interview dates: Wednesday, January 07, 2026 and Tuesday, January 13, 2026. We are happy to announce that interviews will be in-person this year. Per AOA CORD recommendations, virtual interviews will only be allowed for students who rotated here. 

We typically hold two interview days every year, with each day split into two groups – a morning and an afternoon group. As much as the day is for us to interview you, we hope that you get a good sense for our program, residents, faculty and facilities as well.

There will be a few presentations on the program to start off the interview day, followed by roughly 4-5 interview sessions with faculty and residents. The residents will be available to meet with you and answer any questions you may have. We will also be hosting virtual open houses along with a virtual tour of our facilities. Dates will be posted on this website and the AOA CORD ORIN website.

Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email our Residency Coordinator, Bernadette Sessa. 

2025-2026 Brown University Health Orthopedic and General Surgery Combined PGY-1 Preliminary SOAP Position

The Brown University Orthopedic and General Surgery Departments are collaborating for the 2025-2026 year for a single PGY-1 position in the Brown University Health General Surgery preliminary PGY-1 SOAP. This single PGY-1 position will divide time evenly between the Brown University Health Orthopedic Surgery and General Surgery Departments.

The six orthopedic months will be the same as for the orthopedic categorical PGY-1s: two months of orthopedic trauma inpatient floor (one paired with a categorical intern), two months of orthopedic elective inpatient floor (one paired with a categorical intern), one month of orthopedic trauma nights with the consult PGY-2 resident, and one month of orthopedic foot and ankle surgery with the program director. While on orthopedic rotations, the preliminary PGY-1 will participate with the orthopedic categorical PGY-1s in their Tuesday AM 2-hour dedicated intern education sessions and the Wednesday AM 3-hour residency didactics.

The general surgery months will be across the general surgery disciplines such as vascular surgery, trauma surgery, trauma ICU, pediatric surgery, and general surgery days/nights with a maximum of two months on each rotation.

This preliminary PGY-1 position is intended for a 2024 or 2025 graduate of a LCME accredited medical school who was not able to secure a 2025 match categorical orthopedic position and still intends to pursue a career in orthopedic surgery or general surgery. The ideal candidate would have a strong complete application including letters of recommendation and likely would have secured a position if there simply had been more orthopedic categorical positions available.

The primary goal of this PGY-1 position is to progress the applicant’s education clinically. The position is structured such that upon completion the applicant will have fulfilled the ACGME PGY-1 requirements (6 months of orthopedics and 6 months of non-orthopedics) to apply for any available 2026-2027 orthopedic PGY-2 position. While there is no guarantee such positions will open up that year, historically a handful of position have opened up across the country each year. This applicant will be uniquely qualified for any such position. The applicant can alternatively reapply for a PGY-1 categorical position in the 2026 match. This position does not subsequently guarantee a PGY-1 or PGY-2 position in either the orthopedic or general surgery categorical tracks at Brown University Health.

Interested applicants should apply through the SOAP to the general surgery prelim position at Brown University Health and specifically note if you are applying only for the single combined position.