Department of Orthopaedics

Dr. Trafton joined the Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital faculty in 1984. University Orthopedics formed in 1990 where he was as a trauma surgeon until his retirement in 2005.  He treated his patients with kindness and the outstanding care for which he was known.  Dr. Trafton was passionate about orthopaedic surgeon education and served as director of the Brown University Trauma Fellowship.  Through Health Volunteers Overseas, he contributed to post graduate trauma training and was recognized in 2015 by the organization with the tenth annual HVO Golden Apple Award which is bestowed upon an individual who has demonstrated a strong commitment to HVO’s mission to improve global health through the education, training, and professional development of the health workforce in resource-scarce countries.  Dr. Trafton joined HVO in 2005. Serving as project director to HVO’s orthopaedics project at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Dr. Trafton has contributed to the establishment of a post-graduate trauma-training program, which now has five senior residents officially in training. The program is Ghana’s second residency site for full qualification in trauma and orthopaedics. Dr. Trafton has served month-long assignments in Ghana each year since 2011, offering training and education to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. In addition to his work with students, he collaborates and advises on-site faculty, training the trainers of the department to advance the quality of teaching and learning at the site. Dr. Trafton received a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from Yale College and completed his medical degree at the Harvard Medical School, graduating Cum Laude. He completed his orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of California in San Francisco.