Hospital Programs

Orthopaedics Trauma Center of Excellence

Most trauma related injuries involve broken bones. Outside of traumatic accidents, some 17 million people break an arm or leg every year, yet very little is known about how fractures heal. And, as the American population ages, attention focuses on conditions like osteoporosis and surgeries such as hip replacement.

The Orthopaedics Trauma Center of Excellence is a widely encompassing project aimed at supporting the academic and clinical missions of the SFGH Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Headed by Dr. Theodore Miclau, the Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at SFGH, the project will support internationally recognized programs in fracture research and education, as well as community and regional patient outreach. SFGH is uniquely qualified to engage in these activities, having one of the leading fracture research groups in the country, being San Francisco's only trauma center with nationally recognized surgeons, and having pioneered the first-of-its-kind resident training overseas elective. The laboratory conducts cutting-edge research in fracture repair, interacting with some of world's top scientists.

The mission of SFGH's Orthopaedics Trauma Center of Excellence is:

• To provide an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses and other health care professionals that deliver the highest level of care for its patients.
• To improve the outcomes and quality of life for patients in the City and County of San Francisco and beyond.
• To support education, research, and training efforts that improves the care of Orthopaedic conditions.
• To become a nationally recognized Orthopaedic Trauma Center of Excellence that provides state of the art clinical excellence as a regional tertiary service focused on Orthopaedic Trauma Care.
• Injury prevention.
• Support of overall mission of the Trauma Center.

Developing this program will also assure support for the mission of SFGH in serving the poor and uninsured.