Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Educational Grant from Pfizer

Educational grant from Pfizer supports residency joint rotation program.

Pfizer, the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company, has demonstrated its commitment to advancing medical research, innovation, and education with a $100,000 grant to The Campbell Foundation.

Pfizer's grant to the Foundation will sponsor the Total Joint Rotation of the Campbell Clinic-University of Tennessee Orthopaedic Residency Program. The grant will help underwrite the cost of educating 24 Campbell Clinic residents in the subspecialty area of joint replacement. In recognition of the grant, the residency sequence will be named the Pfizer Total Joint Rotation.

Dr. Terry Canale, President of The Campbell Foundation, said, "This grant demonstrates that Pfizer recognizes the vital role highly-trained physicians play in the healthcare continuum. We look forward to working with Pfizer to take orthopaedic education to new levels of excellence while offering our patients hope for better, more active lives."

In 2004, Pfizer invested more than $7.7 billion in research and development in 18 therapeutic areas, including osteoarthritis. Pfizer developed and markets several leading medications used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

"The Campbell Foundation's mission is very similar to our own," said Michelle Rhea, District Manager of Pain Rheumatology & Orthopaedics for Pfizer, Inc. "As a research-based health care company, Pfizer strives to discover and develop new, innovative, value-added products that improve the quality of life of people around the world. We are pleased to offer educational support that advances knowledge critical to innovative patient care."

The Campbell Clinic-University of Tennessee Orthopaedic Residency Program enables aspiring orthopaedic surgeons to develop and refine their clinical, surgical, and research skills. The accredited, five-year program has a total of 40 full-time residents and ranks in the top eight percent of orthopaedic residency programs in the nation. More than 400 medical school graduates vie for the eight positions open each year.

Residents in the program participate in the total joint rotation in their second, fourth, and fifth years. During each rotation, residents spend approximately 50 percent of their time in clinical activities and 50 percent in surgical duties, a practice that allows them to experience continuity of patient care from initial exam and evaluation, through surgical or non-surgical treatment and post-operative rehabilitation.

During the total joint rotation, residents are instructed and mentored by faculty members from the Campbell Clinic staff who have interest and training in the subspecialty of total joint replacement. Physicians who serve on the total joint rotation faculty include Dr. Andrew Crenshaw, Dr. John Crockarell, Dr. James Guyton, Dr. James Harkess, and Dr. David LaVelle.

The residency program benefits significantly from monthly Journal Club meetings during which the teaching staff and residents review and discuss articles from the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and subspecialty journals. Dr. John Crockarell plans to start a Total Joint Journal Club using articles from the Journal of Arthroplasty for discussion. The Pfizer grant will provide each resident with an individual subscription to the Journal of Arthroplasty. A number of major books and electronic resources will also be added to the Total Joint Library, including the Orthopaedic Knowledge Update series from the American Association of Orthoapedic Surgeons.

In addition, planning has begun to launch a Total Joint Lecture Series. The series will bring a leading clinician-scientist to Memphis annually for two days of discussion and lectures with residents, Campbell Clinic staff, and the public.