Throughout your training, you will be exposed to a formal advocacy curriculum we refer to as the Tufts Advocacy Program or “TAP.”  This curriculum reviews the basics of advocacy-from local to national, the power of social media, didactic skills such as Op-Ed letter-to-the-editor writing, and guest speakers in a variety of fields. There are also opportunities to participate in an online advocacy column, attend local and national advocacy days, and participate in panels on important women’s health policy issues. Many of our residents are local and national leaders in organizations like ACOG and the AMA and help to organize events on important women’s health issues.

The Tufts Advocacy Program (TAP) provides residents the opportunity to explore and engage in physician advocacy. Through didactics and active individual and community advocacy efforts, residents develop life-long skills enabling them to advocate for their patients and the practice of medicine.

Examples of topics covered in past years:

• An introduction to legislative advocacy
• Effective communication in abortion
• Evaluating and using evidence in reproductive health advocacy by IBIS Reproductive Health
• Advocating on behalf of your patients in public health insurance programs by the Harvard Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation
• Global health advocacy by the Refugee Women’s Health Clinic at Boston Medical Center

We are proud of our exceptional resident research curriculum. Residents benefit from a robust framework that includes dedicated research time, mentorship from leading experts in our field and access to our skilled research support staff and statisticians. Our program emphasizes a collaborative approach, encouraging residents to engage in interdisciplinary projects and present their findings at local and national conferences. Monthly workshops further enhance their research skills, including study design, statistical analysis and manuscript writing. This comprehensive research curriculum not only prepares residents to contribute to our field but also equips them with the analytical skills essential for advancing their clinical practice and academic careers.

We know that wellness means something different to everyone and as program directors we believe in finding a balance for each individual resident.

We also sponsor group activities!  Each year, one of the chief residents takes on the role of Wellness Chief to help coordinate monthly activities for the residents to mitigate the stressors of residency training.  Some of those activities include meditation, exercise and gratitude exercises. Each year the residents participate in ACOG’s wellness week and schedule daily events during that time which have included rock climbing, exercise classes and relaxing down-time. The residents enjoy a 24 hour retreat annually, participating in both team building and wellness events. Our GME office also sponsors activities each year in August for the residents to plan an out of work social event to kick off the new academic year – as this is Boston, a boat cruise in the “ha-bah” is a popular choice event.  

Residents complete their training at Tufts Medical Center, a world-class academic medical center located in Boston and the principal teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine. It also sponsors nineteen specialty ACGME-accredited clinical training programs.

Tufts Medical Center is a 415-bed robust organization, providing everything from routine medical care to treating the most complex diseases affecting adults and children. Tufts Medical Center provides heart, kidney and bone marrow transplants, is a level I trauma center, provides comprehensive neurological and neurosurgical care, and offers cutting-edge cancer treatments.

Tufts Medical Center is also home to The Boston Gamma Knife Center, the first and only Gamma Knife Center in Massachusetts and northern New England.

We must receive a USMLE Transcript as part of every ERAS application. A minimum of three letters of recommendation are required, but we will accept no more than four letters of recommendation.

For the 2025 ERAS® cycle, Applicants will be required to complete the MyERAS application. There is no longer a separate Supplemental Application, but the following are now incorporated into the ERAS Application:

• Geographic preferences (by region and by urban or rural setting);
• Information about their most meaningful experiences and other impactful life events, if applicable; and
• Program signals.

For the 2024-2025 Match year, all applications must be received by October 1, 2024, through ERAS. All completed applications will be reviewed by the Tufts Resident Selection Committee. Those applicants who are invited for an interview will be notified once the Committee has completed its review of the applications. All interviews will be held in-person on December 13 and 14, 2024. We seek residents who combine high academic achievement with leadership and interpersonal skills.

For questions regarding the Tufts-Affiliated Hospitals Orthopedic Residency Program, please contact Starla Pathak.

Curriculum, research and activities provide the complete education

To supplement hands-on experience, we offer a wide range of academic activities, such as journal clubs, daily conferences and labs.  Additionally, residents use clinical cases as springboards for reading and further investigation.

Although our curriculum is academically rigorous, the learning environment is collegial. Not only do residents share ideas, but they also work in a supportive atmosphere where everyone helps each other throughout the challenging journey of orthopedic residency

Activities outside the hospital environment include the journal club at faculty members’ homes, basketball scrimmages and the annual faculty-resident softball game. Additionally, many of the residents volunteer as team physicians for the local high school.

Many congratulations to our residents and faculty that have presented, or will present at local and national conferences this year!

2022 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting

Podium presentations

“Adverse Events Associated With Robotic-Assisted Arthroplasty: An Analysis of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration MAUDE Database” - Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-5, Mariano Menendez MD, Michael Moverman MD PGY-5, Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-4, Matthew Gordon MD

“Antibiotic Administration Prior to Joint Aspiration Decreases Synovial Fluid White-Blood Cell Count in Native Joint Septic Arthritis” -  Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-4, Matthew Salzler MD, Sophie Lipson, Benjamin York, Daniel Finch, Alysse Wurcel MD, Robert Michaud, Mariano Menendez MD

“Patients with Limited Health Literacy Have Worse Preoperative Function and Pain Control and Experience Prolonged Hospitalizations Following Shoulder Arthroplasty” - Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-4, Paul-Anthony Hart, Mariano Menendez MD, Michael Moverman MD PGY-5, Jacob Kirsch MD, Andrew Jawa MD

“The Reverse Fragility Index: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Assessing the Safety and Effectiveness of Aspirin for Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis After Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty” - Michael Moverman MD PGY-5, Edward Mojica, Jeffery Shi, Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-5, Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-4, Mariano Menendez MD, Matthew Salzler MD, Matthew Gordon MD

Poster presentations

“Arthroscopic Versus Open Treatment for Septic Arthritis of the Native Knee: A Systematic Review” - Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-4, Avinesh Agarwalla, Raisa Masood, John Hanna, Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-5, Matthew Salzler MD

“Cemented Fixation in Hemiarthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fractures is Cost-Effective in Preventing Post-Operative Periprosthetic Fracture” - Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-5, Mariano Menendez MD, Michael Moverman MD PGY-5, Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-4, Andrew Moon MD PGY-4, Scott Ryan MD, Simon Mears MD, C L. Barnesad MD

Failure Following Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty After Cobalt-Chrome Femoral Heads Are Placed on a Retained Femoral Stem” - Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-5, David Ramsden MD, Thomas Zink MD PGY-3, Daniel Ward MD, James Bono MD, Carl Talmo MD

“New Persistent Opioid Use among Opioid-Naïve Patients Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: Is There a Safe Quantity of Perioperative Opioids to Prescribe” - Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-5, Ruijia Niu MPH, Mei Chung, David Freccero MD, Eric Smith MD

“Orthopaedic Randomized Controlled Trials Published in General Medical Versus Orthopaedic Journals” - Andrew LaChance, Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-4, Anna Michalowski MD PGY-2, Emily Disler, Matthew Salzler MD, Gabriel Perrone MD PGY-4, Stephen Sylvia MD

“Preoperative Alignment Predicts Need for Manipulation under Anesthesia after Total Knee Arthroplasty” - Andrew Moon MD PGY-4, Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-4, Joshua Proal, Michael Moverman MD PGY-5, Mariano Menendez MD, James Bono MD, James Nairus MD, Carl Talmo MD

“Preoperative Factors Associated with Failure to Reach the Patient Acceptable Symptomatic State After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Patients Aged 40 and Older” – Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-4, Matthew Salzler MD, Gabriel Perrone MD PGY-4, Stephen Sylvia MD

“Public Perceptions of Opioid Use Following Orthopaedic Surgery” - Alex McIntyre MD PGY-3, Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-5, Paul Van Schuyver, Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-4, Michael Moverman MD PGY-5, Mariano Menendez MD, Joseph Kavolus MD

“Sham Incision Prior to Total Knee Arthroplasty for Patients with Previous Knee Incisions” - Thomas Zink MD PGY-3, Andrew Hagar MD, Christopher Fang, Anthony Gualtieri MD, Eric Smith MD, James Bono MD

“Socioeconomic Disadvantage Does Not Significantly Affect Outcomes or Cost After Elective Shoulder Arthroplasty” - Michael Moverman MD PGY-5, Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-4, Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-5, Suleiman Sudah, Paul-Anthony Hart, Jacob Kirsch MD, Andrew Jawa MD, Mariano Menendez MD

“The Reverse Fragility Index: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized controlled Trials in Sports Medicine Reporting Non-Significant Findings” - Michael Moverman MD PGY-5, Edward Mojica, Jeffrey Shi, Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-5, Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-4, Mariano Menendez MD, Raisa Masood, Matthew Salzler MD

2021 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting

Podium presentations

“Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Patients aged 40 and Older: Patient Reported Outcomes, Higher Failure Rates, and a New Patient Acceptable Symptom State for the International Knee Documentation Committee Score” – authors including Stephen Sylvia MD PGY-5, Gabriel Perrone MD PGY-3, Matthew Salzler MD

“Does Orthopaedic Surgery Have a Personality?” – Scott Ryan MD, Sarah Stelma MD, Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-4, Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-3, Mariano Menendez MD

“Impact of BMI on Opioid Consumption in Lumbar Spine Fusion” – authors including Taryn LeRoy MD PGY-5, Andrew Moon MD PGY-3, and Ashley Rogerson MD

“Public Perceptions and Disparities in Access to Telehealth Orthopaedic Services in the COVID-19 Era” - Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-3, Michael Moverman MD PGY-4, Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-4, Andrew Jawa MD, Scott Ryan MD, Matthew Salzler MD, Mariano Menendez MD

“Take it or Leave it? The Fate of the Retained Antibiotic Cement Spacer” – Michael Moverman MD PGY-4, Scott Ryan MD

Poster presentations

“Adductor Canal Provides Minimal Benefit in Addition to Periarticular Injection in Total Knee Arthroplasty” – Andrew Hagar MD PGY-5, Matthew Salzler MD

“Complete Capsule Closure Provides Clinically Significant Outcome Improvement and Higher Survivorship after Hip Arthroscopy at Minimum 5-year Follow-Up” – authors including Justin Drager MD

“Defining the Time Required to Achieve Clinically Significant Outcome Improvement after Total Shoulder Arthroplasty” – authors including Justin Drager MD

“Do Outcomes of Meniscal Allograft Transplantation Differ Based on Age and Sex? A Comparative Group Analysis” – authors including Justin Drager MD

“Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial to Investigate the Efficacy of Autologous Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Post-Meniscectomy: Preliminary Benefits” – authors including Justin Drager MD

“Public Perceptions and Preferences Regarding the Use of Stem Cell Therapies in Orthopaedic Surgery” – Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-3, Mariano Menendez MD, Michael Moverman MD PGY-4, Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-4, Matthew Salzler MD

“Preoperative Allergy Testing for Patients Reporting Penicillin and Cephalosporin Allergies is Cost-Effective in Preventing Infection after Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty” - Nicholas Pagani MD PGY-4, Michael Moverman MD PGY-4, Richard Puzzitiello MD PGY-3, Mariano Menendez MD, C Lowry Barnes MD, Joseph Kavolus MD, Matthew Salzler MD

“Should Post-Call Surgeons Operate the Next Day?” – Scott Ryan MD, Paul Tornetta MD, Andrew Hagar MD PGY-5, Matthew Salzler MD

Instructional Course Lectures

“Posttraumatic Arthritis of the Distal Radioulnar Joint: Contemporary Perspectives” - Charles Cassidy MD

“Contemporary Questions and Controversies Regarding the Assessment and Management of Distal Radius Fractures: What is the Best Evidence in 2021” – Charles Cassidy MD

Trainees are encouraged to enjoy the city of Boston and the opportunities for exploration throughout New England. There are frequent outings for residents—from spontaneous bowling get-togethers, to going paintballing, to holiday parties. They meet each other at restaurants, gather for softball games and even go to each others’ weddings. Our residents, fellows and attendings form true, lasting friendships.

Living in Boston

Boston is a vibrant city that is full of history.  From the Boston Tea Party to the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, our city has seen some of the pinnacle times in our nation’s growth. Walking along the streets of Boston (we recommend the Duck Boat Tour or a walk along the Freedom Trail) you can still visit many of the city’s famous landmarks.

Boston is also home to a wide number of universities and major health care institutions. In fact, the city has the nation’s highest concentration of colleges, with many alumni who stay after graduation to work and live in the city. This large population of young adults creates an atmosphere of people who are eager to network, get to know one another and have fun.

One of the things Boston is best known for is its sports teams and fanatical fans. The Celtics, Bruins, Patriots and Red Sox all call Boston home. While we root for all of the local teams, Tufts Medical Center have a major relationship with the Boston Bruins.

We host a number of events with the Bruins including Cuts for a Cause (fans shave the heads of Bruins players with proceeds going to Tufts Medical Center), which raised nearly $60,000 in 2012. Bruins players also regularly visit our pediatric patients and recently brought the Stanley Cup trophy to our atrium after their win in 2011.

Bruins president, Cam Neely and the Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care have donated more than $25 million to help build up our cancer programs, hematology/oncology research, the Neely House and the Neely Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.

Our Neighborhood

Boston is the largest city in New England but it’s easy to quickly find your way around. Tufts Medical Center is located in downtown Boston, next to Chinatown and the Theater District and within walking distance of the South End, Back Bay, Boston Common, Downtown Crossing and Fanieul Hall neighborhoods.

We share the Tufts Medical Center campus with several Tufts University science and professional schools, including Tufts University School of Medicine. The campus is close to a number of historical sites, fitness facilities, hotels and restaurants.

The Tufts Medical Center Orange Line stop is located across from the main hospital entrance on Washington Street. Other nearby MBTA stops are Downtown Crossing (Red Line, Orange Line) and Boylston (Green Line). Tufts Medical Center is a 15-to-20-minute cab ride from Logan Airport and within walking distance of South Station. View our campus map and directions.

Because Tufts Medical Center is located in the heart of Chinatown, we have a strong focus on working with this community and its residents. We created the Asian Health Initiative to identify public health issues of particular prevalence or concern in the Asian community and to work collaboratively with neighborhood organizations to address health issues in a culturally and linguistically appropriate way.

Our History

Along with its history of rooting for Boston sports teams, Tufts Medical Center has had a number of medical firsts. More than 200 years ago, the roots of our Medical Center were planted by several compassionate Bostonians, including American patriots Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. In 1796, these public-minded individuals founded the Boston Dispensary, a facility dedicated to the care of the poor. Between 1856-1899, the Dispensary established the first medical clinic, the first dental clinic and the first lung clinic in the United States. By 1918, the Dispensary had created the first evening pay clinic, a well-child clinic, a preventative health clinic and the first food clinic.

Tufts Medical Center began as a hospital ship, sailing the Boston Harbor for the first time in 1894. The mission of the ship was to take ill urban children out onto the harbor to experience the healing qualities of fresh sea air and sunshine. In the late 1920s, Tufts Medical Center left the harbor waters and moved it's facilities on land.

In 1929, the Boston Dispensary entered into an arrangement with the Boston Tufts Medical Center and Tufts College Medical School, to form New England Medical Center (which we know today as Tufts Medical Center). Since then, Tufts Medical Center has been on the forefront of medical innovation with advances like establishing the world’s first pediatric trauma center, inventing artificial milk (later called Similac) and discovering the modern syphilis test.