This fellowship is designed to provide a thorough understanding of shoulder and elbow anatomy and pathologic conditions, as well as teach the latest techniques in open, arthroscopic, and endoscopic surgery.
Our fellowship has met the ASES’s quality standard requirements. Applications closed on Dec. 1, 2024, and will reopen in the fall for the fellowship year 2027-2028. Interviews will be conducted in person.
The curriculum will allow fellows to develop a solid knowledge base and skillset on which to start their careers in shoulder and elbow surgery. The educational curriculum will consist of hands-on training both in the office and the operating room, anatomic dissections, and open and arthroscopic model and cadaveric wet laboratories (scope equipment).
Christopher C. Schmidt, MD
Program Director, Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship
Co-Director, Shoulder and Elbow Mechanics Laboratory
Dean G. Sotereanos, MD
Associate Program Director, Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship
Albert Lin, MD
Chief, Shoulder Surgery
Associate Chief, UPMC Sports Medicine
Program Director, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program
Co-Director, Pittsburgh Shoulder Institute
Nathan Formaini, DO
Clinical Associate, Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship
Fellows will share rotation time with Drs. Schmidt, Sotereanos, Lin, and Formaini in three-month blocks. During each block, fellows will spend three to four days per week with Dr. Schmidt or Dr. Sotereanos and one day per week with Dr. Lin, who will emphasize the sports medicine approach to shoulder and elbow pathology. The caseload will include innovative surgeries like arthroscopic muscle transfers, revision total shoulder arthroplasties, arthroscopic and open elbow releases, and endoscopic and open distal biceps repairs.
With state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, our lab is designed to help master the surgical skills needed to perform quality surgery. Fellows will be strongly encouraged to participate in ongoing studies investigating the distal biceps tendon, rotator cuff, reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and more. Fellows will be given dedicated time to practice their surgical skills and to perform valuable research including one day each week for research, elective clinical time, or practicing surgical skills.
Fellows will receive further education through weekly shoulder and elbow conferences, monthly journal clubs, grand rounds, combined sports medicine and upper extremity conferences, biweekly research conferences, and bimonthly mortality and morbidity conferences.
UPMC Facilities / Hospitals:
Non-UPMC Hospitals / Facilities:
Learn more about the Orthopaedic Specialists Fellowship from Dean G. Sotereanos, M.D.
