E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y
T H E B O L D E S T I D E A S T H E B R I G H T E S T M I N D S
A N N U A L R E P O R T
In a year defined by innovation and collaboration, CU Orthopedics has continued to push the boundaries of medical research and education.
"The Brightest Minds, The Boldest Ideas" reflects the essence of our work and the guiding principles of our mission uniting expertise with trailblazing ideas to address the most pressing challenges in orthopedics.
This executive summary highlights the exceptional achievements that set us apart as a global leader shaping and defining the future of orthopedic care. From record-breaking research funding and lauded publications to training the next generation of orthopedic specialists and delivering unmatched patient outcomes, the data speaks for itself.
But the numbers are more than data they tell a compelling story. They represent our collective drive to innovate, educate, and heal.
Scan to view the full Annual Report
Letter from the Chair
I am delighted to share with you the exciting advancements and initiatives our Orthopedics Department had for 2024. The year was characterized by exceptional achievements that set us apart as a global leader, shaping and defining the future of orthopedic care, and filled with remarkable progress in research, education, and innovation Through collaboration and teamwork, our patient safety statistics showed remarkable improvement in survival rates We are still honored to treat the most sick and vulnerable populations and proud of not only the survival rate but also the functional improvement that we provide our patients.
In 2024, our department continued to lead in orthopedic research by initiating innovative studies in musculoskeletal disorders We established a national program for osteoarthritis patients who are not candidates for total joint replacement, supported by substantial federal funding from sources like the Arthritis Foundation, the Department of Defense, and the National Institutes of Health.
Our collaborations with institutions such as the University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado State University resulted in a $39 million ARPA-H grant Additionally, we focused on non-opioid pain management and intensive rehabilitation post-arthroplasty, working with various departments including Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Biomedical Informatics, Bioengineering, the AI Institute, and the Center for Personalized Medicine.
Education remained the foundation of our mission In 2024, we enhanced our curriculum to include cutting-edge technologies and methodologies that reflected the rapidly evolving field of orthopedics. We matched 7 residents out of a very competitive applicant pool of 829 candidates Our commitment to fostering excellence in the next generation of orthopedic surgeons is matched by the dedication of our exceptional residents and together, we are engaged in unparalleled learning opportunities through hands-on experiences and mentorship
Innovation was the driving force behind our department's success. This year, we unveiled several initiatives aimed at integrating the latest technological advancements into clinical practice One of these innovations includes our own prosthetic lab to support our rapidly growing boneanchored limb program This collaborative endeavor is supporting our patients with state-of-the-art prosthetics and together we will continue to find even more novel solutions.
As we continue on this journey of growth and discovery, I am confident that our collective efforts will lead to significant advancements in orthopedic care I look forward to working with each of you to achieve our shared goals and to make 2025 yet another exceptional and outstanding year
I am eternally grateful to each and every member of this team for their perseverance, commitment and outstanding contributions to afford our patients the best care, and to fulfill our mission of education and research with purpose and passion. Everyone has truly contributed to our shibboleth.
Evalina Burger, MD Professor and Chair Robert D’Ambrosia Endowed Chair of Orthopedics
R E S E A R C H E D U C A T I O N
Orthopedics Residency Program Among Most Sought-After in the Nation
In 2023, the FREIDA™ database an essential resource for medical students exploring residency and fellowship opportunities recorded over 21,000 views of orthopedic surgery residency programs nationwide. Among the 209 accredited programs, the University of Colorado’s Orthopedic Surgery Residency once again ranked in the top 10 for student interest
Our continued ranking among the most sought-after residencies reflects our reputation for excellence in education and our impact on the future of orthopedic medicine
Consistently celebrated by both patients and peers for exceptional patient care, five adult-care physicians and five pediatric-care physicians received this esteemed recognition
Top Doctors
21,678 Surgical Cases P A T I E N T C A R E
262,902
Total Outpatient Visits
65,139
New Patient Visits
Melissa Gorman, MD Trauma & Fracture
Pictured |
Jessie Larson, PA-C Trauma & Fracture
Shawn Rodgers, RN Orthopedics
O U R F A C U L T Y
Clinicians | Researchers | Educators
Our faculty are pioneers in their fields, driving impact through innovation in research, education, and clinical care across every sub-specialty of orthopedics. In turn, they have chosen the University of Colorado for its transformative impact on medicine advancing solutions to some of the world’s most complex orthopedic challenges.
CU Orthopedics leadership actively recruits top-tier faculty who reflective of our patient population, fostering a welcoming experience for both patients and clinical trial participants.
*MDs, APPs, ATCs and Research Faculty in the School of Medicine, Denver Health, and the VA
Nationally, female representation in orthopedic surgery is 6%.
CU Orthopedics is proud to exceed that mark fivefold.
Q U A L I T Y
In 2024, we made remarkable strides in quality and safety significantly improving patient outcomes and advancing the overall standard of care.
improvement in patient survival rates 70% reduction in mortality rates 60%
Enhanced protocols led to smoother post-surgical experiences and reduced complications, underscoring our dedication to delivering exceptional care at every stage of the patient journey.
Improving Patient Recovery & Experience Fewer Emergency Visits complication rate for Total Hip and Knee (THK) surgeries
2%
of patients return home same day after surgery, highlighting effective recovery programs 6% 90% 1.4%
of patients needed an ER visit within 7 days after surgery
of patients required an ER visit within 30 days, reflecting strong post-surgical support
Our commitment to research and innovation led to contributions in global orthopedic knowledge while driving data-informed improvements in our own clinical practices, ultimately resulting in personalized treatments and improved patient care.
3 national orthopedic surgery registeries
30 peer-reviewed studies
3,000,000
patient reported outcomes
C O M M U N I T Y
E N G A G E M E N T & O U T R E A C H
120,000
patients served in our freestanding CU Medicine clinics
70%
In addition to our CU Medicine clinics, our community partnerships continued to flourish with our hospital-based clinics at Boulder Community Health, UCHealth, and Children’s Hospital Colorado serving an ever-expanding number of patients. of our faculty have a portion of their practice in the community.
Our 2024 outreach strategy was built first and foremost with a steadfast commitment to align with the Anschutz Medical Campus and the CU School of Medicine missions
Our new awareness campaign, "To Keep You Moving, We Never Stop," is a comprehensive initiative that features a documentary-style video communicating our position at the forefront of research, education, and patient care From that, we created a 30-second commercial for broadcast outreach throughout the year, which first aired on Super Bowl Sunday reaching an estimated two million Coloradans. Derivative video vignettes on our Education and Research programs showcase the breadth of our work and dedication to our mission.
In tandem with our key health partners UC Health and CU Medicine we continue to extend our outreach to connect with primary care providers in our communities. Additionally, our recent community event with Adams City High School and our residents was a huge success, and we plan to replicate this engaging initiative in 2025.
These efforts underscore our steadfast dedication to advancing the mission of this institution and our department, and ensuring our message of innovation and excellence resonates throughout the region and in our communities.
10,000 video and commercial views on social media in first week of campaign launch
200,000 weekly billboard impressions in our North metro market
Ashley Griffin Environmental Scientist
Athlete and Former Patient
Mission in Motion
In 2024, we set out to tell our story through the eyes and words of our faculty and one patient. What resulted is a dynamic portrait of our mission in motion our promise to continuously push the boundaries of orthopedics to keep our patients active and thriving.
Scan the QR code to see how our relentless dedication to research, education, and patient care keeps us at the forefront of orthopedics and drives everything we do.
Kylie Shaw, MD Resident | Research Track
The Next Generation
Everything we do is motivated by our commitment to advancing patient care. Education is the foundation of that. Our uncompromising training of the next generation of orthopedic specialists ensures not only that current innovations in patient care move forward, but also that our residents are empowered and prepared to be the groundbreaking innovators of tomorrow
Scan the QR code to hear from three of our residents about their experiences in our world renowned program.
Michael Zuscik, PhD Professor Vice Chair | Research
At The Forefront
Innovation is in our DNA. From the research bench to the patient bedside, our visionary scientists are setting and continuously improving the standard of care for orthopedics worldwide
Scan the QR code to watch our research featurette.
CU ORTHOPEDICS IS A MAGICAL PLACE.
We believe we can find cures for many of the diseases that are truly crippling, and we also believe that we have an obligation to train the doctors of tomorrow. That leads you to push the ceiling, and think ‘what can I do better?’
Translating that to clinical care affords our patients the best care, cutting-edge care—and personalized care to everyone who enters our doors.
Evalina Burger, MD Professor Chair | Department of Orthopedics CU Anschutz Medical Campus
Opening Doors, an art installation by Christopher Weed, features three 19-foot-tall, 3,000-pound doors standing as sentinels between two main science buildings at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus These vibrant and whimsical doors symbolize the new opportunities and discoveries that education and science provide
