Residency Program History

Historian: Mark Hoffer, M.D.

The Orthopaedic Surgery Program at UCI began with the County Hospital of Orange, and Dr. Sanford Anzel was the first chairman in the early 1970’s. The program at the Long Beach Veteran Affairs Healthcare System began a decade before and required many outside rotations. Dr. Anzel eventually merged the two programs together in a combined program between the Orange County Hospital and the Veterans Hospital. Later in that decade, the University of California, Irvine took over the Orange County Hospital and took over the residents training program. A full time chief of the program was selected.

That first full time chief was Dr. Theodore Waugh from New York. He firmly established the University relationship to the training program. The second Chief of the Division of Orthopaedics was Dr. William McMaster. He helped develop the laboratory and research program on the main campus and coordinated research programs at the Veterans Hospital. Dr. Mark Hoffer began a long tenure as Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1983. On two occasions, one in the mid 1980’s and again in late 1991, Dr. Robert Baird served in the capacity of acting chief when Colonel Mark Hoffer was called to active duty in the U.S. Army. Through Dr. Hoffer’s efforts the division became a department in 1992. Dr. Hoffer retired from UCI in 1993. Dr. J. Pierce Conaty served as acting chairman until the arrival in late 1994 of Dr. Harry B. Skinner, the first full time Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

The Orthopaedic Surgery Program, in the last decade, has graduated four residents each year; each of whom have passed the written part of the Boards which is quite an achievement. The Research Program in Bioengineering at the Long Beach Veterans Affairs Healthcare System began about seven years ago. The Orthopeadic Research Program in Physiology (specializing in muscle) at the University campus has developed over the last several years. In addition, residents collaborate on research at CHOC and Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey.

The program has been dependent for its entire history on close cooperation between the community and the University. The faculty has always considered itself to be a part of both. The part-time faculty members are involved in all aspects of the teaching program from its inception.

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