✓ Primary programme source linked✓ Dated source review current✓ Current cycle evidenced✓ Faculty identity sourced✓ Institution mark verified
DECISION SUMMARY
What matters before you keep reading.
Eligibility
International route mentioned
Funding
PGY-6 stipend level; Duke directs applicants to the current GME stipend schedule for the dollar amount
Deadline
1 November 2026 for the current 2028–2029 recruitment cycle
Duration
12 months, 1 August to 31 July
Hands-on
Unclear — confirm privileges
Last checked
31 Aug 2026
Duration · published12 months, 1 August to 31 July
Clinical exposurePaediatric congenital and developmental limb disorders, scoliosis, hip dysplasia, neuromuscular disorders, trauma, limb reconstruction, clinics, operating rooms, inpatient rounds, consults, teaching and research
Funding · publishedPGY-6 stipend level; Duke directs applicants to the current GME stipend schedule for the dollar amount
DestinationUnited States
Participation levelClinical participation and hands-on restrictions must be confirmed directly with the host.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT CHECK
What the official evidence currently supports
Decision-critical fields are separated into confirmed facts, partial information and points requiring direct confirmation.
≈Partially published
International applicant eligibility
Duke's current 2028–2029 at-a-glance table accepts foreign medical graduates and says H-1B requires pre-approval. The individual fellowship page instead says foreign graduates must be US permanent residents, describes J-1 only for ACGME training and says H-1B is not sponsored. Indonesian applicants need written clarification before relying on either route.
✓Published by official source
Required training level
Completed orthopaedic surgery residency · Pass all three USMLE/COMLEX steps within three attempts · Qualify for a North Carolina resident training licence
✓Published by official source
Programme classification
Clinical or combined training pathway; exact duties remain appointment-specific.
?Confirm directly with host
Hands-on restrictions
Hands-on participation and operative restrictions are not explicitly published.
≈Partially published
Medical registration
Applicants must meet Duke policy for graduate medical trainees and qualify for a North Carolina resident training licence.
?Confirm directly with host
Licensing examinations
Any examination requirement must be confirmed with the relevant regulator and host.
✓Published by official source
Language requirements
No standalone English-test requirement is published; international graduates require a valid ECFMG certificate and selection includes communication skills
≈Partially published
Visa or work authorisation
Conflicting current official information: Duke's central 2028–2029 table says H-1B may be available with pre-approval, while the individual page says H-1B is not sponsored and restricts its stated foreign-graduate pathway to permanent residents.
✓Published by official source
Funding availability
PGY-6 stipend level; Duke directs applicants to the current GME stipend schedule for the dollar amount
DATA QUALITY & AVAILABILITY
86% of core application fields verified
Checked 31 Aug 2026. Next scheduled editorial review: 2027-02-27. Every unresolved field keeps its exact evidence state—unpublished, not yet researched, historical, conflicting, inaccessible or not applicable—so an absence is never converted into a fact.
✓ programme title✓ institution / department✓ city and country✓ programme classification✓ subspecialty✓ current status evidence✓ duration✓ positions✓ commencement / intake✓ funding✓ benefits✓ eligibility✓ registration✓ deadline✓ application process✓ required documents✓ application portal✓ official contact✓ faculty✓ verified faculty photograph✓ verified institution logo✓ official source✓ institutional source✓ accreditation / organisation source✓ verification date— accommodation / relocation · not published by the cited official source— international eligibility · official sources conflict— Language requirement not published · not published by the cited official source— visa / work authorisation · official sources conflict
APPLICATION TIMELINE & CONTACT
Plan the application
Application deadline1 November 2026 for the current 2028–2029 recruitment cycle
Commencing date1 August 2028 to 31 July 2029
Application route / cycleCurrent Duke at-a-glance table: 2028–2029 recruitment through SF Match/CAS, opened August 2026
Official contactCheryl DePaolis, Fellowship Program Coordinator; Wendy Thompson, Senior Program Coordinator919-684-0536
Deadlines and intake dates can change between cycles. The data-quality ledger above explicitly labels application fields that the cited official source does not publish.
ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS
Published entry requirements
Clinical / academic eligibility
Completed orthopaedic surgery residency
Pass all three USMLE/COMLEX steps within three attempts
Qualify for a North Carolina resident training licence
Registration, licence & examinations
Applicants must meet Duke policy for graduate medical trainees and qualify for a North Carolina resident training licence.
Visa / work authorisation
Conflicting current official information: Duke's central 2028–2029 table says H-1B may be available with pre-approval, while the individual page says H-1B is not sponsored and restricts its stated foreign-graduate pathway to permanent residents.
Application documents
SF Match/CAS application and distribution choices
Curriculum vitae
Three current recommendation letters including one from the chair or programme director
USMLE/COMLEX transcript
Valid ECFMG certificate when applicable
Licensing, visa and document rules depend on the individual programme and application cycle. OrthoFellow does not infer USMLE, AHPRA, ECFMG, recommendation-letter or visa requirements from the country alone.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What this program offers
A two-position Duke–UNC paediatric orthopaedic fellowship rotating six months at each institution, with graded operative responsibility and broad deformity, spine, hip, neuromuscular and trauma exposure. Compensation and dates are published; international visa rules conflict across current Duke pages.
BENEFITS & SUPPORT
Published benefits and support
Duke fellows are paid at the PGY-6 stipend level. Published benefits include subsidized medical, dental and vision plans, disability and life insurance, three weeks away plus a Christmas or New Year holiday period, an education allotment, on-call meals, pager, parking, lab coats and access to the housestaff gym.
Benefits may depend on appointment type, training level, visa status and the active academic year. OrthoFellow keeps stipend and benefits separate so a salary figure is not mistaken for the full package.
HOST INSTITUTION
About Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Duke and UNC publish two August-to-July positions, six-month rotations at each institution, PGY-6 stipend basis, benefits, documents, faculty and licensing requirements. The current international visa conflict remains explicit.
Fellowship supervisor / program leadershipOfficial program roster
Current position
Fellowship supervisor / program leadership
Affiliation
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Clinical focus
Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Robert K. Lark is listed in the cited programme evidence as fellowship supervisor / program leadership for Duke–UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Robert K. Lark is listed by the official programme source as fellowship supervisor / program leadership. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
BA
Faculty: Benjamin A. Alman
Teaching faculty / co-leadershipOfficial program roster
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Clinical focus
Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Benjamin A. Alman is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Duke–UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Benjamin A. Alman is listed by the official programme source as teaching faculty / co-leadership. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
AA
Faculty: Anthony A. Catanzano Jr.
Teaching faculty / co-leadershipOfficial program roster
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Clinical focus
Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Anthony A. Catanzano Jr. is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Duke–UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Anthony A. Catanzano Jr. is listed by the official programme source as teaching faculty / co-leadership. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
MA
Faculty: Melissa Allen
Teaching faculty / co-leadershipOfficial program roster
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Clinical focus
Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Melissa Allen is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Duke–UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Melissa Allen is listed by the official programme source as teaching faculty / co-leadership. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Clinical focus
Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Kendall Bradley is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Duke–UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Kendall Bradley is listed by the official programme source as teaching faculty / co-leadership. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
AB
Faculty: Amy Behman
Teaching faculty / co-leadershipOfficial program roster
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Clinical focus
Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Amy Behman is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Duke–UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Amy Behman is listed by the official programme source as teaching faculty / co-leadership. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
KR
Faculty: Kathleen Rickert
Teaching faculty / co-leadershipOfficial program roster
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Clinical focus
Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Kathleen Rickert is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Duke–UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Kathleen Rickert is listed by the official programme source as teaching faculty / co-leadership. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
AA
Faculty: Ali Asma
Teaching faculty / co-leadershipOfficial program roster
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Clinical focus
Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Ali Asma is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Duke–UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Ali Asma is listed by the official programme source as teaching faculty / co-leadership. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
SM
Faculty: Stuart Mitchell
Teaching faculty / co-leadershipOfficial program roster
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Clinical focus
Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Stuart Mitchell is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Duke–UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Stuart Mitchell is listed by the official programme source as teaching faculty / co-leadership. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
VN
Faculty: Vinay Narotam
Teaching faculty / co-leadershipOfficial program roster
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Clinical focus
Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Vinay Narotam is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Duke–UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Vinay Narotam is listed by the official programme source as teaching faculty / co-leadership. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
JS
Faculty: James Sanders
Teaching faculty / co-leadershipOfficial program roster
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Clinical focus
Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
James Sanders is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Duke–UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
James Sanders is listed by the official programme source as teaching faculty / co-leadership. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
ST
Faculty: Samantha Tayne
Teaching faculty / co-leadershipOfficial program roster
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Clinical focus
Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Samantha Tayne is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Duke–UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Samantha Tayne is listed by the official programme source as teaching faculty / co-leadership. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
AD
Faculty: Anna D. Vergun
Teaching faculty / co-leadershipOfficial program roster
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UNC Hospitals
Clinical focus
Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Anna D. Vergun is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Duke–UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Paediatric Orthopaedics training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Anna D. Vergun is listed by the official programme source as teaching faculty / co-leadership. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Names and fellowship roles come from the cited programme source. A green “individual profile verified” label means the position, qualifications and biography were also checked against an official personal or institutional profile. OrthoFellow displays a portrait only when it can be tied to an official profile or faculty source; otherwise the host institution brandmark is shown, with initials retained only when neither image is available. Faculty rosters may change.
PROGRAM HISTORY
Published fellowship history
The current central table confirms two 2028–2029 positions and December 2026 interviews. Its H-1B pre-approval statement conflicts with the individual page's permanent-resident and no-H-1B wording; neither is silently preferred.
APPLICANT PROFILE
Orthopaedic surgery residency graduates who meet ICGME/POSNA programme and Duke appointment requirements
◎
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Published international eligibility information
Duke's current 2028–2029 at-a-glance table accepts foreign medical graduates and says H-1B requires pre-approval. The individual fellowship page instead says foreign graduates must be US permanent residents, describes J-1 only for ACGME training and says H-1B is not sponsored. Indonesian applicants need written clarification before relying on either route.
This note is shown only when the official source publishes information relevant to overseas applicants. Applicants should confirm licensing and visa eligibility directly with the host.
