The St. Joseph's Medical Center Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program is a five-year, ACGME-accredited training program in Stockton, California. Affiliated with Touro University College of Medicine, it develops orthopaedic surgeons for the Central Valley. As part of Dignity Health, we are a member of CommonSpirit Health's national network of more than 2,200 care sites across 24 states. That broad perspective supports our local commitment to community-based training, health equity and compassionate care. Training occurs at St. Joseph's, with comprehensive sub-specialty experiences at UC Davis, Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, Shriners Hospital, and San Joaquin County Medical Center. The program fosters surgical skills, academic growth, communication, professionalism, and patient safety, emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion in orthopaedic care for a diverse community.
Message from the Program Director
Welcome to the Orthopaedic Surgery residency program at St. Joseph’s Medical Center. We are an ACGME-accredited, five-year program committed to producing elite orthopaedic surgeons. Our mission is to nurture surgical skills, academic growth, and teach communication, professionalism, patient safety, and empathy, with a unique emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. We offer comprehensive sub-specialty training and a preceptor model for individual guidance. We warmly welcome your interest in our program.
Jaicharan Iyengar, MD Program Director
The five-year Orthopaedic Surgery Residency program at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center offers a robust and comprehensive training experience through various affiliated institutions.
The Clinical Base Year provides an integrated internship at St. Joseph's Medical Center, offering a foundation in medical and surgical specialties with an introduction to orthopaedic surgery, divided into four-week block rotations. This includes rotations in Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, General Orthopaedics, General Surgery, Hand, Surgical ICU, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Plastics.
PGY-2 residents participate in primary and secondary trauma surveys and interventions, assuming responsibility for ongoing inpatient care under supervision. Rotations include Adult Reconstruction, General Orthopaedics, Hand, Musculoskeletal Oncology at UC Davis, Pediatric Orthopaedics at UC Davis, Sports Medicine, and Trauma at San Joaquin General Hospital.
PGY-3 residents gain clinical and surgical skills in orthopaedic spine, participating in patient care in inpatient, outpatient, and operating room settings. Rotations include Foot & Ankle, General Orthopaedics, Pediatric Orthopaedics at Children’s Hospital Oakland and Shriners Hospital, Spine, and Trauma.
PGY-4 focuses on advanced sports medicine and other subspecialties, with rotations in Elective, General Orthopaedics, Hand, Shoulder & Elbow, Spine, and Trauma, emphasizing superior patient care and an associated teaching program.
PGY-5 residents participate in patient care across inpatient, outpatient, and operating room settings under close faculty supervision, growing their knowledge in degenerative musculoskeletal conditions. Rotations include Elective, Foot & Ankle, General Orthopaedics, Hip/Knee Reconstruction, and Trauma.
Every Tuesday is dedicated to core curriculum educational activities from 8:00am to 1:00pm. Residents participate in basic science and clinical lecture series, clinical conferences, interactive case discussions, and problem-based learning discussions. The program also features monthly Orthopaedic Grand Rounds and Ortho/Spine M&M, quarterly Journal Clubs, and Tumor Board/Oncology Multidisciplinary meetings. Residents are required to provide case presentations at didactics.
The program includes dedicated simulation scenarios for fundamental knowledge and psychomotor skills, a 13-module surgical skills curriculum covering operative techniques, and anatomy/cadaver labs. Junior residents focus on technical skills and basic instrumentation, while senior residents master advanced techniques and teaching competencies.
Residents are required to be involved in independent research projects with faculty mentorship, fostering academic growth and longitudinal interest in clinical research. The curriculum includes self-directed learning projects, and residents have protected time to pursue independent research.
Lectures introduce residents to important and fundamental concepts in education, business, law, and communication impacting effective healthcare delivery. These cover healthcare management, ethics, risk management, professionalism, research, and physician leadership.
The departmental wellness committee, comprising residents and faculty, promotes physical and emotional health through a comprehensive curriculum addressing professional, physical, psychological, and social domains. The program monitors and addresses burnout risk factors and provides resources for prevention and treatment.
Elective rotations are available in PGY-4 and PGY-5, allowing residents to pursue areas of interest and tailor their educational training.
The Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program provides comprehensive training across multiple affiliated institutions within California.
Dignity Health – St. Joseph’s Medical Center
Stockton, California
Sutter Alpine Care Center
Stockton, California
San Joaquin General Hospital
Stockton, California
Plastics Surgery Center of Stockton
Stockton, California
UC Davis Medical Center
Sacramento, California
Shriners Hospitals for Children - Northern California
Sacramento, California
Children’s Hospital Oakland
Oakland, California
Residents receive educational, wellness and leave benefits designed to support their professional development and well-being.
Annual resident salaries are:
PGY-1: $78,000
PGY-2: $79,170
PGY-3: $80,358
PGY-4: $81,563
PGY-5: $82,786
Additional financial support includes:
Chief resident stipend: $2,000 annually
CME allowance: $1,000 annually
Relocation bonus: $1,500 for residents moving more than 50 miles; available during the first year only
Annual professional society membership
Specialty-specific educational subscriptions and question-bank resources
Meal stipend
White coat
Three pairs of scrubs annually
Free parking at St. Joseph’s Medical Center and parking reimbursement at other clinical sites
In-Shape Health Club membership
$100 annual Lyft Healthcare benefit
Well-Being Index resources
UpToDate
Sanford Guide mobile app
Lexicomp
VisualDx
Dignity Health and CommonSpirit Health Library Web Portal
Touro University medical resources
ClinicalKey, Ovid, PubMed, MD Consult and The New England Journal of Medicine
Full-text articles and interlibrary loan services
Full-time medical librarian on-site
On-site support from a GME research director with expertise in biostatistics
21 days of paid vacation
9 days of sick leave
6 weeks of paid medical, parental or caregiver leave immediately available for qualifying needs
Additional leave as permitted under St. Joseph’s Medical Center policies and California law
Stockton, CA, is a historic gold rush port city on the banks of the mighty San Joaquin River, offering a diverse community and convenient access to popular Northern California destinations. It is a 60-minute drive to the San Francisco Bay Area and a 90-minute drive to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Application Process
The Orthopaedic Surgery Residency program is a five-year program offering three categorical positions each year. Applications are accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and the program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
Required application materials:
Interview Season Information
Interviews are conducted from November to February, with final selection based on application and interview. Invitation to an interview is extended to applicants with strong academic performance, leadership skills, and professionalism. All applications are reviewed personally by the Program Director. The program will sponsor J-1 visas for IMGs.
International Medical Graduates
IMGs are considered, and the program sponsors J-1 visas. Noncitizens will be asked to provide proof of employment authorization by the interview date. ECFMG certification is required for interviews.
Role: Chairman and Founding Program Director
Program/affiliation: St. Joseph’s Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program
Role: Faculty
Program/affiliation: St. Joseph’s Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program
Residency: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Fellowship: Vanderbilt Medical Center
Board certification: The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS)
Clinical/academic interests: Treatment of traumatic conditions such as fractures, tendon ruptures, acute sports injuries, multi ligamentous knee injuries, pelvic and acetabular trauma.
Role: Faculty
Program/affiliation: St. Joseph’s Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program
Residency: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Fellowship: University of California, Davis (UCD)
Board certification: ABOS Board Certified
Clinical/academic interests: Simple and complex lower extremity fracture fixation
Role: Faculty
Program/affiliation: St. Joseph’s Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program
Residency: University of Pennsylvania
Fellowship: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF); Paul Farmer Global Surgery Research Fellow
Clinical/academic interests: Arthroscopic surgical management of sports related injuries of the hip, knee, shoulder. Cartilage, ligament, and tendon repair or reconstruction of the hip, knee, shoulder.
Role: Faculty
Program/affiliation: St. Joseph’s Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program Residency: University of California, Davis (UCD)
Fellowship: Baylor University Medical Center
Board certification: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS), Board-eligible diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS)
Clinical/academic interests: Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgery
Role: Faculty
Program/affiliation: St. Joseph’s Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program
Residency: Pinnacle Health Systems
Fellowship: University of Minnesota
Board certification: American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAKHS), American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), American Osteopathic Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (AOBOS)
Clinical/academic interests: Total knee replacement, Anterior approach total hip replacement, Complex revision surgery of the hip and knee, Painful total knee, Painful total hip, Infected total knee/hip, Complex fracture care, Periarticular fractures, Periprosthetic fractures.
Medical school: The George Washington University
Hometown: San Lorenzo, CA
Professional interests: Adult reconstruction, pediatric orthopaedics, medical humanities
Personal interests: Lakers basketball, cooking, anything outdoors, and trying new breweries
Medical school: Creighton University School of Medicine
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Professional interests: Arthroplasty and Trauma
Personal interests: Spending time with my wife and daughter, hiking, cooking, and watching rugby
Medical school: Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Professional interests: Adult Reconstruction, foot & ankle, and trauma
Personal interests: Weightlifting, running, hiking, personal finance, hip-hop music, art, & travel.
Medical school: Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Glendora, California
Professional interests: Trauma, adult reconstruction, shoulder and elbow
Personal interests: Ceramics, leatherworking, sewing, whittling spoons, naps, swimming, and family
Medical school: Baylor College of Medicine
Hometown: Irvine, California
Professional interests: Spine, joint reconstruction, global surgery
Personal interests: Gym, music production, piano, spray painting, sports, Lakers basketball, Rams football Baylor sports teams, and watching stand up comedy
Medical school: Burrell College of Medicine
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Professional interests: Global Health, Sports Medicine, Shoulder & Elbow, and Trauma
Personal interests: Los Angeles Lakers & Dallas Cowboys, Afrobeats & Reggaeon, and Travel
Medical school: University of California, San Francisco
Hometown: Fresno, California
Professional interests: Orthopaedic Surgery
Personal interests: Homebrewing, 3D printing, learning languages, & food
Medical school: California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Professional interests: Arthroplasty or Sports Medicine
Personal interests: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, CrossFit, spending time with my family, water sports, eating snacks, and watching TV shows
Medical school: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Hometown: Lodi, California
Professional interests: Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstruction
Personal interests: Golfing, weightlifting, San Francisco 49ers football, and playing video games.
Jonathan Farley
Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program Coordinator
Phone: (209) 547-7184
Email: jonathan.farley900@commonspirit.org
Mailing Address:
2102 N. California Street
Stockton, CA 95204
For general GME inquiries:
Joanne Daly Department of Academic Affairs and Graduate Medical Education
Program Name: St. Joseph's Medical Center Graduate Medical Education
Email: sjmcgmeleadership@commonspirit.org
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