Miami Center for
Orthopaedic Research and Education (CORE)
Miami Center for
Orthopaedic Research and Education (CORE)
Advancing Musculoskeletal Medicine through Research and Education
Miami Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education (CORE)
About Us
The mission of Miami CORE is to improve the quality of life for those with musculoskeletal conditions and diseases.
As the only academic-based health system in South Florida, the University of Miami Department of Orthopaedics and Miami CORE are uniquely positioned to advance musculoskeletal medicine and train the next generation of leading orthopaedic surgeons and scientists.
Our multidisciplinary faculty, residents, and medical students come together, in collaboration with Miami CORE, to not only treat but better understand the complex biology of musculoskeletal conditions and diseases, so we can discover new interventions, procedures, and therapies to get our community of patients back to living their lives without pain or compromise.
Featured Initiatives
Microsurgery Skills
Advanced Microsurgical Skills Training for Residents and Fellows
The landscape of orthopaedics is continually changing and, in turn, so is orthopaedic surgical training and education. Important advancements in orthopaedic medicine present both tremendous possibilities and challenges for medical education. As the only academic orthopaedic program in South Florida, it is the job of Miami CORE and the Department of Orthopaedics to ensure that our residents and fellows are trained and fully prepared to adapt to the inevitable changes and innovations in medicine.
The Orthopaedic Hand Surgery Division continued its Hand Microsurgery Course in February, led by Helen Hui-Chou, M.D. F.A.C.S., with a microsurgical musculoskeletal flap course. This day-long educational event included cadaver dissection of pedicled and free musculoskeletal flaps. The course began with an introductory lecture and PowerPoint discussion, followed by a flap demonstration with live cadaver dissection. Afterward, each resident and fellow group had an opportunity to perform their own dissections at five different tables.
Our orthopaedic surgery faculty included Helen Hui-Chou, M.D., F.A.C.S., who directs the Hand Section’s Microsurgery Course, and Seth Dodds, M.D., associate program director for our UM/JMH Orthopaedic Surgery Residency. This microsurgery course was held at the UM Miller School of Medicine Minimally Invasive Surgical Training & Education Center (MISTE).
Dr. Aiyer and Residents
UM Orthopaedic Surgeons Replace Ankle Bone with 3D-Printed Metallic Implant
Surgeons have treated a patient’s “dead” ankle bone with a custom, 3D-printed replacement for the first time at UHealth Tower and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
“We believe that bringing this treatment to UHealth shows how we are at the vanguard of innovation and early incorporation of the most exciting surgical developments from around the world,” said Stephen Quinnan, M.D., an orthopedic trauma surgeon at the University of Miami.
The procedure puts the Miller School on the forefront of using 3D printing technology to create orthopedic solutions customized for individual patients. Drs. Aiyer and Quinnan estimate that fewer than 100 such bone replacements have been performed in the United States to date. Some cases reported in the literature from abroad involved a 3D ceramic implant, but the UM surgeons opted for cobalt chrome, a metal often used in hip replacements and one that might be more durable, particularly for the load-bearing ankle.
The Promise of Hope: Researching a Rare Musculoskeletal Cancer
“A rare disease such as chondrosarcoma is most often overlooked by the public and funding agencies, although it becomes a first and desperate priority when tragedy knocks on your door, then it becomes personal.” This is the mission behind the research for Karina Galoian, Ph.D., research director of the Sarcoma Disease Site Group at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and research associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedics.
Dr. Galoian’s priority is to find a cure through biological therapies for sarcomas and other connective tissue malignancies. Her commitment to research is inspirational to her staff and medical students who participate in meaningful research in her laboratory. The skills acquired are beyond bench experiments as she trains the next generations of doctors to be critical thinkers in their approach to scientific experiments in pursuit of a breakthrough.
One of the important missions of Dr. Galoian’s research career is mentoring medical students at the UM Miller School of Medicine. Many talented honor students join the laboratory for training, resulting in multiple publications and podium presentations allowing them to achieve their dream to match the best orthopaedic surgery residency programs at universities throughout the US. The students and residents in her laboratory become co-authors on multiple manuscripts and present their work at national scientific forums. Most of her students are on the Miller School honor roll and receive additional invitations from prestigious institutions leading to research distinction awards.
Featured Videos
A $3-million gift from the Ratcliffe Foundation will support discovery, collaboration, and innovation at Miami CORE
“I would like to thank Phil and Carole for their incredible investment in our young residents and our programs,” said Dr. Mark Brown, Chair Emeritus and Director of Miami CORE. “Their gift will touch every aspect of our Department and our pursuit to improve lives, impacting education, research and clinical care here in our South Florida community.
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Dr. Francis Hornicek Named Chair of Orthopaedics at the University of Miami
Francis Hornicek, M.D., Ph.D., has been named chair of the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Hornicek, who completed his residency at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital and began his academic career on the Miller School faculty, has served most recently as chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Program Highlights
