Each year, as Department of Orthopaedic Surgery PGY5 residents approach the end of their residency, they begin to dedicate most of their time to preparing for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) board exam.

Although residents prepare throughout the length of their residency, studying and preparation typically culminates during the final months of their training. One method of preparation is the ABOS Miller Review Course, which is a five-day course usually hosted in Denver, Colorado.

In addition to a textbook preparation option, Miller’s Review of Orthopaedics, the Miller Review Course was created by University of Virginia Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Professor Mark Miller, M.D., to offer concise and thorough reviews of orthopaedic topics for the ABOS boards.

The Miller Review Course is now in its 25th year, and the course looked a bit different than previous years as it was hosted virtually due to the pandemic. The topic that the course focused on was step one of ABOS boards- or part one of credentialing- which includes a written exam that happens one month following residency.

Following the course and the end of residency, residents plan to dedicate most their time to studying until the ABOS Board step one, which is Jul. 9, 2020. Resident Allison Hunter, M.D., says that while she spent all five years of residency preparing to the boards, that this month will be crucial to preparation.

“Review courses are vital to preparation, and several are offered, but Miller Review tends to be the most popular among residencies,” said Hunter. “It is definitely helpful going into this month of preparation knowing that we have a solid five-year foundation of preparation, however the time to review, study and apply the ‘book knowledge’ fundamentals from the Miller Review Course is invaluable going into ABOS part I of our boards. We are fortunate that the department supports the PGY5s with this endeavor each year.”