Fracture to Union Surgery Investigators Team (FUSE-IT) Journal Club

Students, residents, and clinical/research faculty in the Department of Orthopedics at the University of Colorado- Anschutz Medical Campus have teamed up to establish the Fracture to Union Surgery Investigators Team or FUSE-IT journal club. 

The FUSE-IT journal club is dedicated to discussing new and classic research articles representing groundbreaking advancements in orthopedic surgery and trauma. The FUSE-IT Journal club helps orthopedic providers/researchers stay current with the latest evidence-based clinical information relevant to surgical outcomes and translational research.
No events currently scheduled.
FUSE-IT- Fracture to Union Surgery Investigators Team

FUSE-IT Objectives:

  • Strengthen the field of surgical outcomes in orthopedics by providing a definitive guide and summary of research-based treatment modalities through publications detailing the results of the current literature. 
  • Train the next generation of orthopedic surgeons on how to appraise the literature critically and efficiently, obtain the best available evidence bearing on their questions, evaluate the strength of the studies' methodologies, extract the clinical conclusion, apply it back to the patients, and store it for retrieval when faced with similar patients in the future.
  • Employ lifelong learning skills in evidence-based orthopedics through advocating how to frame a clinical quandary to facilitate the use of the literature in its resolution. 
  • Improve and encourage mentorship, presentation, leadership, critical thinking, and communication skills.
  • Support a collegial environment where faculty, residents, and students can share an open exchange of ideas leading to stimulating discussions.

The club participants:

FUSE-IT journal club encourages a broad spectrum of orthopedic care team members and researchers to attend. Invitations are department-based (faculty, fellows, researchers, residents, advanced practice providers, and students within the University of Colorado School of Medicine), multicenter (University of Colorado Hospital, Denver Health Medical Center, and private practice orthopedic surgeons in the community), and multidisciplinary (orthopedics, plastic surgery, general surgery, rheumatology, physical medicine & rehabilitation, biomechanical engineers). We commonly host 20 or more participants at each meeting.

The Club Design:

We conduct meetings that apply an evidence-based format to a specific topic where we examine research studies that encourage discussion and debate.

We select materials to focus on classic and most up-to-date journal articles. There is a particular focus on translational research and/or articles driving evidenced-based orthopedic care. The orthopedic surgery PGY-4 and PGY-3, who are FUSE-IT ambassadors for the year, will have a leading role in topic/article selection. The next meeting’s topic/articles are chosen before the current meeting so that all participants stay informed and prepared.

Every meeting has a presentation comprising three clinical scenarios and research questions associated with the chosen topic. The presenter will provide an evidence-based discussion, potential clinical solutions for these scenarios, and ongoing questions based on the current literature.

FUSE-IT team considers the following for topic selection:

  • New clinical and basic science orthopedic literature in all subspecialties.
  • Classic literature supporting the current practice
  • Articles generating clinical controversy
  • Articles reflecting original research rather than review articles or opinion pieces

Frequency:

Meetings typically held off-campus on a Tuesday evening from 6:30-9:00 PM with dinner provided or on a Wednesday from 11:15 to noon on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

For more information on dates, topics, and location please see our website.

For more general information or to be added to the email list, please contact Mia Kuehn.

Fracture to Union Surgery Investigators Team 

Nicholas Alfonso, MD

Clinical Faculty Leadership
Director of FUSE-IT journal club 
Nicholas Alfonso, MD 

Douglas Adams, PhD

Research Faculty Leadership
Douglas Adams, PhD

Bryant Elrick , MD
Resident Leadership
Bryant Elrick , MD
Dave Daniels, MD
Resident Leadership
Dave Daniels, MD
Mohamed Awad, MD
Journal Club Coordinators
Mohamed Awad, MD
Aaron Epperson, OMS4
Journal Club Coordinators
Aaron Epperson, OMS4
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