Growing Hackensack University Medical Center Orthopedic Residency Program Welcomes Third Class

New skills lab, active research opportunities and culture of innovation shape a robust educational experience

The Orthopedic Residency Program at Hackensack University Medical Center welcomed its third class with three residents, bringing the total number of residents to nine. The five-year, ACGME-approved program is offered in conjunction with the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (HMSOM) and will reach its full complement of 15 residents in 2027.

“We are now accepting applications for our fourth residency class, and each year, we receive hundreds of high-quality applicants for our very competitive program,” said Wayne S. Berberian, M.D., MBA, Residency Program Director for the Hackensack University Medical Center Department of Orthopedics. “Our center has a reputation for being a high-volume center that performs diverse, leading-edge procedures, so our residents are able to gain vast experience in a robust educational environment.”

In fact, Dr. Berberian said residents are meeting their ACGME case minimums for certain procedures in their first year with the program.

“Residents at other programs have trouble meeting their case minimums in five years—which is a testament to the tremendous clinical volume we have at our center and the learning opportunities we provide,” said Dr. Berberian.

In 2024, the Orthopedic Residency Program added a dedicated surgical skills lab and a state-of-the-art videoconferencing system to facilitate learning and teaching. Residents also refine their skills on a surgical simulator obtained in August 2025.

Both third-year residents—along with HMSOM students—are actively involved in research, which is helping to promote innovation and excellence across the department. “When you’re teaching residents, you must be up on the material,” said Dr. Berberian. “There’s no opportunity to stagnate, which means we’re constantly pushing the envelope.”

Learn more about orthopedic innovations happening at Hackensack University Medical Center.