Navy
MEDICAL
Subspecialty

Officer Subspecialty

15H0

Orthopedic Surgery, General

An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.

Description

This specialty identifies physicians trained in general orthopedic surgery, including diagnosis and operative treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. Their work covers bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, fractures, and related rehabilitation.

Core Skills

  • musculoskeletal diagnosis
  • fracture management
  • joint replacement surgery
  • operative planning
  • surgical team leadership
  • medical imaging interpretation
  • perioperative patient management
  • clinical documentation
  • rehabilitation coordination

Common Certifications

  • American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Board Certification
  • Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
  • Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
  • Certified Physician Executive (CPE)

Civilian Career Paths

  • SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
  • CLINICAL TECHNICIAN
  • REHABILITATION
  • EMERGENCY MEDICINE

Training & Development

Getting Started

  • Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
  • Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
  • Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
  • Basic Life Support (BLS)

Career Growth

  • American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Board Certification
  • Fellowship in Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Certified Physician Executive (CPE)

Data sourced from official Navy publications and public military occupational references. Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.