As the trauma center system continues to expand, not only will the requirement for more and better trained trauma surgeons increase, but the means of educating them will need to become more standardized. The general surgeons recognized this many years ago, but orthopaedic trauma has lagged in its efforts to present a coordinated academic and clinical program to residents and fellows. The Orthopaedic Trauma Association has made a move to develop guidelines which may be used by training programs in an effort to improve the educational standards of this subspecialty. The recruitment and retention of young orthopaedic trauma surgeons remains an issue.