Labor of Love
A residency travel fund honors the retired director of orthopedic education
By Stacey Bomser
Photography by Sonya Revell
Carmen Fuente
C
armen Fuente touched the lives of hundreds of residents throughout her tenure as director of education for the Department of Orthopaedics at the Miller School. Upon learning of her retirement, one of those appreciative alumni took the initiative to recognize her more than 50 years of service to the program by establishing the Carmen J. Fuente Orthopedic Residency Education Fund.
Established by former Chief Resident Mark Calkins, M.D. ’80, and his wife, Linda, the fund exclusively supports residency education to ensure future trainees have the opportunity to travel to conferences and enrich their academic experience.
In addition to providing a well-rounded education, Dr. Calkins says the exposure from residents presenting their papers at prominent orthopedic conferences “helps keep the Miller School at the forefront and maintains its reputation as a research leader.”
“Carmen was a phenomenal leader for our residency program,” said Francis J. Hornicek, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Orthopaedics, as well as director of Orthopedic Oncology at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and director of the Center for Chordoma Care at the University of Miami. “She helped chart a course of growth and improvement that has resulted in national recognition.”
The Calkins, who have kept in touch with Fuente over the years, said she was always an invaluable asset to all the residents who rotated through the program.
“Carmen coordinated all the rotations, handled the travel arrangements, and often went above and beyond the scope of her job to support the residents, including one time typing a research paper for me,” Dr. Calkins said. “She was our friend and often served as a mother figure.”
For Fuente, it was all a labor of love.
“I loved my job, and I loved my residents,” she said. “They were like my kids. I went to all their weddings and their children’s baptisms and bar mitzvahs. They truly are my family. I am deeply humbled and honored that they would name this fund after me.”
To contribute to the fund, visit https://development.miami.edu/fuentefund 
