Training

Pain Fellowship Core Curriculum

We offer two highly competitive fellowship positions for our 12-month Pain Fellowship Program. We recognize the strengths of varied training backgrounds (anesthesiology, psychology, and so on) and value the diversity they bring to pain management.

The emphasis is on interdisciplinary training in state-of-the art pain management techniques for patients with acute, chronic and cancer pain.

The training is based in our Pain Management Clinic. We offer case-by-case learning experiences of complex pain problems which include examination and work-up skills as well as multimodal pain management. We emphasize proficiency in interventional pain management techniques (e.g., implantable devices such as spinal cord stimulator, intrathecal pump, fluoroscopically guided injections, radiofrequency). Training is tailored to the needs of the pain fellows. Call is taken from home for implantable devices as well as for acute pain management procedures, and is rotated among fellows. No in-house call is required. We strictly follow ACGME guidelines to not exceed an 80-hour work week.

Core Curriculum of Lectures, Rotations and Electives

  • Weekly pain lectures covering the Pain Core Curriculum over a 12-month period
  • Monthly Pain Journal Club as well as additional research journal clubs
  • Monthly Pain M&M conference
  • 6-week lecture series in neuroanatomy
  • 3-month lecture series in introductory neurophysiology (mandated) with a possible additional 3 months of advanced neurophysiology
  • Certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Basic Rescue Skills (Airway Management for Non-Anesthesiologists)

Rotations and Electives

  • The fellowship is based in the Pain Management Clinic. The schedule will allow at least two fellows to be present in the clinic at all times.
  • Inpatient Pain Service with focus on interventional management of post-operative or post-trauma pain in adults and children
  • Neurology Pain Management Rotation
  • EMG (Basic or Advanced)
  • Behavioral Psychology
  • Spine Center
  • Acupuncture
  • Sickle Cell Clinic
  • Pain Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R)
  • Fibromyalgia Treatment Program
  • Palliative Care

Fellows are evaluated on a monthly basis using the Echo360 evaluation system. Fellows meet regularly with the program director to go over their portfolio. A publishable research project and/or a grand rounds presentation will be expected prior to graduation.