Spine Fellowships

[time]

anyone want to talk about the spine match or spine programs?

[SharpTool]

I think that's a good idea.

I'm interested in spine but there are no good resources in terms of which fellowships are good, bad or whatever.

If residents who are familiar with their own programs (if they have a spine fellowship) would describe the pros/cons/operative experience/quality of cases or attendings, workload, research experience, etc., it would really help those of us who are interested in spine. Similar threads can be created for other fellowships like hand, sports, peds, trauma, etc. I think this would be a great way to share information on fellowships we are familiar with.

[SharpTool]

Anyone have info on the following spine fellowships?

Rush
NYU-HJD
Louisville

[wvubonehead]

NASS Wwbsite - spine.org - under the heading education has information regarding the spine fellowship application process & a listing of MOST, not all, fellowship programs. Remeber, only 12 programs in the country are accredited. This may be an issue in the very near future.

[lvillebones]

I'm a 3rd year at U of L and just finished my spine rotation. I'm considering a spine fellowship as well. So here's my take on the Leatherman spine center fellowship.

Overall most of the setting is private practice degenerative adult spine. Plenty of bread and butter necks and low backs. Some adult deformity and peds, but probably about 10% each. Cover trauma at U of L which can be steady during trauma season, but affords an opportunity for the fellow to operate more independently. None of the six attendings in the group are malignant. Call is ~ 1:5 with full weekend duties 1:5 as well, so off four weekends and on 1 (not bad). Operative average is 20-30 cases per week among the group with the fellow assisting in the private office 1-2 days per week depending on OR schedule (OR coverage before office coverage).

No realy research requirement at present. None of the current fellows are involved in research.

Weakness is probably that only 2 of the partners are just getting interested in minimally invasive techniques.

Group is all but married to Medtronic so you realy only learn on set of instrumentation, don't get me wrong though that can be good or bad depending on your viewpoint.

Overall, probably an excellet program for anyone looking to become a good adult degenerative community spine surgeon, but then again I have nothing to compare.