Washington University Orthopedics

Spine Surgery Fellowship

The Spine Specialists at Washington University Orthopedics:


Dr. Bridwell	Dr. Buchowski	Dr. Clohisy	Dr. Goodwin

Dr. Gupta	Dr. Kelly	Dr. Lambrechts	Dr. Luhmann

Dr. Molina	Dr. Neuman	Dr. Pallotta

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE/
BARNES-JEWISH HOSPITAL SPINE FELLOWSHIP

FACULTY:
Keith H. Bridwell, MD
Jacob M. Buchowski, MD, MS (Fellowship Director, Vice-Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Co-Chief, Spine Division)
Brian J. Neuman, MD (Co-Chief, Spine Division)
Matthew L. Goodwin, MD, PhD, FACSM
Munish C. Gupta, MD
Brian Kelly, MD
Camilo Molina, MD
Nicholas Pallotta, MD, MS
Scott J. Luhmann, MD

LENGTH: 1 year
DATES: August 1 through July 31
STIPEND: PGY-6 $82,839 (ORTHO) or PGY-7 $86,568 (NEURO)

INSTITUTIONS: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children

EDUCATIONAL GOALS & CHARACTERISTICS:
The fellowship began in 1991. Four fellows are trained for all spinal diseases and conditions of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine: both degenerative and deformity; trauma and tumor; pediatric and adult. Individuals completing the fellowship will be well-suited for either a career in academics or in private practice. As of August 1, 2021, 90 fellows have been trained.

Clinical and basic science research projects are ongoing, and the fellows are encouraged to participate and complete at least two projects/papers. Surgical, out-patient and in-hospital care of the spinal patient is stressed; this fellowship is exclusively spine. The aspects to be covered are:

cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disease
deformity of the spine
cervical, thoracic, and lumbar degenerative disease
cervical, thoracic, and lumbar tumors of the spine
fractures of the spine
cervical, thoracic, and lumbar infections of the spine
anterior and posterior approaches to the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine
anterior and posterior segmental instrumentation
several forms of segmental fixation (screws, hooks and wires)

Each fellow can anticipate doing approximately 250-300 cases per year. Each fellow will operate and see patients with eight attendings. Over 90% of the cases will be "complex." The overall case load profile is 50% deformity, 35% degenerative, and 15% tumor/fracture. 40% of cases are cervical, while 60% are thoracic/lumbar in nature. Age distribution equates to 70% adult and 30% pediatric. Each of the four spine fellows rotates twice with four services of the eight participating faculty.

There is no in-house call. There are fifteen working days of vacation. It is anticipated that the fellows will attend one or two meetings a year, typically the annual meeting of the Scoliosis Research Society or the Cervical Spine Research Society, or potentially the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons or the North American Spine Society. Another meeting could also conceivably be substituted.

The fellows are also involved in the following teaching conferences:

Fellow Core – Fellows core curriculum (approximately 32 lectures) every week.
Journal Club – Once a month meeting
Research Conference – Once a month research meeting
Indications Conference – Preoperative planning every week
Grand Rounds – every Wednesday
Resident Core Curriculum – Tuesday/Thursday. Spine is about 15% of the resident core curriculum.

For information about St. Louis, CLICK the following: Information About St. Louis

APPLICATION:
For academic year 2024/25, the fellowship is participating in the Spine Fellowship Match administered by SF Match (www.sfmatch.org). Simply complete the on-line registration (opening approximately July 1), utilizing the Central Application Service (mandatory for applicants and programs), and provide the required documents as posted. The fellowship application deadline is November 1. Applications received after this date will be reviewed at the discretion of the fellowship director. Early applications are encouraged.

Orthopaedic residents in their PGY-4 year (in most cases) and neurosurgical residents in their PGY-5 year (in most cases), as well as graduates of both programs, are encouraged to apply.

The interview date is Friday, February 23, 2024. Applicants selected to interview will be contacted well in advance.

The fellow must have completed his/her orthopaedic or neurosurgical training. The fellow is a member of the orthopaedic surgery faculty at Washington University School of Medicine with an appointment as an Instructor. All fellows within orthopaedic surgery must be eligible for work within the United States as well as a permanent Missouri medical license, BNDD and DEA. For questions regarding eligibility for a permanent Missouri medical license, please contact the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts at (573) 751-0098 (http://pr.mo.gov/healingarts.asp) prior to making application.

For more information on the fellowship, please contact
(via email preferred):

Kristen Roberts
Spine Fellowship Coordinator
Campus Box 8233
660 S. Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 273-8139
(314) 747-2599 (fax)
[email protected]

Spine Surgery Fellowship

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