Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship (Non-operative)

Accreditation: Non-ACGME accredited, NASS recognized
Length: 1 year, August 1 - July 31
Positions: 1
Interviews: Will be held March - July
Offer Date: In concordance with NASS common offer date
Fellowship Program Director: Gregory Decker, MD
Physiatry Faculty: Katherine Caldwell, MD; Abby Cheng, MD; Gregory Decker, MD; Jeremy Hartman, MD; Devyani Hunt, MD; Adam LaBore, MD; John Metzler, MD; Nathan Olafsen, MD; Scott Simpson, MD, Michael Sookochoff, MD; Chi-Tsai Tang, MD
Adjunct Faculty: Mark Halstead, MD; Matthew Smith, MD

 

Why Choose Washington University Orthopedics for Fellowship Training 

 

Overview

The Washington University Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship is a North American Spine Society (NASS) recognized fellowship that offers comprehensive training in musculoskeletal medicine.  It offers the unique opportunity to train at a tertiary academic center and learn the gamut of musculoskeletal medicine from experts in the field PM&R, orthopedics, and neurosurgery. The fellowship allows exposure to a wide variety of patients including those with acute sports injuries as well as those with chronic low back and neck pain. You will learn to evaluate and conservatively treat all different types of musculoskeletal complaints and learn the indications for surgical referral. You will be in an attending physician’s clinic most times but will also have the opportunity to independently manage patients with attending oversight. You will be taught by leaders in the field of PM&R, all with board certifications in sports medicine, pain medicine, or both. You will learn to perform various fluoroscopic guided injections, as well as ultrasound guided injections, and have the opportunity to continue performing EMGs.

Clinical Experience

• Independent fellows’ clinic (with attending backup) seeing spine patients
• Multidisciplinary clinic for underserved individuals
• Orthopedic injury clinic to manage acute injuries (including fractures) 
• Continued opportunity to perform EMGs
• Learning diagnostic ultrasound and ultrasound guided injections
• Opportunities to learn regenerative medicine techniques (platelet rich plasma)
• Opportunities to learn acupuncture
• Opportunities for sports events coverage, as well as training room coverage

Approximate breakdown of exposure to specific patient populations: 

• Spine: 60%, Peripheral joints: 20%, Acute injuries: 20%

Procedures taught:

• Fluoroscopic guided injections: Epidural (lumbar, thoracic, cervical), Facet (lumbar, thoracic, cervical), Medial branch block (lumbar, thoracic, cervical), Radiofrequency ablation (lumbar, thoracic, cervical, knee, hip), Sacroiliac joint, Hip, Shoulder, Ankle, Elbow, other peripheral joints. Basivertebral Nerve Ablation (Intracept), SPRINT peripheral nerve stimulation
• Ultrasound guided injections: Shoulder (subdeltoid bursa, biceps tendon, glenohumeral joint, acromioclavicular joint), Hip (hip joint, piriformis, greater trochanteric bursa), Knee (knee joint), Other joints, tendons, SPRINT peripheral nerve stimulation
• Shockwave therapy for tendinopathy

Educational Program

Washington University also has an ACGME accredited PM&R Sports Medicine fellowship, and you will work closely with this fellow throughout the year. Many of the didactics will be shared, and include weekly physiatry didactics/journal clubs, weekly sports medicine didactics, quarterly gatherings with physical therapists, and monthly conferences with neurosurgery spine. There will also be opportunities to spend time with specialists in orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, radiology, emergency medicine, and pediatrics. 

There are also several Washington University sponsored courses throughout the year that the fellow can attend. This includes an annual introduction to musculoskeletal ultrasound course, biannual movement systems impairment physical therapy course, and an annual sports medicine update course that the fellows can attend. The fellow will also have the opportunity to travel for an injection course during the year.

Research and Teaching Opportunities

Scholarly activity is highly encouraged and there are ample opportunities to undertake a research project. Teaching is part of the fellowship and the fellow will have the opportunity to teach the PM&R residents during the year.

Salary and Benefits

Fellows are paid as a PGY5 resident. Benefits are similar to those of other faculty at Washington University School of Medicine.

Application Information

Click here to view. The applicant registration opens January 1st. 

Inquiries about the fellowship should be directed to Christi Martine at [email protected] or 314-514-3901.

Where are our past ISMM fellows now?

2017-2018           Jeremy Stanek, MD – Stanford University, Emeryville, CA

2018-2019           Jonathan Carrier, DO – Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI

2020-2021           Michael Sookochoff, MD – Washington University Orthopedics, St. Louis, MO

2021-2022           Joseph Graham, DO – Edward-Elmhurst Health, Woodridge, IL

2022-2023           Kirk Bonner, MD, M.Ed. – University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

2023-2024           Andrea McCullough, MD  – Ortho Atlanta, Snellville, GA