The Spinal Surgery Fellowship Program at Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders is a one-year program. Four positions are available: two candidates each from the fields of neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery. Those candidates applying for the two-year fellowship program (one year clinical and one year basic research) should indicate their interests with a cover letter to Dr. J. Patrick Johnson. The program provides comprehensive training in adult and adolescent spinal problems, including deformity, disc surgery, degenerative conditions affecting the spine, tumors, trauma and arthritis with such treatments as endoscopic, microscopic and minimally invasive surgery. The fellowship consists of both inpatient and outpatient experience with primary clinical responsibility. In addition, fellows participate in basic scientific and clinical research to fulfill the requirements of the program.
The mission of the Fellowship Program is to instill the combination of surgical expertise, experience and precision with a strong moral, ethical and work background. Our fellowship seeks to attract and train only those candidates who possess an exemplary sense of responsibility, integrity and discipline to be successful in their career choices. Our ultimate goal is to produce a well trained, academically oriented, disciplined, fellowship-trained complex spine surgeon to serve as both a clinical and community leader with uncompromising personal and professional values.
The Spinal Surgery Fellowship Program at the Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders provides training in the care for the entire spectrum of spinal diseases. This spectrum of care can be divided broadly into five categories:
- Core knowledge
- Clinical evaluation
- Operative management
- Pre- and postoperative care
- Nonoperative management
- Basic and clinical research experience
Beginning in 2005, there will be an opportunity for one candidate to gain additional research experience in our nationally recognized biomechanics laboratory with Tom Hedman, PhD, or other NIN funded laboratories in gene therapy, bone biology or stem cell research.
Candidates will be expected to not only assist with ongoing projects but will be encouraged to develop lab investigations of their own design and interest.
The educational goals of the Spinal Surgery Fellowship Program are to:
- Provide an exceptional didactic educational environment to superbly train a spine fellow in the evaluation, diagnosis, nonoperative and operative treatment of spinal disorders in adolescents and adults
- Educate the fellows thoroughly in the decision-making process to understand both the ramifications and possible complications of treatment, rehabilitation or potential revision required to obtain an optimal result
- Provide an outpatient environment to teach and guide a fellow how to evaluate, manage and follow patients in an outpatient setting
- Guide fellows to develop teaching skills by educating residents and medical students
- Help fellows amplify research skills in both clinical and laboratory settings. An active weekly spine conference and multidisciplinary didactic lectures presented each Wednesday morning by a fellow aids in developing a more analytical approach to problem-solving and critical literature review through the Monthly Journal Club
- Familiarize the fellows with outcome tools and necessary programs to perform outcome research
- Provide basic research experience integrated into clinical rotation
Application Deadline: September 1 of each year
Stipend: $60,000 (including health and malpractice insurance)
Location: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai's fellowship training has provided an invaluable stepping stone to both excellent private practice and academic positions at the nation's most prestigious medical centers.
