Spine & Sports Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship Program for Physiatrists
Link to University of Pennsylvania Website
Fellowship Requirements & Application Process
Mission & Fellow Curriculum & Expectations
Learning Objectives
Thank you for your interest in the Penn Spine & Sports Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. The fellowship is twelve months long and includes clinical care, interventional care, teaching, and research experiences.
Requirements for consideration for the Spine & Sports Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship at Penn include:
1. Completion of an accredited North American Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency
2. Personal Statement
3. Curriculum vitae
4. Three letters of recommendation, with at least two being from your academic institution
Elective rotations are not required to be considered for the fellowship, but can be arranged if desired.
Applications due July 15th. Submit Application Materials via email to Rebecca Rushin at rushinr@uphs.upenn.edu
Interviews will be granted only following receipt of all application materials. Invitations for interview will be extended in late summer.
Selection of the fellows will occur in the late summer/early fall according to agreed common offer date. For the right candidate, fellowships can be arranged 2-3 years in advance.
You may contact my senior secretary, Rebecca Rushin, at rushinr@uphs.upenn.edu or at (215) 662-3298 if you have any questions. Once again, thank you for your interest in the program. I hope that the following outline provides you some details of the curriculum.
Chris Plastaras, MD
Penn Spine Center Director
Spine & Sports Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship Director
Chief, Division of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
Ground Floor White Building
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
(215) 662-3298
To provide spine and musculoskeletal medicine education to academically inclined physiatrists who wish to bring clinical excellence to other academic centers.
FELLOW CURRICULUM & EXPECTATIONS
a. Exposure to acute, subacute, and chronic musculoskeletal & spine pathology.
b. Exposure to shadowing musculoskeletal physical therapist at scheduled clinics.
c. Opportunity to learn fluoroscopically guided spinal injections under direct attending supervision at scheduled clinics. Depending on the skill progress of each fellow, opportunity to do more complex procedures as appropriate:
Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar epidural injections
Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar selective nerve injections
Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar facet joint injections
Cervical, Lumbar Medial branch blocks
Sacroiliac joint injections
Intraarticular hip, knee, and shoulder injections
Radiofrequency procedures
Lumbar Discography
Lumbar intradiscal therapeutic procedures
d. EMG’s: Maintain and sharpen electrodiagnostic skills –
e. Supervise medical students and PM&R residents clinically and didactically.
2) Opportunity to set up half day clinics with orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, sports medicine physicians, radiologists.
3) Opportunity to see patients in the Penn Sports Medicine Center
4) Opportunity to volunteer for medical coverage of University of Pennsylvania Athletics (Lacrosse, Volleyball, Wrestling, Soccer, Gymnastics, Field Hockey, Women's Basketball)
5) Opportunity to volunteer for medical coverage for the Penn Relays
6) Opportunity to volunteer for pre-participation physicals
1) Adopt and work on a significant musculoskeletal research project at Penn Spine Center.
2) Prepare for and give Grand Rounds style presentation
3) Write a publishable chapter or article
Each fellow is expected to:
1) Organize journal clubs
2) Teach and supervise University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine PM&R residents and medical students on rotation
Each fellow is required to participate in:
1) Penn Spine Center outpatient clinics both independently and directly supervised by attending.
2) Penn Spine Center procedure clinics directly supervised by attending.
3) Electrodiagnostic examinations both independently and directly supervised by attending.
4) Weekend inpatient call ~8 times per year; some may be holiday weekends.
5) Checking messages/voice mail on a regular basis. All patient care related phone calls should be returned within one working day.
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Mon |
Tues |
Wed |
Thur |
Fri |
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7AM |
Procedures |
Procedures Interventional Radiology |
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7:30 AM |
Penn Spine Center Clinic |
Penn Spine Center Clinic |
Penn Spine Center Clinic |
Penn Spine Center Clinic |
Penn Spine Center Clinic (own clinic) |
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1 PM |
Procedures |
Procedures |
Academic |
Procedures |
Penn Spine Center Clinic (own clinic) |
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5-6 PM |
Penn Spine Center Add On Clinic (own clinic) |
EMG (own clinic) |
Penn Spine Center Add On Clinic (own clinic) |
Penn Spine Center Add On Clinic (own clinic) |
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BENEFITS
Academic Appointment of Lecturer A in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Handbook for Faculty and Academic Administrators
Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short Term Disability, Retirement plans available through University Benefits.
Malpractice with tail
Paid Time Off: 10 days to be used for vacation, conference, or job interview; 5 sick days
Salary commensurate with with PGY-5 annual salary: ~$54,000
Department will provide you with
$1,000 for professional activities.
The department may consider, based on significant performance as a fellow,
funding one CME course activity (travel, lodging, course fee) not to exceed
total of $3,000.
FELLOWS TRAINED WITH
DR. PLASTARAS and current location
Paul Lento, MD
– Temple University
Ed Hanada, MD – Dalhousie University
Jennifer Reed, MD – Spine Center Director, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Lee Wolfer, MD – San Francisco, California
Brad Sorosky, MD
– Desert Spine & Sports, Phoenix, AZ
Wesley Smeal, MD – Alegent Health Sports and Spine, Nebraska
Gary P. Chimes, MD, PhD – University of Pittsburgh
Paula Dawson, MD
- University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica
Shana Margolis, MD - Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
D.J. Kennedy, MD
- University of Florida
Christopher Visco, MD - Columbia University
Anand Joshi, MD, MHA - Duke University
Donald Macron, MD - East Carolina University
Seth Schran, MD - New York
Natacha Falcon, DO - Rothman Institute
o Enhance knowledge of Anatomy as it pertains to the patient with regional musculoskeletal complaint
o Understand current exercise guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine
o Understand clinically relevant anatomy and biomechanics
o Understand physiologic effect of exercise on soft tissues
o Understand physiologic effect of therapeutic modalities on soft tissues
o Understand the degenerative cascade of the spine
o Understand mechanical diagnosis/treatment (McKenzie assessment), manual and functional rehabilitation approaches
o Review components of the Spine & Sports Medicine Resident Rotation Discrete Learning Objective List with residents on service
Patient Care - Exposure to treatmment of common musculoskeletal complaints
o Understanding of ethical use of interventional procedures
o Demonstrate proficiency in gathering essential information and accurate patient information
o Understand the role for complementary/alternative medicine
Interpersonal & Communication Skills
o Communicate effectively and demonstrate caring/respectful behaviors with patients and staff
o Demonstrate appropriate positioning in relation to the patient in the exam room to facilitate good rapport with patients
o Demonstrate ability to articulate the risks and benefits of different treatment options to patients
o Present information to patients, family members, caregivers & other health care providers in an effective manner.
o Establish trust and maintain positive rapport with patients
o Demonstrate effective listening skills.
o Promote teamwork in the clinical setting.
o Complete documentation and chart notes in a legible & timely manner.
o Ability to read spine & sports journal club article, assimilate content and communicate its meaning to staff and colleagues.
Professionalism
o Understand ethics involved in treating patients with acute and sub-acute pain.
o Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to age, culture, disability and gender of patients and colleagues
o Consider effects of personal, social and cultural factors in the disease process and patient management
o Demonstrate reliability, punctuality, integrity and honesty in all interactions with patients and colleagues.
o Accept personal responsibility for own actions & decisions
o Apply sound ethical principles in practice (e.g., informed consent, confidentiality, veracity, provision or withholding of care)
o Prepare for and have prompt attendance appropriately dressed to regularly scheduled clinics, spine and sports journal clubs and didactic sessions.
Practice-Based Learning & Improvement
o Compare use of surgical, percutaneous interventional procedures, and other non-operative treatment methods in the context of patient satisfaction, efficacy, and cost-benefit.
o Demonstrate skill in supervising junior trainees in information gathering, decision-making, and patient management.
o Evaluate and/or modify own practice based on feedback from others
o Use information technology to appraise & assimilate evidence from scientific studies to enhance patient care outcomes
o Use information technology to collect patient care information and perform patient care documentation
o Identify appropriate assessment & measurement tools to evaluate functional status or outcomes of interventions
o Participate in regularly scheduled spine and sports journal clubs including article review, presentation, and discussion in the context of clinical practice
Systems-Based Practice
o Appreciate care provided to the person with musculoskeletal pain related complaints in context of larger health care system
o Understand financial and quality of life implications for the patient and society
o Advocating quality patient care and assisting patients in dealing with system complexities
o Partner with health care managers as appropriate to assess, coordinate, and improve health care and how these activities impact system performance
o Demonstrate the role of the physiatrist and concept of team approach to care, working effectively/collaboratively as leader of the team
o Summarize the physician’s role in advocating for patient care needs
o Summarize the physician’s role in disease management across the various levels of care in the health system in a cost effective manner.
o Demonstrate how to access various community resources on behalf of the patient
o Demonstrate integrity and responsibility in interactions with insurance and/or disability-oriented agencies