Surgical Spine Fellowship
GOAL
The fellowship in Spine Surgery at Hoag Orthopedic Institute is designed
to allow considerable freedom in the educational process. The goal of
the Surgical Spine Fellowship at Hoag Orthopedics is to train one board
eligible orthopedic surgeon in the basic science, research, clinical,
surgical, and rehabilitative up to techniques as it pertains to the field
of spine surgery. The fellow will find that the clinical experience and
instruction will facilitate the maturation of an understanding of the
complexities of spinal surgery and related spinal revision surgery.
CASE VARIETY & VOLUME
The spine fellowship at the Hoag Orthopedics is a well-rounded experience
in spinal surgery techniques and diagnoses. The spine surgeons at Hoag
Orthopedics have a commitment to education as well as a surgical volume
and breadth that makes the fellows’ experience unique and worthwhile.
For over a decade, OSI has served as a tertiary center for spine surgeries
and draws a breadth of various spinal pathologies including simple degenerative,
complex adult and pediatric scoliosis, as well as revision surgery. The
faculty has historically been involved in teaching residents at the University
of California Irvine Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. The surgeons created
this fellowship to share their experience and caseload with orthopaedic
surgeons who are looking for a career in adult spinal reconstruction.
The fellow’s surgical experience will exceed 400 cases and will be
very broad. The surgical experience is hands on with graduated independence
based on the fellow’s development over the year. Fellows will be
exposed to multiple surgical approaches including open and minimally invasive
techniques. There is a broad experience of approaches that includes anterior
lumbar, direct lateral, as well as minimally invasive and percutaneous
approaches.
The experience in cervical as well as lumbar is somewhat similar in that
most every considered approach is utilized. Motion preservation techniques
such as disk arthroplasty in the cervical spine are utilized. The fellow
will be sufficient in anterior as well as posterior approaches to the
cervical spine. The experience will encompass degenerative deformity as
well as other pathologic processes including infection, oncology, as well
as trauma. The experience is based toward preparing the orthopaedic surgeon
for their oral board examination and by the end will prepare very well
for this exam.
SCHEDULE, CALL, COVERAGE
The fellow's rotation schedule is broken into four 12-week blocks.
During each block, the fellow will be paired with one attending for six
weeks, then another. This rotation schedule allows for concentrated clinical
and surgical experience with each faculty. The fellows weekly schedule
will include up two days in the outpatient setting and up to three days
in the operating room. Fellows are expected to round on all the patients
they operate on. The fellow is responsible for one weekend of call per
month and during the week depending on the attending they are rotating
with will require some hospital and patient phone call responsibilities.
Dedicated research time is allocated for one half to one full day per
week. The faculty to fellow ratio is 6:1.
RESEARCH
The fellowship requires a minimum of two projects. Fellows are expected
to submit abstracts of their projects to the major spine society meetings.
A completed manuscript ready for submission for publication is expected
by the end of the fellowship year. The fellow has access to three clinical
research coordinators, one clinical research assistant, one clinical data
coordinator, and a statistician to assist them with their research needs.
The fellow will present their research at a symposium held by Hoag Orthopedics
at the end of the year.
EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
- Indications Conference – Every Friday
- Research Conference – Every other Tuesday
- Grand Rounds – 2nd Friday of every month
- Journal Club – Quarterly
- Cadaver Labs – Two per year
SALARY, VACATION, AND TRAVEL
Fellows are paid at the PGY-6 level including benefits, and receive two
weeks of paid vacation. In addition, travel accommodations and reimbursements
are granted for the Fellow to attend either the AAOS or NASS annual meetings.
AVAILABLE POSITIONS
There is one (1) position available for the 2024-2025 fellowship year.
PROGRAM LENGTH
1 year (August 1st – July 31st)
APPLICATION PROCESS
Hoag Orthopedics’ Surgical Spine Fellowship Program participates
in the San Francisco Match Program. Applicants must complete a residency
in orthopedic surgery at an ACGME accredited program. The deadline for
completing the application process for our program is
October 8th, 2023 via SF Match. Applicant profiles that do not contain an AAMC I.D number
will not be eligible for review. Invitations to interview will be sent
out to selected applicants upon review of all applications. Applicants
must be eligible to obtain an unrestricted California Medical License
prior to the start of Fellowship for credentialing purposes.
In alliance with the match guidelines, we will not be in contact with you
after your interview. Your consideration of the Hoag Orthopedic Institute's
Surgical Spine Fellowship is appreciated and we welcome your questions
regarding the program.
INTERVIEW DATES
TBA
CONTACT INFORMATION
Hoag Orthopedics
16300 Sand Canyon Avenue
Suite 511
Irvine, California 92618
Daseyra Fontalvo
Education Coordinator
Tel:
949-255-9753
Email:
Daseyra.Fontalvo@hoag.org