"We aren’t the practice for surgeons who focus exclusively on operating. We believe strongly that research and education add value to our care."
Twin Cities Spine Center’s Fellowship Program is one of just 13 programs approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for training spinal surgeons.
The Fellowship Program provides board-eligible orthopedic surgeons with an intensive and multi-faceted submersion into the field of spinal pathology. The program encompasses the study of:
The Fellowship Program is designed to provide a comprehensive educational experience in spinal pathology, including deformities, fractures, tumors, infections, degenerative and metabolic disease. All areas of the spine are included - cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and lumbosacral - as well as both surgical and non-surgical methods of treatment. The faculty consists of all staff physicians at the Center. A rotation schedule permits the Fellow to have equal experience with each faculty member and in the various areas of learning. Fellows are accepted for the purpose of their education. Learning comes through a multitude of pathways:
The majority of the training takes place at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, with other area hospitals used occasionally. Outpatient clinics are conducted mainly at the Twin Cities Spine Center office, located within the Abbott Northwestern Hospital campus. Fellows are responsible for the day-to-day care of all surgical patients, although the ultimate responsibility lies with the staff surgeon. All major care decisions, especially regarding ambulation, bracing, discharge, and follow-ups are made by the staff surgeon.
A teaching conference is held weekly with the fellows providing all case presentations. In addition, the staff surgeons provide lectures once a week and a journal club is arranged once a month. Fellows are expected to do the appropriate reading and be prepared to enter the discussion regarding assigned topics.
Fellows must complete at least one clinical research project during their year of training. The subject will be mutually agreed upon early in the fellowship. One faculty member supervises the project. A full research department is available and works closely with the physicians in coordinating the research projects.
Fellows are paid an annual salary, and health and dental insurance coverage are also provided at no cost to the Fellow. Malpractice coverage is paid by the Twin Cities Spine Center.
Eligible candidates include orthopaedic surgeons or neurosurgeons who have, or will have by the start of the fellowship, completed residency in a certified residency program. All candidates must be eligible for licensure in the United States. Foreign candidates must have passed the ECFMG and FLEX examinations. All fellows must obtain a Minnesota state medical license.
Applications can be found on the San Francisco match website, www.sfmatch.org. The application deadline is October 31. A personal interview is required.
This fellowship is available to all persons meeting the above requirements. There is no discrimination in regard to age, race, religion, color or sex.
Questions or requests for further information should be directed to the Education Coordinator: 612-775-6257 or education@tcspine.com.