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Fellowship Program

Twin Cities Spine Center's (TC Spine) John H. Moe Spine Fellowship Program provides board-eligible orthopedic or neurosurgical surgeons with an intensive and multifaceted submersion into the field of spinal pathology. The duration of the fellowship is August 1 to July 31 of the following year.

The Fellowship Program is designed to provide a comprehensive educational experience in spinal pathology, including deformities, fractures, tumors, infections, and degenerative and metabolic disease. All areas of the spine are included—cervical, thoracic, lumbar and lumbosacral—as well as both surgical and nonsurgical methods of treatment. The faculty consists of all staff physicians at TC Spine. 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.

The majority of the training takes place at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, with other area hospitals used occasionally. Outpatient clinics are conducted mainly at TC Spine's 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 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 fellows and staff surgeons in coordinating the research projects.

Application Process

Candidates must be eligible for a Minnesota medical license and must have successfully completed all three steps of the USMLE exams.

TC Spine does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, height, weight, marital status or familial status in its programs, activities or employment.

Applications can be found on the San Francisco match website. The application deadline is Oct. 31.

Our Current Fellows

  • Manual A. Ramirez Gonzalez

    Manuel A. Ramirez Gonzalez, MD

    Medical school: University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
    Residency, Orthopaedic Surgery: University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus
  • Omar Ramos

    Omar Ramos, MD

    Medical school: Loma Linda University School of Medicine
    Residency, Orthopaedic Surgery: Loma Linda University Medical Center

  • Nathaniel L. Rawicki

    Nathaniel L. Rawicki, MD

    Medical school: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine
    Residency, Orthopaedic Surgery: New York Medical College, Westchester Medical Center
  • Alec D. Sundet

    Alec D. Sundet, MD

    Medical school: University of Colorado School of Medicine
    Residency, Orthopaedic Surgery: University of Vermont Medical Center

"It's important to never stop learning. Our continued efforts to educate our Fellows also allow us as staff surgeons to learn and grow. In the end, our collaborations and contributions allow us to consistently enhance the way we treat our patients."

—Dr. Kevin Mullaney, Fellowship Director

"Education is one of the most important aspects of our practice because it allows us to both teach and learn from others, which subsequently improves how we care for our patients."

—Dr. Amir Mehbod, Vice President Twin Cities Spine Center

"Our fellowship is the keystone of our practice. It is where teaching, research and clinical care are combined to train the next generation of spine surgeons."

—Dr. Benjamin Mueller