Buffalo Spine and Sports Institute accepts applications for fellowhip opportunities in a highly competitive search. The Fellow will receive an intensive one year program in spine care, sports medicine and occupational rehabilitation. We are proud to have had fifteen fellows complete our program since 1992.
Several unique opportunities exist for the Fellow. These include:
- Instruction in spinal guidance under fluoroscopic guidance until the Fellow is competant in this area.
- To develop skills for the biomechanical evaluation of musculoskeletal problems the Fellow will take at least one course from the Michigan State University's Continuing Education Program in manual medicine, as well as one course on functional exercisee offered by Gary Gray, PT & Associates.
- One morning each week is spent with an experienced spine radiologist, learning to interpret not only imaging studies of the spine but of the extremities as well.
- Radiology rounds are scheduled with a spine surgeon , who is based in our office, and a musculoskeletal radiologist once each month.
- Journal Club is held once each month.
- The BSSI Fellow and the sports orthopedic Fellow from our referring orthopedics group, attend and present at a combined weekly lecture series.
- The physicians and physical therapists from BSSI meet with other physical therapy groups for a monthly study group on selected topics.
Ample time is spent on electrodiagnostics, office injection procedures and rotations with physical therapists specializing in Spine and Sports Medicine. The Fellow will spend the first several months of the Fellowhip working with the attending physicians, seeing new patients, evaluating re-visits, and performing electrodiagnostic studies as well as spinal injections. The Fellow will also be assuming their own patient responsibilities from the beginning of the program.
Research is an essential part of the Fellowship Program, in particular the Fellow will be working towards one project with abstract submission to the North american spine society, American College of sports Medicine or PASSOR.
Unique opportunities are also provided to the Fellow in the field of Sports Medicine. We are a team physicians for several local high schools and local community colleges. This involves both game coverage along with the athletic trainer and performing pre-participation examinations.
Our Fellows join our four attendings in our new 15,000 square foot facility that is part of a building housing groups we work closely with, the radiology group and pain management group. Most of our fluroscopically-guided spinal injections are done in three fluoro-suites provided by the radiology group.
At BSSI we provide our Fellows with a competitive salary, full family health care coverage, malpractice insurance and disability insurance.
Curriculum:
Training is conducted in Pain Management of a diverse population of patients.
Training encompasses comprehensive physical evaluation of patients with acute and chronic pain conditions, traumatic injuries, spinal disorders, spastic disorders and multiple sclerosis. Manipulation of spine and peripheral joints is taught as part of a comprehensive approach to the evaluation and treatment.
Pain Management training includes the use of narcotic and non-narcotic medications for acute and chronic pain conditions. Procedures include fluoroscopically guided cervical, thoracic and lumbar epidural and joint injections, Botox and in-office injections. EMG's are utilized as part of a comprehensive examination. A fellow performs around 200 EMG's per year.
Training for the first six months of the fellowship includes
Three half days are spent evaluating new patients with one of the three attendings in the practice.
One half day is spent with a musculoskeletal radiologist examining MRI and CT studies of the spine and extremities.
One half day is spent with various physical therapists
Two half days are spent performing epidural injections under supervision
The rest of the time is spent independently evaluating new patients and seeing patient revisits.
Approximate amount of fluoroscopically guided injections done in a one year period
is 1500.
To apply, please send:
- Personal Statement including the answers to these 3 questions:
1. How did you hear about our program?
2. What do you know about our program and the unique opportunity we provide our fellows?
3. What do you think you can offer this program should you be chosen as a fellow here?
- Curriculum Vitae
*Letters of Recommendation will be requested at a later date.
Mail to: Fellowship Program
April Sachanowski
Buffalo Spine and Sports Institute, PC
100 College Parkway, Suite 100
Williamsville, NY 14221
Or email to: april@buffspine.com
Successful applicants will be invited for an interview and will be requested to spend a 2-1/2 day rotation at our Center.
