Spinal Disorders Fellowship

The Department of Neurosurgery collaborates closely with the orthopedic spine surgeons of the nationally-acclaimed Rothman Orthopaedics. There is a joint morning case conference held every weekday and joint operative cases occur almost daily. 

We consider our fellowship a “finishing school” for surgeons often exposed to spine surgery in their residencies. Fellows can expect to be exposed to a broad diversity of pathology and a variety of management techniques with escalating levels of autonomy. Moreover, equal emphasis is applied to clinic and the OR with the conviction that good clinical decision-making and indications are central to achieving good outcomes. Fellows spend most of their time at the main campus though some exposure to community care facilitates skills in practice development and management.

Jefferson is home to one of the busiest spine services in the country.  In addition to a busy elective service, Jefferson is both a Level I trauma center and part of the Delaware Valley Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center (DVRSCI).  The DVRSCI is one of just fourteen federally-designated SCI centers and the only one serving greater Philadelphia; it is the longest running such SCI center in the country.

On a typical weekday there will be four-six neurosurgical spine ORs running with two-two cases each. Fellows typically spend two or three days per week in the operating room and will get exposure to both open and MIS treatment of degenerative disease, trauma, deformity, tumor, infection and intradural and peripheral nerve pathologies. A variety of anterior, lateral and posterior approaches are used routinely.

Outpatient management is one of the hardest parts of spine surgery and probably the biggest deficit that most residents have coming out of residency. Successful outcomes depend centrally on solid indications and decision-making.

Fellows typically spend one-two days per week in clinic with an assigned faculty member. This permits the discussion of cases, indications and management options that is central to development of outpatient management skills.

They spend time both in the clinic at the main campus downtown and also in a variety of Jefferson neurosurgery clinics in the Philadelphia region.

All candidates applying to the spinal section of the Department of Neurological Surgery must, as a requirement for application, meet all ABMS Specialty Board-related eligibility prerequisites required to enter training in the related specialty program at Jefferson.

Further, all candidates must satisfy the requirements of the State of Pennsylvania Board of Medical Licensure for appointment at the specific level of training for which the position is offered.

In addition, applicants must meet one of the following qualifications to be eligible to apply for the fellowship training program:

• Graduates of medical schools in the United States and Canada accredited by the LCME;
• Graduates of osteopathic medicine in the United States accredited by the AOA;
• Graduates of medical schools outside the United States who meet one of the following qualifications:
  • Have received a currently valid certificate from the ECFMG
  • Have a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a U.S. licensing jurisdiction.
• Graduates of medical schools outside the United States who have completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by an LCME-accredited medical school.

Applicants must also have completed a residency in neurological surgery at an ACGME-approved program in the United States. All prerequisite prior training must be successfully completed prior to beginning a fellowship in the Department of Neurological Surgery.

Most fellows are encouraged to begin their fellowships on August 1 and end on July 31 of their corresponding year. Exceptions have been made depending on circumstances (typically to start July 1 and end June 30) and will be considered.  Fellows have two weeks of vacation per year.

Resident Applicants are encouraged to submit applications two years before their intended fellowship year although earlier submissions will be accepted. Candidates will be invited for interview approximately 18 months prior to their expected start-date and final selection of fellows will be made approximately 12-15 months prior to the start-date. Flexibility will be exercised depending on position availability and funding increases. 

Fellowship applicants must submit the following documents for consideration:

• Current Curriculum Vitae
  
• Three letters of recommendation
• A Personal statement of approximately 500-1000 words describing career goals and motivators for pursuing a fellowship in spine and peripheral nerve surgery

All applications are initially reviewed by the fellowship directors, Srinivas Prasad, MD, MS and James S. Harrop, MD. The decision to offer an interview to an applicant is made by the Fellowship Director based upon the following criteria: academic credentials, ability, aptitude, communication skills, three letters of recommendation, and personal qualities such as motivation, honesty and integrity.  Jefferson will not engage in or tolerate unlawful discrimination (including any form of unlawful harassment) on account of a person’s sex, age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual preference or orientation, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status.