The Spine Specialists at Washington University Orthopedics:
Dr. Bridwell Dr. Buchowski
Dr. Lenke Dr. Riew
FACULTY:
Keith H. Bridwell, MD (Director)
Jacob M. Buchowski, MD, MS
Lawrence G. Lenke, MD
K. Daniel Riew, MD
LENGTH: 1 year
DATES: August 1 through July 31
STIPEND: PGY-6
INSTITUTIONS: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Shriners Hospital for Children
EDUCATIONAL GOALS & CHARACTERISTICS:
The fellowship is accredited by the ACGME (since 1993). Four fellows are trained for all spinal diseases and conditions of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine: both degenerative and deformity; trauma and tumor; pediatric and adult. Individuals completing the fellowship will be well-suited for either a career in academics or in private practice.
- Clinical and basic science research projects are ongoing, and the fellows are encouraged to participate and complete at least two projects/papers. Surgical, out-patient and in-hospital care of the spinal patient is stressed; this fellowship is exclusively spine. The aspects to be covered are:
- cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disease
- deformity of the spine
- cervical, thoracic, and lumbar degenerative disease
- cervical, thoracic, and lumbar tumors of the spine
- fractures of the spine
- cervical, thoracic, and lumbar infections of the spine
- anterior and posterior approaches to the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine
- anterior and posterior segmental instrumentation
- several forms of segmental fixation (screws, hooks and wires)
Drs. Keith H. Bridwell, Jacob M. Buchowski, Lawrence G. Lenke, and K.Daniel Riew, our spine attending physicians, perform approximately 1000 cases per year. The overall case load profile is 50% deformity, 35% degenerative, and 15% tumor/fracture. 40% of cases are cervical, while 60% are thoracic/lumbar in nature. Age distribution equates to 70% adult and 30% pediatric. The four attending physicians are covered by four fellows, one chief/senior resident and two nurse practitioners. The fellows rotate every two months for the first eight months and monthly for the last four and participate in outpatient and inpatient management and in the operating room.
There is no in-house call. There are fifteen working days of vacation. It is anticipated that the fellows will attend one or two meetings a year, typically the Scoliosis Research Society, the North American Spine Society or the Academy's annual meeting. Another meeting could also conceivably be substituted.
The fellows are also involved in the following teaching conferences:
- Fellow Core/Monday Morning Conference (6:30 - 7:15 am) -Fellows' core curriculum (approximately 25 lectures) alternating with journal clubs and complex case conferences every week
- Friday Morning X-ray/Case Conference (6:30 - 7:15 am) - Preoperative planning every week, except the fourth Friday of each month
- Research Conference (6:30-7:30 am) - Fourth Friday of each month
- Grand Rounds - Every Wednesday
- Resident Core Curriculum - Tuesday/Thursday. Spine is about 15% of the resident Core curriculum
For information about St. Louis, CLICK the following: Information About St. Louis
For information about the Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital/St. Louis Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education Consortium, click here.
APPLICATION:
For academic year 2011/12, the fellowship is participating in the Spine Fellowship Match administered by SF Match (www.sfmatch.org). Simply complete the on-line registration, utilizing the Central Application Service (mandatory for applicants and programs), and provide the required documents as posted. The fellowship application deadline is January 11, 2010. Applications received after this date will be reviewed at the discretion of the fellowship director. Early applications are encouraged.
Orthopaedic residents in their PGY-4 year (in most cases) and neurosurgical residents in their PGY-5 year (in most cases), as well as graduates of both programs, are encouraged to apply.
The interview date is Saturday, February 13, 2010. Applicants selected to interview will be contacted well in advance.
The fellow must have completed his/her orthopaedic or neurosurgical training. The fellow is a member of the orthopaedic surgery faculty at Washington University School of Medicine with an appointment as an Instructor. All fellows within orthopaedic surgery must be eligible for work within the United States as well as a permanent Missouri medical license, BNDD and DEA. For questions regarding eligibility for a permanent Missouri medical license, please contact the Missouri Board of Registration for the Healing Arts at (573) 751-0098 (http://pr.mo.gov/healingarts.asp) prior to making application.
For more information on the fellowship, please contact
(via email preferred):
Terri Iffrig
Spine Fellowship Coordinator
Campus Box 8233
660 S. Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 747-2536 (direct line)
(314) 747-2600 (facsimile)
iffrigt@wudosis.wustl.edu