Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship
Call: 617-952-5243
Email: mgentile6@mgb.org
Overview
The Spinal Cord Medicine Fellowship at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital prepares physicians with knowledge, skills, and attitudes to promote health, functioning, and quality of life of people with spinal cord injuries and disorders. Fellows gain exposure to the full spectrum of spinal cord medicine care, guided by expert spial cord rehabilitation medicine physicians at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, VA Boston, Mass General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
The fellowship is accredited by the American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and satisfies the clinical educational requirements to sit for the American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Spinal Cord Medicine Board exam to obtain board certification in spinal cord medicine.
Fellows receive exposure to spinal cord rehabilitation medicine in outpatient, inpatient rehabilitation, and inpatient acute care consultation settings. Supplemental education is provided through regular didactics and journal clubs. Fellows also have the opportunity to teach peers and trainees by giving a Grand Rounds presentation and teaching at resident didactics.
Fellowship Program Highlights
The Spinal Cord Medicine Fellowship offers a rich and diverse experience for fellows:
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Well-respected, established program, 36 SCI fellows trained since 2000
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Expansive and well-rounded learning experiences across diverse training settings, including interventional spasticity management, ventilator management, neuro-urology, neurosurgical/spine, assistive technology, wheelchair/seating, and other specialty clinics
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A vibrant milieu for learning, with engaged and supportive faculty (including 9 faculty with SCI fellowship training and/or SCI board certification), and inter-professional staff & trainees
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Flexibility to customize training experiences based on individual goals and interests
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Strong didactic program including weekly SCI-related lecture series, fellow-directed colloquium, case conferences, journal clubs, and interprofessional talks and grand rounds
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Engagement opportunities in diverse adaptive sports and therapeutic recreational activities
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Opportunities and time for research and scholarly activities, with access to world-class resources across Harvard, MGB, Spaulding SCI Model System, and the VA. For example:
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Superior track record of graduate success (see below for post-fellowship employment), 100% pass rate for the initial SCI certification exam, and multiple publications and presentations.
Clinical Learning
Our program offers diverse clinical experiences with the spinal cord rehabilitation medicine team, including interdisciplinary clinics and rounds. Fellows work across different settings, such as inpatient and outpatient at a VA hospital, inpatient and outpatient clinics at a stand-alone rehabilitation hospital, acute SCI consultations at a major level 1 trauma center, OR time and pediatric spine clinics at a pediatric hospital.
Didactics/Journal Club
Our fellowship includes a robust didactic curriculum with expert lecturers on a wide range of spinal cord rehabilitation topics.
Fellows participate in including weekly SCI-related lecture series, fellow-directed colloquium, case conferences, journal clubs. Additional learning opportunities include Spaulding Grand Rounds and the Spaulding Residency Lecture Series. Fellows also teach peers and trainees by giving a Grand Rounds presentation and teaching at resident didactics.
Clinical Facilities
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Spaulding Rehabilitation is a 132-bed inpatient rehabilitation center that provides both inpatient and outpatient services. It is a standalone facility located in Charlestown, MA. Fellows spend time at SRH both inpatient and outpatient.
West Roxbury VA
The West Roxbury VA hosts a nationally recognized acute Spinal Cord Injury program and is one of the few facilities with a CARF-accredited acute rehabilitation program.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Is a level 1 trauma center located in Boston, MA. Fellows spend 1 month at the hospital working with attendings on the acute consult service seeing spinal cord injury patients. Some of these patients transition to Spaulding after allowing fellows to follow the patients care from start to end.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Fellows get to spend about 2 weeks at BWH working with the neurosurgery department observing neurosurgical spine clinic, consults and surgeries. This time helps fellows learn about surgical options and how to support patients after surgery.
Boston Children’s Hospital
A recent addition to the schedule, Boston Children’s Hospital is an independent pediatric hospital. Fellows get to work with the pediatric rehabilitation team at BCH who also work at SRH on the pediatric inpatient unit observing consults, outpatient spine clinics.
Requirements
To be eligible for this program, applicants must have completed an ACGME–accredited residency program.
Curriculum
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (SCI inpatient rehab and outpatient rotations) – 3 months
- VA Boston SCI Center (inpatient, outpatient SCI and specialty clinics, consults) – 6 months
- Massachusetts General Hospital (acute SCI consults, specialty clinics) – 1 month
- Brigham & Women’s Hospital/BWH (Neurosurgical spine clinic/consults) + Boston Children’s Hospital/BCH (clinics/consults) – 1 month
- Elective (any site) – 1 month
How to Apply
Fellowship Application and Application Checklist: SCIM-Fellowship-Application-2024
The Fellowship Program: Director, Sunil Sabharwal, MD, can be reached at 857-203-6574/ 857-203-5128, or email: sunil.sabharwal@va.gov for additional information.
Salary and Benefits
Mass General Brigham offers a wide range of benefits and a competitive salary for clinical fellows.