Ohio State University Hospital Program

The Pain Medicine Fellowship at The Ohio State University Hospital is a comprehensive 12-month program dedicated to training fellows in the multifaceted field of pain management. Established in 1998, the fellowship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and admits two fellows each year. This program provides exposure to both acute and chronic non-malignant pain, as well as cancer-related pain care.

Fellows in the program are required to engage in multidisciplinary rotations that incorporate various medical specialties, such as neurology, psychiatry/addiction medicine, neurosurgery, and palliative medicine. Additionally, fellows have the option for rotations in either physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) or anesthesiology, ensuring a well-rounded training experience. The training emphasizes multimodal treatment approaches, integrating physical therapy, medications, psychological techniques, and interventional procedures in pain management. The fellowship is particularly remarkable for offering a high volume of advanced and neuromodulatory procedures, including spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, and intrathecal pump implants, among others 1.

Training Sites

The fellowship encompasses several training sites affiliated with The Ohio State University, primarily the OSU Comprehensive Spine Center, which handles approximately 40,000 clinic visits annually and performed around 6,400 procedures in the preceding fiscal year. Surgical procedures are conducted at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and include sites such as the OSU Comprehensive Spine Center at Outpatient Care East, Ohio State University East Hospital, Outpatient Care Dublin, and Outpatient Care New Albany 1.

Curriculum and Rotations

The clinical curriculum is designed to provide immersive experiences in the management of diverse pain conditions. This includes intensive training in both pharmacologic and interventional pain management strategies, catering to a comprehensive understanding of pain medicine. The curriculum is structured to ensure fellows receive the adequate exposure to acquire proficiency in pain assessment and management strategies across various clinical scenarios, which are critical in developing their expertise 1.

Research Opportunities

The fellowship includes allocated protected research time, allowing fellows to undertake projects that align with their interests within the realm of pain management. This aspect of the fellowship is critical in fostering academic growth and contributing to the evolving field of pain medicine 1.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

The Pain Medicine Fellowship at Ohio State University is recognized as a competitive program, reflecting high demand among applicants. It is particularly considered friendly towards both DOs and International Medical Graduates (IMGs), broadening access to qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds. To apply for this fellowship, candidates must hold a successful completion certificate from a four-year accredited residency in anesthesiology, neurology, psychiatry, or physical medicine and rehabilitation. The fellowship application process opens from December 1st to April 15th for positions starting the following year, and applications are submitted via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) 1.

Visa Sponsorship

The program offers visa support primarily for J-1 visas, making it accessible for international applicants. This ability to sponsor J-1 visas provides an important pathway for qualified foreign medical graduates to participate in this esteemed fellowship program, providing further opportunities for diversity within the training cohort 1.