University of Chicago Program

The University of Chicago offers a comprehensive one-year Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited Multidisciplinary Pain Management Fellowship program. This fellowship is designed for individuals who seek advanced training in the evaluation and treatment of patients suffering from chronic pain, whether due to cancer or other non-cancer conditions. The program emphasizes multidisciplinary approaches, ensuring fellows are well-equipped to handle a variety of patient care settings.

Throughout the fellowship, participants engage in intensive clinical training focused on both outpatient and inpatient management of chronic pain. This 12-month program allows fellows to collaborate and consult with multiple specialties, which include General Surgery, Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, OB/GYN, Neurosurgery, and many others. This multidisciplinary focus ensures that fellows understand how to incorporate various medical perspectives into their treatment strategies.

The program has been recognized with the “Fellowship Excellence Award” from the American Academy of Pain Medicine for its innovative and effective training techniques, emphasizing the value of its robust curriculum.

Clinical Rotations

Fellows will participate in nine months of dedicated work in the Pain Clinic, supplemented by three months of offsite rotations. The rotations include a diverse selection of clinical experiences vital for developing well-rounded pain management skills. The offsite rotations are divided as follows:

• Anesthesiology: 2 weeks
• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: 2 weeks
• Inpatient Pain Service: 1 week
• Pain Psychology Outpatient Service: 2 weeks
• Palliative Care: 2 weeks
• Neurology: 2 weeks
• Radiology: 1 week
• Elective Rotation: 2 weeks (e.g., regional anesthesia, acupuncture)

This structure allows fellows to broaden their clinical exposure and develop their interventional skills across multiple domains of pain management.

Interventional and Surgical Training

Fellows will also receive extensive training in both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to pain management, including various interventional procedures. They will gain hands-on experience in advanced procedures such as spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulators, and intrathecal drug delivery systems. The program is dedicated to providing fellows with approximately 15-20 hours of operating room time each week, facilitating significant exposure to practical interventions during their training.

Didactics and Scholarly Activities

The educational aspect of the fellowship is designed to enhance fellows' knowledge and skills systematically. There are one-hour didactic sessions held daily, focusing on pain medicine and covering rigorous topics in line with the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) Pain Medicine content outline. Monthly morbidity and mortality conferences encourage fellows to engage in critical discussions around patient cases, while quarterly journal clubs foster academic inquiry and collaboration with fellows and faculty across the region.

Research is heavily emphasized, with fellows actively encouraged to publish and present their findings at national conferences, including topics that may lead to award-winning presentations. In addition, each fellow is required to complete a quality improvement project during their training.

Administrative Responsibilities

Each fellow will share the responsibilities of a Chief Pain Fellow on a rotating basis every three months. This role not only enhances their educational experience but also helps in the development of leadership and administrative skills required in a clinical setting. Faculty and fellows regularly collaborate in overseeing clinic operations and coordinating patient schedules, fostering teamwork and communication.

Facilities and Call Responsibilities

The Pain Medicine Center is located at the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine (DCAM) within The University of Chicago Medical Center. This facility boasts comprehensive resources equipped with six exam rooms, two recovery bays, and fluoroscopic procedure suites. Surgical procedures are performed at the DCAM Surgery Center and further off-site facilities in the Chicagoland area.

Call responsibilities among fellows are distributed to allow for shared coverage in inpatient settings, with no overnight duties, allowing fellows to maintain a balance in their professional and personal lives.

Application Process

The fellowship positions are filled through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Applicants are expected to submit comprehensive applications, including documentation of examination scores. The program also extends support for candidates holding various visa types, allowing for a more inclusive range of applicants, including International Medical Graduates (IMGs) and DO candidates.

In summary, the University of Chicago's Pain Management Fellowship offers a dynamic and robust training environment for developing advanced skills in pain management. It emphasizes a unique multidisciplinary approach, interventional techniques, and extensive clinical rotations that collectively prepare fellows for successful careers in pain medicine.