University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago Program

Overview

The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago offers a 12-month ACGME-accredited fellowship in Regional Anesthesia. This program provides fellows with extensive experience in performing regional anesthesia techniques and managing patients undergoing regional procedures. The training environment is enriched by a team of multiple faculty members who possess diverse experiences, ensuring a high level of clinical training and professional development for fellows during their training year.1

Clinical Training

During the fellowship, trainees will rotate through various subspecialty areas, including Regional Anesthesia, Acute Pain Service, and Chronic Pain rotations. Fellows will perform a high volume of blocks, encompassing a wide variety of single-shot blocks such as supraclavicular, interscalene, femoral, PENG, and popliteal. Additionally, they will engage in neuraxial procedures such as combined spinal-epidurals, thoracic epidurals, and the management of continuous nerve catheters.1

The program is actively incorporating newer truncal techniques into its teaching, including erector spinae, TAP, and QL blocks. As part of the Acute Pain Service, fellows will also be responsible for managing patients with epidural and peripheral nerve catheters. The opening of the new Specialty Care Building allows for hands-on experience at a high throughput regional anesthesia outpatient surgical center, enhancing the clinical exposure and experience of the fellows.1

Educational Goals

At the end of the fellowship, graduates are expected to master a comprehensive range of regional procedures, including managing an Acute Pain Service, ensuring patient safety, and integrating evidence-based practices in regional anesthesia. They will also develop skills in interprofessional collaboration by engaging with anesthesiologists, surgeons, nurses, and other medical professionals in a multidisciplinary environment.1

Research and Scholarly Focus

The program emphasizes research and scholarly activities. Fellows participate in journal clubs, case conferences, and grand rounds, promoting active engagement in ongoing academic discussions. Faculty members facilitate opportunities for fellows to participate and present at national meetings organized by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA). Fellows may also have the option to moonlight as attendings in the Main OR, further augmenting their practice experience in a supportive setting.1

Application Process

Starting with the 2024-2025 fellowship year, the fellowship will participate in the national RAAPM match through SFMATCH, with applications accepted from January 9, 2023. The program admits one fellow per year, with an annual salary based on the PGY-5 scale plus call incentives.1

Visa Support

The program provides visa support for international applicants, typically sponsoring J-1 or H-1B visas.2

Program Competitiveness

The Regional Anesthesia Fellowship program is competitive but remains open to Doctor of Osteopathic medicine (DO) graduates and International Medical Graduates (IMGs). It is advisable for applicants to have completed a residency in anesthesiology and to fulfill standard eligibility criteria, including robust clinical experience and recommendations from previous training.2

Special Application Requirements

Applicants should demonstrate completion of an anesthesiology residency program and board eligibility. While there may not be explicit limits on failures in the USMLE or other examinations, candidates are encouraged to present a strong academic profile with positive references as part of their application to enhance competitiveness.2