University of Miami/Jackson Health System Program

The University of Miami/Jackson Health System Pain Medicine Fellowship Program offers a multidisciplinary approach to pain management, tailored to equip fellows with the skills required to treat complex chronic pain conditions. This program reflects a commitment to compassionate, prompt, and effective care for patients, especially those who may have been difficult to treat through previous healthcare experiences.

Program Overview

The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and typically accepts four fellows per year for a duration of one year. The curriculum includes diverse clinical experiences across various rotations, promoting exposure to a broad patient population and a wide range of chronic pain conditions, including cancer-related pain and non-malignant pain syndromes.

Curriculum and Rotations

Fellows will participate in multiple core rotations across several key locations:

1. Pain Center/Advanced Institute for Pain Management: This rotation at Jackson North Medical Center focuses on medical and interventional management of chronic and cancer pain. Fellows will engage in teaching rotating anesthesiology residents and perform numerous procedural interventions.
2. Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center: Fellows will evaluate and treat chronic non-malignant and malignant pain patients, including those with spinal cord injuries. This rotation is focused on procedural interventions and acute pain management.
3. Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center: Here, fellows will manage patients with cancer-related pain and gain extensive experience in neuromodulation techniques, including spinal cord stimulator trials and permanent implant management.
4. Satellite Clinics: This fast-paced outpatient rotation allows fellows to refine their diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making skills in high-volume environments.

Each of these rotations is designed to refine the fellows' proficiencies in procedural techniques, such as epidural steroid injections and intrathecal pump management. This comprehensive exposure enhances the fellows' competence in both routine and complex cases.

Educational Structure

Education is a paramount focus, with structured didactic sessions held every Wednesday and Friday mornings, as well as a monthly journal club and attendance at departmental grand rounds. The program regularly invites prominent speakers for lectures, fostering a continuous learning environment. Daily one-on-one clinical teaching enhances the hands-on training.

Research Opportunities

The Pain Medicine Fellowship Program promotes active participation in research, ranging from bench to bedside. The faculty is engaged in both funded and non-funded projects, fostering a rich environment for fellow engagement in research initiatives.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

The fellowship program is competitively sought after and has specific eligibility criteria. Applicants are required to have completed an ACGME-accredited residency in anesthesiology, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, or psychiatry. Additionally, successful completion of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Steps 1, 2, and 3 is mandated before the fellowship begins.

Visa Support

For international medical graduates, the program sponsors the J1-Visa through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). This visa type is standard for residents and fellows who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Locations and Facilities

The key training sites include:

• Jackson Memorial Hospital
• Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
• UHealth Tower
• Satellite clinics associated with UHealth

These facilities provide access to a diverse patient population and numerous clinical cases, enriching the fellow's educational experience.

Alumni Outcomes

The program boasts a strong record of alumni placements in various esteemed institutions, including Baylor University Medical Center and The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Graduates commonly express confidence in their skills and abilities to provide holistic, multimodal patient-centered care in independent practice settings.