West Virginia University Program

The Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship program at West Virginia University is a one-year, ACGME-accredited fellowship designed to train anesthesiologists in advanced techniques related to regional anesthesia and acute pain management. The program accepts one fellow per year, ensuring personalized education and training.

The fellowship is part of the West Virginia University Health System, which is the largest health system in the state and comprises ten hospitals, including Ruby Memorial Hospital, a tertiary academic medical center with Level 1 trauma capabilities. This environment provides a high-volume service where fellows perform over 2,500 single injection and continuous peripheral nerve blocks annually.1

Clinical Experience

The core focus of the fellowship is to develop clinical expertise in various regional anesthesia techniques and acute pain management strategies. Fellows will gain technical proficiency in upper and lower extremity peripheral nerve blocks, nerve plexus blocks, continuous catheter techniques, paravertebral techniques, TAP blocks, and central neuraxial techniques, including thoracic epidurals and combined spinal-epidurals.

The program emphasizes both conventional landmark-based approaches and modern ultrasound-guided techniques, allowing trainees to handle a range of clinical scenarios effectively.3

Rotations

The fellowship structure includes essential core rotations that cover:

• Regional Anesthesiology
• Acute Pain Medicine Service
• Pediatric Regional Anesthesiology
• Trauma
• Intra-operative Rotation
• Chronic Pain Medicine

Fellows also have opportunities for elective rotations, which may include Research, Point of Care Ultrasound, and additional Pediatric, Trauma, Intra-operative, and Chronic Pain Medicine rotations, further enhancing their training.8

Conferences

The fellowship includes a robust schedule of educational conferences aimed at enhancing learning and professional development. Key conferences include:

• Fellowship Lecture Series (weekly)
• Journal Club (bi-monthly)
• Morbidity and Mortality Conference (bi-monthly)
• Cadaver Lab (quarterly)
• Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) (twice yearly)

These sessions provide fellows with valuable insights into clinical practice, quality improvement, and advance their medical knowledge.4

Faculty

The fellowship program boasts a diverse and experienced faculty dedicated to mentorship and education. Faculty members have substantial expertise in regional anesthesia and acute pain management, ensuring that fellows receive tailored guidance throughout their training.5

Application Process

The application for the fellowship occurs through the SF Match process, which encourages a more organized and consistent application experience for all applicants. The fellowship is currently accepting applications for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 academic years. Additional details regarding the application process may be found on the SF Match website.2

Visa Support

The fellowship program offers visa sponsorship options for qualified international medical graduates. Specific types of visas, which may include J-1 and H-1B visas, can be supported under the program’s guidelines.

Competitiveness and Special Requirements

The fellowship is recognized as being highly competitive, underscoring the need for applicants to present strong academic credentials and clinical experiences. Certain requirements may include specific educational qualifications, limits on the number of failed STEP exams, and a request for completion of an Anesthesiology residency before applying, ensuring fellows are well-prepared for the rigorous demands of specialized training.6

Fellowship Policies

The program adheres to established policies and procedures in alignment with ACGME guidelines, which govern various aspects such as block scheduling, duty hours, supervision policies, and fellow well-being.7