The mission of the Spine Fellowship at Rush is to:
Gain proficiency in patient evaluation, interpretation of diagnostic tests, and non-operative and operative treatment of traumatic, congenital, metabolic, neoplastic, neurologic, developmental, and degenerative disorders of the skeletal system.
Develop proficiency in the technical skills in the operating room and the surgical management of spinal deformities and demonstrate increasing autonomy from one year to the next. After the fellowship, the fellow will be expected to be able to practice advanced spinal surgery competently and independently.
Develop leadership skills needed to lead a multidisciplinary team of allied health care workers including health care extenders, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, nurse practitioners, and nutritionists, and to understand their role and contribution to patient care.
Develop proficiency in prescribing therapeutic exercises, modalities, prostheses, orthoses, and durable medical equipment.
Enhance interpersonal skills to effectively engage and educate patients and their families.
Gain expertise in managing spinal inpatients, including skills in administration, quality improvement, and leadership, with a focus on effective verbal and written communication.
Build experience in supervising and teaching fellow residents and medical students.
Acquire skills in independently researching scholarly sources and presenting educational topics to benefit medical staff and improve patient care.
Foster a strong sense of personal responsibility and a commitment to delivering high-quality, ethical patient care.
Provide compassionate, effective patient care that addresses health problems and promotes wellness within spinal surgery.
Develop a comprehensive understanding of biomedical, clinical, and cognitive sciences, applying this knowledge competently in patient care.
Demonstrate practice-based learning by investigating and evaluating patient care, integrating scientific evidence, and implementing improvements in care delivery.
Cultivate interpersonal and communication skills that enable effective information exchange with patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
Exhibit professionalism through dedication to responsibilities, adherence to ethical standards, and respect for a diverse patient population.
Embrace system-based practice by recognizing and utilizing healthcare system resources to deliver optimal patient care and value.
The fellow is responsible for at least 2 clinical or basic science research projects. Research (biochemistry and biomechanics) meetings, clinical research conferences, and journal clubs are organized monthly. Research facilities in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery include the biomechanics laboratory, lifting and gait laboratories, biomaterial and histopathology laboratories, biochemistry and molecular biology, and an animal surgery facility.
The fellows are responsible for teaching lectures and presentations. Lectures include the degenerative spine indication conference and combined orthopedic-neurosurgery spine deformity conferences which are held weekly.