Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Description of Spine Surgery Fellowship

Code:15.015 Description of Spine Surgery Fellowship

The University of Tennessee-Campbell Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship in Spine Surgery is a 12-month fellowship. Time is spent with the director of the fellowship in an office practice heavily weighted toward spine problems (est. 90% to 95%). There is adequate exposure to acute and reconstructive hand surgery, as well as a broad exposure to clinical and nonsurgical problems.

The fellow supervises the residents on the "spine" rotation and participates in surgery as scheduled on a daily basis.

Time and facilities are available for clinical and basic science research projects in the University of Tennessee Anatomy and Pathology Department. Campbell Foundation support staff is available to assist in this research. Fellow is required to work on at least one research project during the fellowship year. It is expected that this research will result in a presentation, a publication, or both.

This fellowship is chaired by George Wood, II, MD., Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Tennessee-Campbell Clinic. Dr. Wood is a graduate of the UT-WCC hand surgery fellowship program and has been on staff at the Campbell Clinic since, 1980. His practice is dedicated to adult trauma and spine surgery. The fellowship director establishes appropriate curriculum for the trauma fellow according to the guidelines of the ACGME. Keith D. Williams, MD, a graduate of the WCC orthopaedic surgery residency program and spine fellowship program, also oversees the spine program. He has been on the staff since 1992. All faculty are board certified in orthopaedic surgery.

Clinical:

• See patients with Drs. Wood and Williams as assigned.
• Work-up new patients: obtaining history and physical examination data, ordering
  appropriate x-rays, and discussing management with the attending staff physician
• Perform all procedures as directed: removal of pins, administration of injections, removal of sutures, debridement of wounds, and removal of casts
• Complete preoperative history and physical examination and ensuring appropriate preoperative x-rays are available
• Take first call on all out-patients with problems or questions

Hospital:

• Share daily round on all in-patients
• Check preoperative lab work the day of surgery
• Make postoperative check on all patients before discharge
• Call ward the evening of surgery to check on postoperative patients from that day
• Take first call on all in-patients
• See all consults on in-patients and evaluate condition, collect lab data, order appropriate x-rays, scans and relevant consults
• Discuss patient with attending staff physician

Surgery:

• Serve as first assistant to staff, primary surgeon as directed
• Write postoperative orders and brief operative notes
• Dictate all operative notes as directed
• Perform all anesthetic blocks as directed
• Ensure appropriate x-rays are on OR viewboard

Teaching:

• Specialty Conference (5:30-6:30 PM each Monday) Attend as duties allow and fellow desires.
• Clinicopathology Conference (6:30-8:00 PM each Monday) Attendance is mandatory.
• Core Curriculum Conference (5:00-7:00 PM each Thursday) Attendance is mandatory as assigned; otherwise, strongly emcouraged.
• Journal Club (7:00-9:00 PM one Thursday per month) Attendance is mandatory for the meeting when spine journal topics are reviewed.
• Fellow will be required to present at least two conferences during the year on a topic of his/her own choosing.
• Assist residents in surgery as requested and available.

Applicants for this fellowship must have completed an ACGME accredited residency program in orthopaedic surgery, or an AOA accredited residency in osteopathic surgery, and be eligible to obtain a DEA certificate and medical licenses in both Tennessee and Mississippi. They are also required to obtain hospital privileges at the following institutions affiliated with the parent program:

University of Tennessee Campbell Clinic Faculty Appointment

Baptist Memorial Hospital ( East, Germantown Branches)

Regional Medical Center at Memphis

Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Memphis

LeBonheur Children's Medical Center

Methodist Hospitals of Memphis

This Fellowship maybe filled through the National Resident Matching Program. Deadline for receipt of completed applications is August 31.