Weill Cornell Tri-Institutional Pain Fellowship

Fellows: Former

Scheduling and Rotations

Fellowship Curriculum

During the 12 month cycle, each fellow rotates between NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Hospital for Special Surgery as follows: 

12 week rotation at Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care

12 week rotation at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Pain Department

12 week rotation at Hospital for Special Surgery - Pain Department

6 week rotation which is further subdivided working with both the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center – Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department and the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center – Neuroradiology Department. While working with the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, fellows have the opportunity to see patients in clinic, witness EMGs being conducted, be part of physical therapy sessions and custom orthotic fittings for patients. While working with the Neuroradiology Department, fellows have the opportunity to perform Vertebral Augmentation Procedures. This is a very hands-on experience much enjoyed by our fellows. 

6 week rotation which is further subdivided working at both the Weill Cornell Medicine Upper West Side office and the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center – Psychiatry Department. While working at the West Side office, fellows see patients in clinic and perform interventional procedures daily in the en-suite fluoroscopy. While working with the Psychiatry Department, fellows have the opportunity to join the psychiatry team on inpatient rounding in the afternoon.  

A Typical Work Day

• NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center
  Your day starts at the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Comprehensive Spine Care at 8:30am. One fellow is assigned to seeing patients in clinic while the other fellow is assigned to doing procedures with the en-suite fluoroscopy or with the ultrasound machine. There is a 30-60 minute lunch break. The day typically finishes by 5pm for clinic and procedures. Roughly once per week, fellows also rotate at the main OR at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for intrathecal pump trials, intrathecal pump implants, spinal cord stimulator trials (including DRG), and spinal cord stimulator implants. During the 12 week rotation, fellows take about 2-3 weekend calls in which they are helping to round on acute and chronic pain inpatients from 8am-1pm. The pager is then signed out and covered by the inpatient PACU resident for the remainder of the call. During the week, chronic pain inpatients are covered by our pain NP’s. 
  
  
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Pain Department
  Your day starts at 6:30am to perform regional blocks and thoracic epidurals for the first-scheduled OR cases. This is a great opportunity to learn and refresh your regional and ultrasound skills! Once the morning blocks/epidurals are completed, the pain team typically has breakfast together. Clinic starts at 9am. Both fellows see patients in clinic and perform procedures daily with the en-suite fluoroscopy or with the ultrasound machine. Lunch is typically in the middle of the day. The day typically finishes by 5pm for clinic. Inpatient chronic pain patients are seen by the pain NP's, but fellows may assist with this during the day especially when procedures are indicated. If an inpatient needs an interventional procedure done, it is performed by the fellow. While at MSKCC, fellows perform a wide array of procedures including CT-guided celiac plexus neurolysis, regional anesthesia blocks, and spinal cord stimulator/intrathecal pump implantation. During the 12 week rotation, fellows take about 2-3 twelve-hour call shifts during which they are covering the inpatient pain pager for both acute and chronic pain patients.
  
  
• Hospital for Special Surgery - Pain Department 
  Your day starts at 8am at the Hospital for Special Surgery Outpatient Pain Office. Both fellows on the rotation are assigned to work with a specific attending each day. The fellow works in conjunction with the designated attending for the day in clinic and to perform procedures with the en-suite fluoroscopy or with the ultrasound machine. You have a 30-60 minute lunch break. The day typically finishes by 5pm for clinic and procedures. Once a week, fellows also see patients in the Medicaid Fellows Clinic and have designated fluoroscopy time later in the week to perform procedures on their patients so there is continuity of care. While at HSS, fellows have the opportunity to see a wide range of procedures ranging from acupuncture, prolotherapy, cryoneurolysis to DRG stimulation and DRG implantation. During the 12 week rotation, fellows take about 4-5 weekend calls in which they are helping to round on chronic pain inpatients and covering the pain pager from Saturday 7am till Sunday 7pm. The pager is then signed out to the covering NP for the night. During the week, chronic pain inpatients are covered by our pain NP’s. 

Living in New York City

The Cornell campus of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

• Learn more about living in New York City. 
• View the subsidized housing offered to our fellows.

Application

Our Pain Fellowship program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) for fellowships. Applications are accepted only through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS). Applications are accepted on ERAS from December 1 to April 15.

Required documents are:

• CV
• Personal statement
• Medical school transcript and Dean's letter
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Passport-size photo

Additional documentation accepted: ITE Exam Score, SAE and any other similar progress examinations (can be emailed to maa2010@med.cornell.edu).

Only J-1 visas are accepted for appoinment at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine Pain Fellowship Program.

Please email all pain fellowship queries to Marlene Augustine, maa2010@med.cornell.edu.

Program Directors