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The Weill Cornell Tri-Institute Pain Fellowship is a 12-month, ACGME-accredited program that provides a comprehensive curriculum for training the next generation of leaders in Interventional Pain Medicine. Widely regarded as one of the top training programs in New York City and the country, the program incorporates core rotations at three of the nation's leading hospitals: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Hospital for Special Surgery. Our fellows benefit from the close association between these three world-renowned hospitals. In fact, it is this breadth of experience that we — and our graduating fellows — feel makes our program so unique and unparalleled.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center is a major international and regional tertiary referral center that is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the United States. Fellows rotating through NYPH are exposed to an evidence based and multi-disciplinary approach to treating pain at a major academic hospital. The pain fellows' exposure to a wide variety of clinical cases — including cancer pain, spine-related pain, and other painful conditions such as CRPS — make this rotation unique. Clinical education time is split between our new Center for Comprehensive Spine Care, the Upper West Side office, and the Lower Manhattan office. All of our facilities have en-suite fluoroscopy with daily procedures occurring that include ultrasound-guided procedures. Advanced pain therapies, such as spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal delivery systems, are a focus of this rotation.
Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is the world's largest dedicated cancer hospital. The rotation here offers a very unique opportunity for pain fellows to evaluate patients with all stages of malignant disease. Fellows are exposed to the latest in cancer pain management techniques including neurolytic blocks, vertebral augmentation, and intrathecal drug delivery systems. New and creative approaches to pain management are often necessary for improving quality of life in patients with advanced disease.
The Hospital for Special Surgery
The Hospital for Special Surgery is a world-famous orthopedics and rheumatologic hospital that has been continuously top-ranked by U.S. News & World Report for twenty years. In addition to providing a specialized orthopedic, rheumatologic and rehabilitation patient referral base, the clinical rotation at HSS offers a true glimpse of a busy pain management clinic from a private practice perspective. There is a focus on cervical and lumbar spine procedures. Advanced therapies include DRG stimulation and intravenous ketamine infusions for CRPS.
Weekly Teaching Time
Fellows have protected weekly teaching time throughout the year, regardless of their clinical responsibilities.
Every Friday morning from 7:30-8:30 am, there are Pain Medicine Grand Rounds. We have invited speakers presenting throughout the year.
In addition, every Friday morning from 8:30-9:30 am, fellows have weekly didactic sessions. A wide array of topics are covered such as Journal Club, Board Review and Business Management. There is a lot to cover in one year and we try our best to give our fellows the full spectrum!
Finally, every month there is a Friday morning Cadaver Session that provides fellows with hands-on practice of various techniques. During these sessions, the Pain Medicine faculty or invited guest speakers help to cover interventional techniques for different regions of the body.
Educational Allowance
Fellows are given a generous educational allowance to help support their learning. Two Pain Management books are given at the start of the fellowship, and fellows receive additional reimbursements for presenting at conferences and for research published.
Conferences
We encourage our fellows to attend local and national conferences in order to meet other leaders in Pain Medicine. We give our fellows protected time and reimbursement to attend the New York & New Jersey Societies of Interventional Pain Physicians' Pain Medicine Symposium, as well as The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Interventional Cancer Pain Symposium.
Some other conferences attended by fellows in the past include North American Neuromodulation Society Annual Meeting, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Annual Pain Medicine Meeting, and American Academy of Pain Management Annual Meeting.
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
The Cornell campus of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
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:
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.
Amitabh Gulati, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology
Assistant Attending Anesthesiologist, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Program Director, Tri-Institutional Pain Medicine Fellowship
Contact:
Marlene Augustine
Phone: (212) 746-2785
E-mail: maa2010@med.cornell.edu
Sadiah Siddiqui, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology
Associate Program Director, Tri-Institutional Pain Medicine Fellowship
Contact:
Marlene Augustine
Phone: (212) 746-2785
E-mail: maa2010@med.cornell.edu