Pain Fellowships

GOALS and OBJECTIVES
The Fellowship in Pain Management in the Department of Anesthesia at Indiana University was established in 1994 with a goal of providing the required knowledge and extensive practical skills necessary to be an effective subspecialist in the area of Pain Medicine.

GENERAL INFORMATION and REQUIREMENTS

A. The fellowship in Pain Medicine is a one-year fellowship.
B. The academic knowledge will be acquired by the fellow(s) through a combination of:
a. A didactic program that includes core knowledge from the published textbooks as well as journal review, case presentation, and review of morbidity and mortality issues.
b. A clinical program, in which procedural skills and techniques are acquired through reading a description of the procedure, discussion with the appropriate faculty member, and subsequent demonstration by the faculty member leading to the fellow performing the procedure under faculty supervision.
c. The faculty and fellows are aware of the ACGME requirements that no substantial, negative impact on the resident’s education in pain medicine is to be caused by the training of the fellows in pain medicine. This is accomplished by the resident(s) and fellow(s) attending the same didactic programs, and by the resident(s) sharing, not only in the patient visits by doing history and physical examination, but also in any appropriate procedures.
d. All aspects of acute pain, chronic pain and cancer pain are covered during the fellowship.
e. The fellow(s) also gain experience in the administrative aspects of the Pain Clinic and the pain service, including inpatient and outpatient care, and also have responsibilities for teaching the residents.
f. Requirements for admission as a fellow have traditionally been to complete a three-year residency in anesthesiology. Recently the requirements were modified to include applicants who have completed residencies in other specialties.

SUMMARY

We consider our department to have a well-organized and comprehensive Pain Management fellowship. The selection process is fair and open, and is based on review of applications, subsequent interview of strong candidates, discussion at the faculty level, and a voting system that selects the successful candidates. We feel that the candidates are adequately oriented before their fellowship, and that the goals and objectives of the fellowship are clearly communicated to them. They are given a strong didactic and procedural education and are treated with fairness and open communication. Responsibility is assigned based on level of knowledge, experience and maturity. Fellows are included in the administrative running of the pain fellowship, Pain Clinic, and the teaching of residents. They are given an opportunity to evaluate the program, the faculty members and their experience during their one-year fellowship.