Spine Neurosurgery Fellowship
The spine fellowship program is sponsored by the Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center and is funded by and conducted primarily from Semmes-Murphey Neurologic & Spine Institute. The objective of this 12-month program is to train fellows to function competently as complex spine surgeons in either academic or clinical settings.
The fellowship is divided into two rotations—clinical and research. The clinical rotation provides training in the management of degenerative spinal disorders, as well as traumatic, neoplastic, and congenital conditions. Fellows are involved in all elements of patient care, including diagnosis, non-operative management, operative treatment, and follow-up; approximately 70% of the fellow's time is spent in surgery and 30% in non-operative care. Surgical experience is provided in a range of settings, including a university medical center, a community hospital, and a private practice ambulatory surgery center.
During the research rotation, fellows are expected to participate in at least two basic science or clinical research projects. Fellows are involved in all aspects of research, including literature review, project development, data collection, and data analysis. Fellows are encouraged to develop their own projects, but can also participate in existing projects sponsored by faculty supervisors. Fellows are expected to produce at least one publishable paper (e.g., book chapter, peer-reviewed journal article) by the end of the fellowship year.
In addition to their rotations, fellows are expected to attend educational conferences sponsored by the University of Tennessee Department of Neurosurgery. Opportunities are also available to practice surgical skills in cadaver labs and to participate in technique courses offered in the medical center area. Funds are provided for attendance at one national professional meeting.
Applicants
To apply for a fellowship position, interested candidates should send the following to Jacque Peterson, MA at jpeterson@semmes-murphey.com: 1) an updated CV; 2) a cover letter, stating the fellowship year of interest and professional goals/career plans. In addition, three letters of reference should be sent to Ms. Peterson directly from their sources. Selected candidates will be invited to Memphis for interviews.
Faculty
Paul Park, MD
Program Director and Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Kevin T. Foley, MD, FACS, FAANS
Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Biomedical Engineering
Michael S. Muhlbauer, MD, FAANS
Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Why Memphis?
Memphis is a truly incredible town with so much to offer! Catch dinner at the iconic Majestic Grille before taking in a Grizzlies NBA game at the FedEx Forum. Learn the history of Memphis music at Elvis Presley’s Graceland, Stax Records, and Sun Studio. Soak in the sun at Shelby Farms or the Big River Crossing. Enjoy shopping at our Bass Pro Shop, housed in the tenth-tallest pyramid in the world, then explore the nightlife on historic Beale Street.
Those are just a few reasons Memphis was named one of Condé Nast Traveler’s 23 Best Places to Go in 2023. Our UT Health Science Center was also named the ninth safest college in America by Alarms.org.
But most of all, Memphis is the healthcare hub of the Mid-South's large and diverse population.
You can find UT Health Science Center faculty, residents, fellows, and staff at:
- two phenomenal children’s hospitals (Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)
- one of the busiest trauma centers in the country (Regional One Health)
- a top-ten-ranked cardiac surgery hospital (Baptist Memorial Hospital)
- a hospital with a state-of-the-art transplant institute (Methodist University Hospital)
- a hospital that serves almost 200,000 veterans a year from 53 different counties in the area (Memphis VA Medical Center)
Memphis is THE place to be!