About Us

Pain Medicine Fellowship

Main (Program Overview/Mission/Vision/Aims)

Program Overview

The San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC) Pain Medicine Fellowship Program is a combined Army and Air Force military training program. The program consists of 12 months of total training time involving the pain clinic, procedure clinic, inpatient consultations, operating room, neurology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), anesthesiology, and behavioral health rotations. Fellows are exposed to a rigorous academic training program with a strong didactic curriculum, busy procedural and surgical caseloads, and an enriching environment of inquiry. Our dedicated teaching faculty are from backgrounds in anesthesiology and PM&R from both civilian and military fellowships, providing a wide breadth of experience and the ability to manage even the most complicated clinical problems across the entire specialty of pain medicine. Fellow training is augmented by unique opportunities with cadaver trainings in advanced procedures, simulation center resources, and robust opportunities for research. Scholarship is a program requirement and dedicated research time is incrementally allocated throughout the fellowship year.

Mission Statement

Develop world class physicians from a myriad of diverse backgrounds into adept practitioners of comprehensive pain medicine with a focus on function and readiness.

Aims

Mastery of the evaluation and management of painful conditions and disease states with ongoing exposure to and appreciation for specialized, complex, and safe procedural and operative care.

Emphasize the importance of quality improvement and patient safety and striving to have the fellows embrace the High Reliability Organization (HRO) mindset.

Embrace the multidisciplinary approach to pain management through integration and collaboration with other disciplines and specialties.

Curriculum/Rotations/Locations/Partnering Institutions

The SAUSHEC Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship provides comprehensive training at the postgraduate level in the management of chronic, acute, and cancer pain. The educational environment includes outpatient clinics, inpatient wards, intensive care units, and the operating room. Within the pain clinic, fellows will work under the supervision and guidance of attending physicians. Primary external rotations, as specified by the ACGME, include Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neurology, Psychology/Psychiatry, and Anesthesiology. Additional external rotations include Neuroradiology, inpatient Acute Pain Service, Functional Restoration Program, and Palliative Care. All rotations are located at Brooke Army Medical Center and the Center for the Intrepid.

Military Relevance (military relevance of specialty/how program prepares trainees to be ready for military mission & first assignment)

The pain management clinic at BAMC oversees treatment of pain associated with non-battle (musculoskeletal injuries, overuse injuries) and significant battle injuries (amputees, blast injuries, burn injuries). We focus on identifying and treating common painful musculoskeletal syndromes that could impact the service member’s ability to perform their military mission. This would include decisions regarding fitness for duty and appropriate limitations based upon pathology, including return to duty. Trainees have access to world class Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation programs including the Center for the Intrepid (CFI) and functional restoration program (FRP). The program emphasizes on effective transition to opioid-sparing interventional modalities and additional implementation of appropriate adjunctive pharmacologic therapies. Lastly, trainees rotate through the musculoskeletal integrated practice unit (MSK IPU), which is a multidisciplinary team designed to assist in the mission of early intervention for MSK injury.

Application Instructions (Eligibility/Interview Process/Program Application Details)

Applications are submitted through the MODS website. Joint Graduate Medical Education Selection Board application cycle is from 1 July to mid-October. A completed application and three letters of recommendation are required prior to the granting of interviews. Fellows are accepted on an annual basis for positions in July (applications are submitted through the respective service Graduate Medical Education Program) although some may have delayed entry secondary to military obligations.

Contact Us

Program Director

Phone: (210) 916-2567

Fax: (210) 916-3050

Mailing Address

SAUSHEC Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine Fellowship
Medical Education Department
Brooke Army Medical Center
3551 Roger Brooke Dr.
Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6200

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