INSIGHT GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

The INSIGHT Spine Fellowship is a two-year combined training program that is recognized by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). Our fellowship program provides a unique experience for training in a multidisciplinary spine care setting, with providers who specialize in Neurosurgical Spine Surgery, Orthopaedic Spine Surgery, and Interventional Spine Pain Management. 

The INSIGHT Spine Fellowship program will provide an outstanding opportunity to learn and work in a private practice setting for common and complex disorders of the spine. It will bring forth an excellent opportunity to excel in spinal surgery, both technically and clinically. The primary goal of our fellowship is to graduate fellows with a highly refined clinical acumen and surgical skill set that will allow them to most effectively treat any type of spinal malady. 

The fellows will gain experience in critical and creative thinking, decision making, and management of patients with virtually all types of spinal disorders (Degenerative 55%, Traumatic 25%, Deformity 15%, Tumor 5%). The percentage of operative experience is 80% to 20% non-operative. The fellows will be exposed to a high volume of spine surgical procedures. The caseload consists of approximately 750-1000 cases per year: 40% cervical, 20% thoracic, 40% lumbar. During these 2 years, the fellows will be exposed to the latest techniques in all spine disciplines using various surgical approaches, from minimally-invasive microsurgeries to complex deformity and revision surgeries using navigation systems. Additionally, the fellows will be exposed to all interventional pain management techniques including diagnostic and therapeutic epidural steroid injections, sacroiliac injections, facet procedures (including radiofrequency denervation), intrathecal drug pain pump, and spinal cord stimulator placements, as well as artificial disc technology and kyphoplasty procedures). Along with this strong surgical experience, our fellows learn clinical evaluation and decision-making skills in Spine and general Musculoskeletal disorders; including history, physical examination, and diagnostic image interpretation. Also, as part of the training, the fellow will get a thorough understanding of practical issues such as business skills, marketing, billing, and coding to prepare physicians for private or academic practice.

Duration: 24 months

Number of fellows accepted: 4

Location: INSIGHT Main Campus | INSIGHT Surgical Hospital

How to apply: Applications are accepted by email fellowship@iinn.com resume and cover letter

Research/Publication obligation: Yes

Percentage of fellowship devoted to Operative Care: 80% | Non-operative Care: 20%

The fellows will be working in 2 main locations; ISH and Insight Institute of Neurosurgery & Neuroscience (IINN). ISH is the center of minimally invasive surgeries as well as other traditional spine surgery and interventional pain management center www.insightsurgicalhospital.com. While at Insight, fellows will work closely with our expert interventional pain management specialist https://www.iinn.com. The fellows, at all times, will be under the direct and indirect supervision of the program director and spine faculty. Three days a week will be spent in surgery, one day in the clinic seeing spine patients, and 1 day a week will be free to pursue research activities at our research department. There is one scheduled night or a weekend call. A typical week would include 50-60 hours of work. There must be at least 1 free day in 7 days.

In addition to a large and expansive surgical experience, we have created a strong evidence-based academic foundation focused on the education of our fellows on all topics pertinent to spine surgery. A didactic weekly core curriculum lectures provided by the best spine surgeons in the world in collaboration with eccElearning Spine Diploma. These lectures are fully accredited by the EACCME with a total of 540 CME credits. By finishing our fellowship, the fellows will receive a Spine Diploma certificate endorsed by European Spine Journal https://courses.eccelearning.com/lp/spine-surgery-diploma/. Additionally, the fellows will be involved with Spine Conferences, Grand Rounds, M&M, and Journal clubs. A minimum of 2 publishable clinical or basic science research projects is expected by each of the fellows. Fellows will have full access to an online medical library.

The fellows will be working in 2 main locations; ISH and Insight Institute of Neurosurgery & Neuroscience (IINN). ISH is the center of minimally invasive surgeries as well as other traditional spine surgery and interventional pain management center www.insightsurgicalhospital.com. While at Insight, fellows will work closely with our expert interventional pain management specialisthttps://www.iinn.com. The fellows, at all times, will be under the direct and indirect supervision of the program director and spine faculty. Three days a week will be spent in surgery, one day in the clinic seeing spine patients, and 1 day a week will be free to pursue research activities at our research department. There is one scheduled night or a weekend call. A typical week would include 50-60 hours of work. There must be at least 1 free day in 7 days.

In addition to a large and expansive surgical experience, we have created a strong evidence-based academic foundation focused on the education of our fellows on all topics pertinent to spine surgery. A didactic weekly core curriculum lectures provided by the best spine surgeons in the world in collaboration with eccElearning Spine Diploma. These lectures are fully accredited by the EACCME with a total of 540 CME credits. By finishing our fellowship, the fellows will receive a Spine Diploma certificate endorsed by European Spine Journalhttps://courses.eccelearning.com/lp/spine-surgery-diploma/. Additionally, the fellows will be involved with Spine Conferences, Grand Rounds, M&M, and Journal clubs. A minimum of 2 publishable clinical or basic science research projects is expected by each of the fellows. Fellows will have full access to an online medical library.

Prerequisites (Eligibility & Application process)

Candidates are expected to have successfully completed an orthopedic surgery or neurosurgery residency and able to obtain a Michigan medical license

  • Curriculum vitae

  • Three letters of recommendation:

    • One of which should be from the chairman or program training director of your training program

  • Medical school transcripts

  • Copy of USMLE/COMLEX transcripts (all 3 steps; passed within 3 attempts)

  • ECFMG Certificate (applicable to international graduates)

  • Copies of Michigan medical license & DEA license

Benefits

  • Competitive annual salary with benefits which includes health, malpractice, and workers compensation insurances.

  • Up to five days paid CME every year

  • 3 weeks PTO (vacation) every year

  • Paid professional license and appropriate dues

Fellowship Director:

Jawad A. Shah, MD, FRCSC, FAANS, FACS (Neurosurgeon)

Associate Program Director:

Zakhria Belasher, MD (Orthopedic Spine Surgeon)

Faculty Staff:

Sudesh J. Ebenezer, MD, ED.M., FRCSC, FAANS (Neurosurgeon)

Dali Yin, MD, Ph.D. (Neurosurgeon)

Edem J. Idara, MD, MSC, FRCSC (Neurosurgeon)

Cameron M. McDougall, MD  (Neurosurgeon)

Roy Torcuator, MD (Neurosurgeon)

Michael Kapsokavathis D.O. (Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon)

Siva K. Sripada, DO (Anesthesiologists & Interventional Pain Management Specialist)

Vincent Rampersaud, MD (Orthopedic Surgeon & Interventional Pain Management Specialist)

Sunil Manjila, MD

Ahmad Elakil, MD, MBA, FAANS

Current Fellow: 

Chirag Chaudhary, MD, MBA

Fellowship Coordinator:

Nadir Ijaz

Contact Us:

4800 S. Saginaw St. Ste. 1800, Flint, MI 48507

Phone: (586) 880-2420

Fax: (810) 963-1715

How to apply:

Email fellowship@iinn.com