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Neurosurgery Spine Fellowship

The spine fellowship is a one-year appointment in the Department of Neurosurgery and offers fellows a rich array of opportunities to develop comprehensive clinical and patient management skills. You'll be trained to diagnose and treat a full range of spinal disorders, including degenerative spinal disorders, spinal deformity, complex fractures, infections and spinal tumors. You'll also gain practical experience in advanced spinal instrumentation, minimally invasive surgical techniques, intraoperative image guidance and sophisticated intraoperative imaging.

The year includes a series of 2.5-month rotations with each key faculty:

Additionally, you'll present in dedicated teaching conferences, select journal club articles for review and discussion, offer a spine anatomy cadaver course to residents, and attend monthly department meetings. All fellows are encouraged to and provided time to participate in clinical, anatomic, biomechanical and/or neuroscience research.

The Neurosurgery Spine Fellowship Program at RUSH is accredited by the Society of Neurological Surgeons Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training (CAST).

How to apply

Candidates must have completed the chief residency year in an ACGME-accredited neurosurgery residency or its foreign equivalent to be considered.

Please submit the completed application along with the following:

  • Curriculum vitae
  • U.S. Medical Licensing Examination scores
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement
  • Personal photograph

Please email your application and attachments to John O'Toole, MD at john_otoole@rush.edu.

For more information or assistance, please contact John O'Toole, MD at john_otoole@rush.edu.

Faculty for Neurosurgery Spine Fellowship