This program offers four 1-year ACGME-accredited fellowship positions for board eligible or certified anesthesiologists, neurologists, physiatrists, and psychiatrists. Applications are accepted through ERAS starting in December of each year.
Upon completion of the fellowship, the fellow will be able to function as an independent, board eligible Pain Management Physician and Consultant, competent in the interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment (including advanced interventional techniques) of complicated and routine pain problems.
We provide multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of the full spectrum of ambulatory pain patients. To do this effectively, we have a facility and staff dedicated to pain management.
As the only academic pain center in Iowa, we bring expertise to all pain patients. We provide consultation to patients and physicians not just in Iowa City, but throughout Iowa and beyond. We provide leadership and education in the field of pain medicine for our patients, our colleagues, and our region.
Mission Statement
To provide evidence-based, exemplary education in multidisciplinary pain management to serve our patients in the best possible way, and to develop future leaders that will advance the field of pain management.
Program Aims
- Create well-trained pain medicine physicians who can provide state-of-the-art medical care and will become leaders in their field.
- Provide the foundation for lifelong learning and practice in pain medicine.
- Develop critical thinking skills to evaluate medical literature, new pharmacologic and technical procedures, and the application of new techniques to patients with painful conditions.
- Develop pain medicine physicians who will provide ethical pain care driven by what is best for the patient rather than financial considerations alone.
- Develop pain medicine physicians who will constantly strive to improve understanding of pain and its treatment.
Accreditation
The Pain Medicine Fellowship at University of Iowa Health Care is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Our last ACGME site visit was in March 2011 and our accreditation status is continued accreditation. The program is approved for 4 total fellow positions.
Information specific to program requirements for a pain medicine training program and milestones for fellow performance may be found at the ACGME’s Anesthesiology Review Committee (RC).
Board Certification
The ABA-American Board of Anesthesiology-certifies physicians in pain medicine by administering the Pain Medicine examination. Our fellowship program expects fellows to become certified in Pain Medicine.
Pain medicine is the medical discipline concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of the entire range of painful disorders. Because of the vast scope of the field, pain medicine is a multidisciplinary subspecialty. The expertise of several disciplines is brought together in an effort to provide the maximum benefit to each patient. Although the care of patients is heavily influenced by the primary specialty of physicians who subspecialize in pain medicine, each member of the pain treatment team understands the anatomical and physiological basis of pain perception, the psychological factors that modify the pain experience, and the basic principles of pain medicine.
Subspecialty certification is detailed in the ABA's BOI (Booklet of Information).
Fellowship Details
Our Goal
The goal of the fellowship program is for the fellow to be exposed to the advanced interdisciplinary evaluation and management of acute, chronic, and cancer-related pain, and to procedures related to the treatment of these patients.
Upon completion of the fellowship, the fellow will be able to function as an independent, board eligible Pain Management Physician and Consultant, competent in the interdisciplinary evaluation and treatment (including advanced interventional techniques) of complicated and routine pain problems.`
Our Approach
We know that ongoing pain changes a person's life in all areas, and we are here to help. Our approach is individualized treatment because we know every person experiences pain in a different way. Our team of pain specialists looks at the whole person to evaluate the pain problem and develop a plan with the patient and their referring physician to improve their quality of life and pain control. We are unique because we bring together a dedicated group of professionals to provide state-of-the-art pain assessment and treatment, research into new treatments, and coordination with patients’ health care providers.
Day to Day
Didactic Teaching Program takes place Monday through Thursday (unless otherwise specified) at 7:15 am before the start of daily clinical responsibilities. Our didactic schedule follows a "Theme of the Month". Examples of some themes are Basic Science related to Pain, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Cancer Pain, Palliative Care, Pediatric Pain, Pharmacology in Pain, etc.) Make up presentations can utilize Friday morning optional time.
Attendance
While conference attendance is required, a fellow is not required to attend conference/lecture if doing so would cause a duty hour violation. The fellowship coordinator tracks attendance at educational activities. Fellows are expected to attend 90% of the didactic lectures and Clinical Case Conferences. If a conference/lecture is missed in order to avoid a duty hour violation or the fellow cannot attend due to clinical obligations, the fellow should notify the fellowship coordinator, and the fellow will be officially excused from that educational activity. All fellows must scan the badge reader to get credit for attendance
