Joel M. Press, MD, Physiatrist-in Chief, Department of Physiatry
Jonathan S. Kirschner, MD, RMSK, Fellowship Director
Dena Barsoum, MD, Associate Fellowship Director
Duration: 1 year (August 1–July 31)
Stipend: $99,585.34 per annum/benefits (subsidized housing also available)
Positions: 3 ACGME-Accredited Sports Medicine and 1 NASS Recognized Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine (ISMM)
Location: Hospital for Special Surgery
Contact: Deja Pressley, Service Line Coordinator, 212.774.7351, PressleyD@hss.edu
Brochure: Physiatry Fellowship Brochure
The Spine and Sports Medicine Fellowship focuses on a comprehensive, nonsurgical approach to conditions and diseases that affect the musculoskeletal system. The emphasis of the program is to develop future leaders in sports medicine and interventional physiatry, who carry forth the department philosophy of aggressive diagnosis and conservative treatment. The ACGME accredited spots are obtained through the match and the NASS ISMM spot is obtained through the SF Match. The curriculum is similar for all positions, the difference being that the sports fellows fellows fellows provide game coverage for various St. John’s University sports teams as well as provide weekly training room coverage. They also provide coverage for the New York Red Bulls MLS soccer team, the Long Island Nets “G” League basketball team, PSAL High School Football, and Juilliard School of Dance. The non-accredited Spine/Sports fellow also assist with sports coverage and have ample sports exposure if desired. Due to the highly competitive nature of the fellowship, if ACGME certification is not a necessity, applicants are encouraged to apply for the NASS ISMM position. If accepted, they must withdraw from other matches such as the ACGME Sports or Pain.
Our fellows build skills and knowledge of the indications and techniques for advanced physiatric care of musculoskeletal injuries. They are exposed to both the common and uncommon peripheral nerve and brachial plexus disorders/injuries and participate in the electrodiagnostics performed. They learn to perform a wide array of interventional procedures, including fluoroscopic guided lumbar epidural injections (caudal, interlaminar, transforaminal), facet injections, facet cyst aspirations and ruptures, medial branch and genicular nerve blocks and radio frequency ablation, and lumbar disc access. Additional training for cervical spine procedures (e.g., epidurals and facet procedures) is also provided. Fellows learn a wide array of ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal injections as well as aspects of diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound.
In the course of fellowship training, there are optional rotations with spine/musculoskeletal radiologists, spine surgeons, and sports orthopedists. Fellows attend a weekly lecture series run by attendings and fellows that cover all board relevant Sports medicine topics. In addition, there are Physiatry Grand Rounds and the option to attend weekly conferences in sports, spine, arthroplasty, hip preservation, radiology, foot & ankle and hand. This breadth of topics cannot be replicated anywhere. All of our physicians are fellowship-trained, with the majority in sports medicine and interventional spinel. The Department of Physiatry also provides funds to attend a national conference within our area of study. Research is required, and ample support is provided including research assistants, full-time research faculty, and statistical assistance.
Applicants interested in the ACGME accredited positions should apply through the ERAS system. ACGME ID: 3423534002
Applicants interested in the NASS ISMM position should apply online through the NASS ISMM Match Website and must upload copies of each item listed below through the website. Please DO NOT email us your documents.
Two-day observations are encouraged (though not required). Please note observations at HSS go through an application process that takes 6-8 weeks for approval. Interested applicants can also stop by our HSS booth during the fellowship fairs for both the AAP and AAPM&R conferences.
Accepting NASS ISMM applications beginning: Monday, January 22, 2024
Deadline submission for NASS ISMM applications: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Interviews for the NASS recognized positions will be in person on: Friday, June 21, 2024
Accepting ACGME applications as per ERAS beginning: Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Deadline submission for ACGME applications: Thursday, August 15, 2024
Interviews for the ACGME accredited positions will take place in person on: Friday, October 18, 2024
Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the program deadline will not be accepted or reviewed.
Learn about the application process.
Back to Department of Physiatry
Back to Fellowships