Program Goals

• Provide a comprehensive, diverse, educational program in the field of Pain Medicine and prepare the fellows to meet eligibility requirements for Board Certification of Added Qualifications in Pain Medicine.
• Provide a supportive learning environment for specialized training in Pain Medicine within a system that affords high-quality patient care.
• Train the fellows to become proficient in the following core competencies: medical knowledge, patient care, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, systems-based practice, professionalism.
• Provide a variety of educational opportunities to expand the fellow’s teaching skills, administrative skills, and participation in scholarly activities.
• Provide opportunities for the fellows to enhance interest and active participation in research and encourage lifelong learning habits in medical education.
• Conduct quality research and maintain continued academic growth through scholarly publications and presentations at professional meetings.
• Demonstrate commitment to expanding professional responsibility, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population.

Program Objectives

• Provide extensive training in Pain Medicine, combined with excellence in clinical care, research, and advocacy for those in pain.
• Prepare the fellows to meet eligibility requirements for Board Certification. Train and educate future physician leaders in Pain Medicine utilizing the most comprehensive and innovative approaches to the evaluation and management of acute, cancer-related, and chronic non-cancer pain.
• Provide comprehensive education and training regarding how to optimize patient outcomes for both physical and emotional well-being by integrating pharmacological, interventional, psychological, and alternative modalities.
• Provide opportunities for active participation in research and promote lifelong learning habits in medical education.

The Pain Medicine Fellow Will:

• Understand the nature of pain and its treatment.
• Understand the mind-body spectrum of pain and suffering.
• Understand common barriers to treating pain.
• Understand the major drug groups used to manage the different classes of pain.
• Understand the interventional therapies used to treat different types of pain.
• Understand the full range of resuscitation skills required for safe procedural practice.
• Understand the non-pharmacological and non-injection approaches to pain management.
• Understand the special needs of the terminally ill patient who is suffering.
• Understand the legal and regulatory issues that impact pain management.

The Fellow is to be Trained to:

• Evaluate and treat patients with chronic pain.
• Understand the indications, contraindications, risks, and benefits of interventional treatment for chronic pain management.
• Evaluate patients with chronic pain and select patients for invasive procedures.
• Explain the role of behavioral scientists in the evaluation and management of chronic pain.
• Devise a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to the chronic pain patient.
• Understand the indications, uses, and contraindications of noninvasive pharmacological agents for chronic pain.