Shriners Children’s Philadelphia – Pediatric Spine Fellowship

• The pediatric spine fellowship at Shriners Children’s Philadelphia is a 6 – 12 month program that encompasses the breadth of pediatric spinal pathology. Fellows will develop clinical appraisal of patients in the outpatient clinic, advance their understanding of inpatient care, and hone their surgical skills in the management of all aspects of complex spinal deformity. The fellow experience ranges from management of early-onset scoliosis through casting/bracing/growth friendly constructs; treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with fusions and innovative approaches like vertebral body tethering (which received FDA clearance following a study conducted at our institution); to the treatment of complex/severe syndromic, neuromuscular, and congenital spinal deformities with halo gravity traction and vertebral column resections. There is also intermittent exposure to neurosurgical procedures such as spinal cord detethering, selective dorsal rhizotomies, and baclofen pump implantations. Upon graduation, fellows will have a sound understanding of routine and complex spinal pathology, which can be utilized to pursue either a career in academic or private practice.
• Candidates can apply for this fellowship through two pathways, but the Shriners Children’s Philadelphia experience is the same:
• Eligible candidates:
  • Orthopedic surgeons (ABOS eligible or certified) that have completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedic surgery or spine surgery
  • Neurosurgeons (ABNS eligible or certified) that have completed a pediatric neurosurgical or spine surgery fellowship.
  • A separate pathway for international graduates who are interested in continuing to provide specialty care in their respective countries is being developed and consideration will be given to graduates who have completed a spine fellowship(s) in the US or internationally and have several years of practice experience already.

Average 400 cases per year

• EOS – 20%
• Adolescent idiopathic – 45%
• Neuromuscular – 5%
• Syndromic – 10%
• Congenital – 5%
• Cervical/Spondy – 5%
• Misc – 10%

Interested individual should send a copy of their CV to terrence.ishmael@shrinenet.org