FELLOWSHIP CURRICULUM
The SCI Medicine Fellowship will include clinical experiences in the initial acute care consults and management, acute rehabilitation care, and outpatient management of persons with SCI. Fellows will see patients on the consult service immediately after injury, and will work closely with trauma, spine surgery, pulmonary, and critical care teams. The inpatient experience will involve caring for patients on the acute rehabilitation unit at the University of Utah Health’s Rehabilitation Center (and soon at the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital). Clinical experiences will be integrated with other clinical disciplines including physical and occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, recreation therapy, pharmacy, respiratory therapy and clinical psychology.
Outpatient experiences are flexible and include providing lifelong care for persons with SCI both at the University and at the VA Hospital. There are also both inpatient and outpatient experiences in pediatric SCI and spina bifida at Primary Children’s Hospital. The outpatient clinic opportunities are many and varied, and include educational experiences in wound care, plastic surgery, urology, wheelchair seating, radiology, spasticity management, and continuity of care of the spinal cord injured patients. Other elective opportunities are available to be adapted to the fellow’s areas of interest.
Several unique features of this fellowship include:
- Development of innovative solutions and assistive technology through integration with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah.
- Diaphragmatic pacing program.
- Comprehensive management of spasticity using oral medications, chemodenervation, and an active intrathecal baclofen pump program.
- Teaching opportunities with medical students and residents in PM&R, in addition to close working relationships with other students including clinical psychology post-doctoral students, physical therapy doctoral students, and pharmacy residents.
- University Health has an active Sports Fellowship, with faculty who have expertise in the care of Paralympic Athletes. VA SLC also has an active recreation program, and opportunities exist for participation in the National Veteran’s Wheelchair Games which is held annually.
- Comprehensive adaptive sports program: TRAILS (Technology Recreation Access Independence Lifestyle Sports). It is a comprehensive outreach program of the Rehabilitation Center at University of Utah Health for individuals with spinal cord injury or disease. The program includes many different recreational activities, including indoor spinning, hand cycling, kayaking, sailing, target shooting, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, swimming, and wheelchair tennis. We also have peer support groups, and lectures to the community. See our website for more information
- Many opportunities for participation in a range of research projects, including research focused on increasing active lifestyles and decreasing secondary health conditions.