Orthopaedic Spine Fellowship

Our fellowship is an intense one-year program intended to foster academic careers for those Orthopaedics trained graduates who are interested in pursuing further expertise in spinal surgery.  At present, there is a significant enthusiasm and shift toward less invasive spine techniques, and our fellowship offers the unique training with some of the worldwide leaders in this field.  Additionally, the consistency and diversity of cases allow the trainee to formulate the appropriate management and deliver the standard of care to a wide spectrum of spinal pathologies. Furthermore, our training will help the fellow acquire the surgical expertise to tackle the various pathologies of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine via standard open and minimally invasive techniques.

Additional academic opportunities are offered, and active participation of the fellow is required in the following areas: spine biomechanical testing projects, basic science, and clinical investigations.  Our ultimate goal is to help our fellow become a sound clinician, an expert surgeon, and a leader scientist.

Program Director: Tony Tannoury, MD

Faculty:

• Tony Tannoury, MD (Adult and Adolescent Spine)
• Chadi Tannoury, MD (Adult and Adolescent Spine)
• Ibtehal Kimawi, MD (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation)

Contact:  Lynnette St. Louis –  Lynnette.StLouis@bmc.org

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Orthopedic Spine Fellowship Program is to train fellows in the field of spine surgery and spine rehabilitation with the knowledge, critical analysis, operative skills, and attitudes needed to become excellent orthopedic spine surgeons who are able to make the best treatment decisions for their patients. It is the goal that graduated fellows have acquired superior and advanced expertise in all aspects of basic and advanced minimally invasive and open procedures involving the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. The program seeks to train fellows from diverse backgrounds to become leaders in their field. Faculty are dedicated teachers, advisors, and mentors who are committed to helping fellows establish a strong foundation upon which to build their future practices.

Program Aims:

1. Provide a strong mentorship based education which stresses the therapeutic relationship with the patient, patient based decision making, and evidence based care. 2. Expose trainees to diverse patient populations and cultures and provide experience in caring for patients from many backgrounds. 3. Provide a culture of inquisitiveness and investigation through Socratic conferences, academic investigation, critical analysis journal clubs and substantial outside influences from national courses and visiting lecturers. 4. Encourage trainees to develop self-awareness of their strengths and potential weaknesses as it relates to their role as a health care professional. 5. Provide daily discussion about the anatomy and mechanics of the spinal column. This will serve as the fundamental basis for any further training.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Our sponsoring institution and our program have a long history of commitment to diversity and inclusion. At an institutional level, we have a Program Manager for Diversity and Inclusion, located in our GME office, with whom we can partner to intentionally attract and recruit talented under-represented minority fellows. Efforts to maintain an inclusive and supportive community for our trainees include networking and community-building events over the course of the year. We feel strongly that the diversity in our patient population should be reflected in our workforce, including our trainees, we create a safe, supportive, diverse, and inclusive environment for all faculty and staff as we have members who identify as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Color, and LGBTQ. Our program trained residents and fellows are from more than 7 different countries as a testament of our belief of spreading the knowledge and science across the globe.

BMC Earns Blue Distinction Orthopedic Spine Surgery

Boston Medical Center has been named a Blue Distinction Center® in orthopedic spine surgery by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The award is given to medical facilities that demonstrate expertise in delivery quality health care.

Blue Distinction Centers for spine surgery are awarded to medical facilities exhibiting a commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for patients. These facilities offer experienced, comprehensive inpatient spine surgery services, including discectomy, fusion and decompression procedures. Research confirms that hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers for spine surgery have fewer patients with complications and fewer hospital readmissions than non-designated hospitals.