Fellowship | Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation | School of Medicine

PM&R Interventional Ultrasound Fellowship

What we offer you

The Interventional US fellowship (Enhanced Skills) in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) would, upon completion by the enrollee, provide a suitable set of skills and knowledge base that would allow that physician to practice as a competent Interventional Physiatrist, expanding the treatment offerings for patients that they see in their normal daily practice.

The goal of the program is to safely and competently expand the capabilities of subspecialty Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation physicians in musculoskeletal medicine and appendicular nerve injuries. Successful applicants will become medical experts in the diagnosis, work up, interventional and non-interventional ultrasound-guided management of both common and uncommon appendicular pain conditions within the natural scope of a Physiatrist. This will be tailored to their particular patient population – i.e., common painful presentations, post-stroke, post spinal cord injury, or as common as osteoarthritis.

Successful applicants will also know the limitations of their interventional ability and when to ask for assistance from a colleague specializing in chronic pain - i.e., arranging for a trial of sympathetic blockade in a patient with complex regional pain syndrome.

They will learn this in a multi-specialty outpatient clinic setting working alongside other Physiatrists, anesthesiologists, surgeons, family physicians, and allied healthcare professionals. They will continue to develop effective diagnostic skills, management plans, and communication skills. They will interact with a wide variety of patients from diverse backgrounds, and be able to articulate the risks and benefits of various interventions. Additional experiences are available if desired: sports medicine, electrodiagnostic medicine.

Successful applicants will develop the knowledge and technical skills required for ultrasound-guided procedures from simple to more advanced, which may include:

Injectate: Corticosteroid, Hyaluronic acid, platelet rich plasma, local anaesthetic (sodium channel blockade), botulinum toxin, dextrose, phenol.
Techniques: Intra-articular injection +/- arthrocentesis, peritendinous, perineural, prolotherapy, hydrodissection, tenotomy, tenolysis, certain peripheral nerve blocks, certain radio-frequency ablation (RFA) procedures.

NOTED SPECIFIC EXCLUSIONS (not all shown): Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine procedures (including facet); any and all epidural injections; sympathetic nerve blocks.

Format of training:

Location: Kingston Orthopaedic Pain Institute, Providence Care Hospital
Estimated clinical workload: 60-80%
There is a strong expectation of after clinic hours reading and studying to complement the clinical experiences.
Time participated in the program does not guarantee successful completion; competency (and safety) matters.

Application details:

Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Canadian PM&R training program
Number of positions annually: 1
Duration: 6-12 months
Start date: Negotiable
Application deadline: April 15th application deadline for July 1st start Date (block 1)
Alternative start dates available (blocks 5, 8)
Contact: Kaitlyn Cats (k.cats@queensu.ca)
Fellowship Program Director: Dr. Thomas Gregory
Required documents: Curriculum Vitae, Cover Letter, 1-3 Reference Letters
Electives with Kingston Orthopaedic Pain Institute are strongly encouraged