For Sites Interested in Participating
Fellowship Description
The ASRA Pain Medicine Global Health Equity Fellowship Rotation was founded by the ASRA Pain Medicine Global Health Special Interest Group (SIG) in 2019 to strengthen care in limited-resource settings and promote the growth of ASRA Pain Medicine fellows as physicians and leaders in the global health community.
The rotation is sponsored by ASRA Pain Medicine and is funded up to $5,000 USD for one Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine or Pain Medicine Fellow per academic year. Participants may choose from any two- to four-week rotation pre-approved by the SIG and compatible with away rotation rules at their home institution and The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACGME) / The American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA).
To date, regional anesthesia rotations are available at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana and Osmania General Hospital in Hyderabad, India. Alternative rotations that meet SIG specifications can also be vetted and approved.
Fellow Requirements
1. Fellows must already be accepted into a Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine or Pain Medicine Fellowship at the time of application (fellows in both ACGME-accredited and non-ACGME programs may apply). The fellowship is not currently open
to residents.
2. Fellows must be current ASRA Pain Medicine members.
3. For fellows in ACGME-accredited programs, written approval must be obtained from the American Board of Anesthesiology Credentials Committee at least four months in advance of the rotation, and participation must not prevent them from undertaking a minimum of ten months of training at their home institutions.
4. Fellows must complete a general application form and upload a curriculum vitae, a one-page letter describing their interest in the fellowship rotation, and a letter of permission to participate from their department chair and fellowship program director.
5. Fellows must participate in a video conference interview if selected.
6. Fellows must take part in preparatory readings about global outreach issues and complete a post-trip writeup of their experience.
Application Process
1. Complete the online application form.
2. Submit a current CV.
3. Submit a one-page letter describing your interest in the ASRA Pain Medicine Global Health Equity Fellowship Rotation.
4. Participate in a video conference interview (if selected).
Current Rotation Sites
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH)
Available to: Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine or Pain Medicine Fellows
Location: Kumasi, Ghana in West Africa
KATH is a 1,200-bed tertiary hospital performing a large volume of extremity surgery. A majority of these patients have been injured, often in road traffic crashes. Administration
of general anesthesia and opioids can be risky at KATH due to a lack of trained personnel, limited vital signs monitors, and oxygen supply failures. In this limited-resource setting, regional anesthesia can be an alternative means to keep patients
safe and comfortable during the perioperative period. KATH has two ultrasound machines, a few nerve stimulators, local anesthetic medication, and various needles available to perform blocks.
ASRA Pain Medicine-affiliated institution: Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, New York
ASRA Pain Medicine-affiliated institution point person: Mark Brouillette, MD
KATH point person: Alfred Aidoo, MBChB
Mission and objectives:
- To teach and measure the impact of regional anesthesia training as part of the KATH-Hospital for Special Surgery Global Regional Anesthesia Curricular Engagement (GRACE) Program.
- GRACE is an ongoing educational initiative tailored to local specifications designed to teach peripheral nerve blocks to resident and attending anesthesiologists.
- Visiting fellows will have the opportunity to teach providers via didactic lectures, simulation instruction using gel block mannequins/ultrasound volunteers, and hands-on training during patient care.
- Opportunities to participate in collaborative research are also available.
- Of note, visiting fellows and attendings do not assume direct responsibility for patient care.
Schedule: Usually one two- to three-week trip per academic year. Trips are usually during the winter and summer seasons.
Travel requirements: Passport valid for at least six months of rotation end date, Ghanaian visa obtained in advance of travel and yellow fever vaccination card.
Osmania General Hospital
Available to: Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Fellows
Location: Hyderabad, India.
ASRA Pain Medicine-affiliated institution: Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, New York
ASRA Pain Medicine-affiliated institution point person: Swetha Pakala, MD
Osmania General Hospital point person: Kausalya Chakravarty
Mission and objectives:
- To teach and measure the impact of regional anesthesia training as part of the Osmania General Hospital-Hospital for Special Surgery Global Regional Anesthesia Curricular Engagement (GRACE) Program.
- GRACE is an ongoing educational initiative tailored to local specifications designed to teach peripheral nerve blocks to resident and attending anesthesiologists.
- Visiting fellows will have the opportunity to teach providers via didactic lectures, simulation instruction using gel block mannequins/ultrasound volunteers and hands-on training during patient care.
- Opportunities to participate in collaborative research are also available.
- Of note, visiting fellows and attendings do not assume direct responsibility for patient care.
Schedule: More details to come
Travel requirements: More details to come
For Sites Interested in Participating
Click here to read more about becoming a rotation site.
New sites for the ASRA Pain Medicine Global Health Equity Fellowship Rotation can be vetted and approved by contacting us GlobalHealthandRASIG@asra.com.
Reflections from Past Fellows
Niyant Jain, MD - 2022 ASRA Pain Medicine Global Health Equity Fellow
Janet Uchi Jira, MD - 2020 ASRA Pain Medicine Global Health Equity Fellow