The spine fellowship program is a combined adult and pediatric orthopaedic spine program offering experience in a comprehensive spectrum of spinal disorders using non-operative and operative interventions. Fellows train at UAB Hospital as well as Children's of Alabama. UAB Hospital is the only Level 1 Trauma Center verified by the American College of Surgeons in the state of Alabama as well as a tertiary referral center for reconstructive spine surgery. And, with more than 3.5 million square feet, Children's of Alabama, ranked among the best children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, is one of the largest pediatric medical facilities in the US.

Fellows have progressive responsibilities, including assisting in surgery, teaching residents and serving as first-surgeon as skill levels mature. The fellow will be expected to develop and complete their own research project by the end of the fellowship.

The clinical fellow will develop and complete at least one research project to be presented at AO Fellows Forum. Past fellows had been very productive and involved in multiple research projects. Excellent support is available through well-established research fellowship program and cross-collaboration with various departments.

Fellows graduate the program with a well-rounded trainee experience, typically logging greater than 350 surgical cases during their time with the department. The spine fellow will spend about four days in the operating room and one day in the clinic.

Leadership

Program Director: Steven Theiss, M.D.

John D. Sherrill Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery
Professor and Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery 

Associate Program Director: Sakthi Rajaram Manoharan, M.D

Assistant Professor