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 to 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).

Read about the fellowship in ASRA Pain Medicine News.

 

“For those looking to broaden their perspective on the field of pain medicine, the ASRA Pain Medicine fellowship provides an excellent opportunity to expand your expertise while connecting you with a rich global network of experts and peers."

Sukhman Shergill, MD 
Pain Fellow, 2024 Global Health Equity Fellowship

 

"With the sponsorship of such a prominent organization, such as ASRA Pain Medicine, trainees can start getting involved in global health early in their careers."

Erica Alcibiade, DO
RA/Acute Pain Fellow, 2023 Global Health Equity Fellowship

Requirements

1. Applicant must already be accepted into and be enrolled in 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. Applicant must be current ASRA Pain Medicine member.

3. The chosen Fellow must take part in preparatory readings about global outreach issues and complete a post-rotation writeup of their experience for publication on the Global Health SIG website within three months of returning.

4. The chosen Fellow must have a passport valid for at least six months of rotation end date.

• For rotations in Ghana, a Ghanaian visa must be obtained in advance of travel as well as a yellow fever vaccination card.
• For rotations in Tanzania, a Tanzanian visa must be obtained in advance of travel. 

* If a pain management fellow is selected, they must submitted written approval from the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) 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.

Application Process

1. Complete the online application form which includes: 

• A current CV
• A one-page personal letter of motivation describing your interest in the ASRA Pain Medicine Global Health Equity Fellowship Rotation
• A letter of permission to participate from your department chair and fellowship program director. Letters should include what makes you a great candidate for this fellowship. 

2. Finalists will participate in a video interview with Global Health SIG leaders. 

3. The selected Fellow will receive a list of host institutions and travel dates available in 2024. 

Location: Kumasi, Ghana in West Africa
ASRA Pain Medicine-affiliated institution: Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, New York

Available to: Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine or Pain Medicine Fellows

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.

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.

Location: Hyderabad, India
ASRA Pain Medicine-affiliated institution: Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, New York

Available to: Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Fellows

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.

Location: Moshi, Tanzania
ASRA Pain Medicine-affiliated institution: University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Available to: Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Fellows

KCMC is a 700-bed hospital with thirteen operating rooms that provides services to nearly 15 million people. It is one of four tertiary care referral facilities in Tanzania and, as such, the operating rooms support a wide range of surgery, including orthopedics, general surgery, OB/GYN, urology, etc. As a referral hospital, KCMC provides a high volume of trauma services, both orthopedic and general surgery. Additionally, KCMC has had a regional anesthesia service in place for more than five years. Recently, a manuscript examining patient satisfaction with and effectiveness of regional anesthesia at KCMC was accepted for publication by Anesthesia and Analgesia.

Mission and objectives:

• To teach and measure the impact of regional anesthesia training as part of the KCMC Department of Anesthesiology international teaching collaboration.
• Visiting fellows will teach providers via didactic lectures; simulation instruction using gel phantoms and ultrasound volunteers; and hands-on training during patient care.
• As a teaching focused rotation visiting fellows and attendings do not assume direct responsibility for patient care.
• Since the residency program at KCMC is a Masters of Medicine degree, all residents are required to complete a research thesis to graduate.  Opportunities to participate in collaborative research are readily available.

New host institutions for the ASRA Pain Medicine Global Health Equity Fellowship Rotation can be vetted and approved at any time. Contact the Global Health SIG leadership team for more details at [email protected].