The regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine fellowship is a year-long post-graduate training program aimed to cultivate the expertise in the art, theory, and practical delivery of regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine. Our fellowship is currently non-ACGME accredited.
Our institution has two primary hospitals (Penn Presbyterian Medical Center – our level 1 trauma center – and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania) and a free standing ambulatory surgical center (Penn Medicine University City), situated in the urban setting of Philadelphia, in the University City neighborhood. We perform approximately 450 blocks/month (~5400 blocks/year) with a healthy mix of single-shot peripheral nerve blocks, truncal blocks, continuous catheter nerve blocks, and neuraxial analgesic blocks/catheters. We routinely provide regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine services to a variety of surgical specialties including orthopedics, trauma, podiatry, plastics, breast, cardiac, vascular, colorectal, general surgery, gynecology, transplant, and ambulatory surgeries. We also have a dedicated acute pain service that manages continuous nerve block catheters, epidural catheters, acute pain medication management, and complex acute on chronic pain medication management.
We have a core group of dedicated regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine attending anesthesiologists who will be providing education throughout the year. Your education includes hands-on training in ultrasound guided peripheral nerve blocks, management of peripheral nerve continuous catheters, neuraxial anesthesia/analgesia, and multimodal pharmacological therapies for postoperative pain management. There are dedicated monthly lectures geared towards advanced regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine topics for our fellow, along with routine, weekly lectures given for anesthesia residents who rotate on their regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine rotation. These lectures are round table discussions or hands on training sessions with the core regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine attendings to help solidify knowledge and gain expertise in this field. Journal clubs are held throughout the year to discuss the latest evidence in the field of regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine. Finally, you will be required to pick a topic of interest in the earlier portion of your fellowship year, to perform a quality improvement project. This will be a great opportunity to gain proficiency in using systematic, data-guided initiatives to improve clinical care, patient safety, or health care operations related to the field of regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine.
As this fellowship is currently non-ACGME accredited, this fellowship currently incorporates a part-time clinical instructorship with the responsibility of supervising residents and CRNA’s in the operating room and obstetrics setting.
At the end of your year, you will be very well trained in the field of regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine, and we are confident that you will succeed in your career whether it is in the academic or private sector.
If interested, please apply to our program. This program currently participates in the SF match for the 2025-2026 year. We look forward to meeting you!
- Category: Regional Anesthesiology & Acute Pain Medicine
- Duration: 12 Months
- Number of Positions: 2
- Salary: $144,000 plus late shift pay opportunities
- Application Deadline: Until position is filled
How to Apply
Required documentation to complete your application include:
- Please apply through SF Match
- Curriculum Vitae with photo
- Personal Statement (1-page) to outline the candidate's academic plan
- Three (3) letters of reference from current program director and faculty
- Copies of ABA/ASA In-Training Exam scores to date
- Official Medical School Transcript and Dean's Letter
Application Requirements:
- Completion of ACGME accredited anesthesiology residency (by time of starting fellowship).
- Pennsylvania medical license.
Contact Us
- Veena Graff, MD
Fellowship Director
Email: veena.graff@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Phone: 215-662-8244
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care
University of Pennsylvania Health System
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
51 North 39th Street, Wright-Saunders 223
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-662-8422
Fax: 215-243-3234
Faculty
Deborah J. Culley, MD
Chair, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care
Veena Graff, MD
Fellowship Director, Chief of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine
Other Affiliated Faculty
Participating Hospitals
Prior Fellowship Graduates
Class of 2025
- Polina Ferd, MD
Anesthesiology Residency: Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
- Blaze Kelly, DO
Anesthesiology Residency: Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Class of 2024
- Allen Yang, MD
Anesthesiology Residency: Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
Class of 2023
- Daniel Maloney, MD: Jefferson Abington Hospital, Abington, PA | Anesthesiologist
Anesthesiology Residency: Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Class of 2022
- Sheriza Hussain, MD: Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC | Assistant Professor
Anesthesiology Residency: Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC
Class of 2021
- Maryam Nilforoshan, MD: University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA | Assistant Professor | Assistant Program Director, Anesthesiology Residency
Anesthesiology Residency: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Class of 2020
- Samir Thaker, MD: University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA | Assistant Professor | Director of Informatics, Veterans Affair (VA) Hospital
Anesthesiology Residency: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Class of 2019
- Jason Ochroch, MD: University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA | Assistant Professor | Associate Program Director, Anesthesiology Residency
Anesthesiology Residency: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Class of 2018
- Anthony Wang, MD: Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, Lewistown, PA | Anesthesiologist | Chair
Anesthesiology Residency: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Class of 2016
- Bridge Pulos, MD: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science, Rochester, MN | Assistant Professor | Program Director, Anesthesiology Residency | Fellowship Director, RAAPM
Anesthesiology Residency: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA