A Welcome From Our Program Director
Thank you for your interest in the University of Louisville Pain Medicine Fellowship Program. Our fellowship takes pride in providing a balance between patient care, teaching, and research in the field of pain management. Your fellowship experience in our program will set you up for a fruitful career, may it be academic, hospital-based, or private pain practice.
The clinical program is dedicated to providing comprehensive, multi-disciplinary and highest quality medical care for chronic pain patients. These experiences are being offered in our diverse clinical settings at the University of Louisville and its affiliate hospital, Veterans Hospital, and the inaugural Spine and Pain Center.
Our pain faculty, including myself, are dedicated to the teaching and advancement of our fellows. You have decided to spend an extra year to further your own training and my goal is for you to learn in an environment that is both collegial, supportive, and less stressful. Ultimately, my hope is for each one of you to become an exemplary pain physician who will further our field to new heights.
I hope that you will find our program and living in Louisville a good fit for you and your family. On behalf of the staff and the Pain Medicine Division, we look forward to meeting you!
Alexander Bautista, MD, MBA, FASA
Associate Professor
Pain Fellowship Program Director
Program Overview
The Pain Medicine Fellowship Program at the University of Louisville is an anesthesiology-based, multidisciplinary program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The mission of the program is to hone talented pain physicians who will be potential leaders and innovators in the field of pain medicine and research.
5000+ Patients Annually
200+ Procedures Monthly
200+ Advanced Interventional Procedures (neuromodulation, kyphoplasty) Annually
We accept two fellows each year into our comprehensive training program that provides an excellent opportunity for training in chronic non-malignant and cancer pain in both inpatient and outpatient settings. We foster compassionate, knowledge-based care, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal communication skills, professionalism, and system-based practice in adherence to ACGME milestone standards. We strive to provide the highest quality of patient care, education, and research.
At the satisfactory completion of the fellowship, the fellows will be eligible for entry into certification in Pain Medicine through the American Board of Anesthesiology, American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Board of Neurology and American Board of Psychiatry.
Curriculum
The fellows are provided with broad clinical exposure that includes the comprehensive evaluation and management of pain syndromes with varying complexity, ultrasound and fluoroscopically guided injections and significant surgical experience.
This is a 12-month fellowship program with extensive training and rotation through the following disciplines and services:
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Chronic Pain Management (core rotation, University Hospital and VA Robley Rex Medical Center)
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Neurology Rotation (Headaches and Facial Pain)
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Cancer pain and Palliative Medicine
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Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Spinal Cord Injury and Musculoskeletal Pain)
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Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine
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Acute Pain and Regional Anesthesia
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Neuroradiology
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Anesthesiology for Non-Anesthesiologist
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Research Rotation (Optional)
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Private Practice Rotation (Elective)
The goal is for fellows to progress from functioning under supervision to, eventually, becoming independent in performing complex procedures, manage complex chronic pain problems, and be able to function as consultants in all aspects of pain management.
Previous Graduates
The pain medicine accredited fellowship program began in 2002. We have graduated 25 pain physicians thus far.
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Current Fellows: Edwin Amirianfar (PM&R); Ryan Joseph Ferguson (PM&R); Dylan Lewis (PM&R)
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2023: Praveen Elmati (Anesthesia) - Private Practice (Delaware); Tariq Niazi (PM&R) - Private Practice (Illinois)
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2022: Robert Liu (Anesthesia) - University of Louisville Faculty; Raymond Christopher Yu (Anesthesia) - Private Practice, Texas
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2021: Steven Thebaud (Anesthesia) - Private Practice, Ohio; Kevin Andres (PM&R) - Private Practice, Indiana
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2020: William Bickers (Anesthesia) - Private Practice, Kentucky; James Sweet (Anesthesia) - Private Practice, Texas
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2019: Gregory Crewdson (Anesthesia) - Private Practice, Iowa; Daniel Sandlin (Anesthesia) - Private Practice, Georgia
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2018: Rafael Arias (PM&R) - Private Practice, Puerto Rico; Nicholas Volchko (Anesthesia) - Private Practice, Ohio
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2017: John Adams (PM&R) - Private Practice, Florida; Ashley Amsbaugh (Anesthesia) - Private Practice, Texas
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2016: John Khilken (Anesthesia) - Private Practice, Indiana
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2015: Jenna Dismore (Anesthesia) - Private Practice, Kentucky
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2014: John Ruxer (PM&R) - Private Practice, Kentucky
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2013: Christopher Middendorf (Anesthesia) - Private Practice, Florida
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2012: Christian Unick (Anesthesia) - Private Practice, Kentucky
Stipends and Benefits
Stipend
Pain Fellow (PGY-5) Stipend for the 2023-2024 Academic Year:
$66,122 (yearly)
$5,510 (monthly)
Moonlighting
Moonlighting opportunities are available for pain fellows with anesthesia background upon approval of the program director.
Benefits
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Vacations —20 days paid
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Book stipend of $500
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5 days for educational conferences and $1500 total for expenses (extra $750 per conference presentation)
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5 days for interviews
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Life Insurance — Includes accidental death and dismemberment
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Health Insurance — Families can be included at minimal cost
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Worker's Compensation
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Long-term Disability Coverage
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Professional Liability Insurance
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Free Parking
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Lab Coats
Application Process
Two fellowship spots are available each year.
To be eligible for the Pain Medicine Fellowship, the applicant must have successfully completed an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited residency and be board-eligible in your base specialty.
Applications are reviewed from December 1 through April 30 for the subsequent fellowship year. The application and all supporting documentation must be submitted through Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and those invited for an interview should register with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) to be eligible for the match.
Applicants chosen will be invited for a personal/virtual interview with the program director and selected faculty. Interview sessions take place in May and June.
Equal attention is given to every applicant regardless of sex, gender, religion, and race.
If interested, please contact:
Alexander Bautista, MD, MBA, FASA
Program Director
Email: alexander.bautista@louisville.edu
Sherry Gainous
Program Coordinator
Email: sherry.gainous@louisville.edu
Phone: 502-852-5853
University Faculty
VA Robley Rex Faculty
Aurel Neamtu, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Teekam Ochani, MD
Community Physicians
Lady Christine Ong Sio, MD
Clinical Gratis Faculty
Anil Vinayakan, MD
Clinical Associate Professor
Gary Reasor, MD
2023-2024 Fellows
Edwin Amirianfar, DO
Ryan Joseph Ferguson, DO
