The Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management Fellowship at Wake Forest University School of Medicine allows fellows to gain both clinical expertise and exposure to research and teaching.

Why Train at Wake Forest?

The Section of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management (RAAPM) is responsible for the provision of regional anesthetics and acute pain management throughout Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. The RAAPM section performs about 3,500 peripheral nerve blocks, 2,000 neuraxial blocks, 700 continuous peripheral blocks, and 1000 truncal blocks yearly, all in our state-of-the-art six-bed regional anesthesia area. Centrally located within our operating room suite, the RAAPM area is well-staffed and equipped to provide regional anesthesia for a wide range of surgical specialties.

RAAPM fellows have full access to the infrastructure for research and education provided by the Department of Anesthesiology and Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Direct faculty supervision and guidance is provided by subspecialty-trained anesthesiologists with expertise in RAAPM.

The Acute Pain Service (APS) is an integral part of the RAAPM Section. Unlike pain services at many other institutions, coverage of a Chronic Pain Clinic is not one of the responsibilities of this service.

Program Goals

Over the course of the 12-month fellowship, the fellow will enhance his or her cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills to safely and effectively administer and teach regional anesthesia as a consultant in anesthesiology. The fellow will be responsible for:

  • Decisions related to patient selection and technique application to facilitate efficient operating room throughput
  • Safe, effective and cost-prudent patient care
  • Enhanced patient recovery
  • Management of the Acute Pain Service

The fellow will be expected to develop the skills needed to establish a regional anesthesia and acute pain management practice as a primary component of his or her future practice in anesthesiology. Upon completion of the program, the fellow will be able to demonstrate patient care techniques and approaches including:

  • Spinal anesthesia
  • Epidural anesthesia (lumbar, thoracic, caudal)
  • Nerve localization techniques
  • Upper extremity nerve block
  • Lower extremity nerve block
  • Truncal blockade
  • Intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA)
  • Neuraxial opioids
  • Systemic opioids
  • Non-opioid analgesics

For more detailed information please download the Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management Fellowship Program Goals and Objectives Guide.