The Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management Fellowship program at Wake Forest Univeersity School of Medicine offers a curriculum based on patient care, research opportunities, and regular conferences.
The Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management (RAAPM) section manages patients using a systems-based approach to multimodal analgesia. Our routine practices include:
- Nerve-stimulating catheter techniques
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Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block (PNB)
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Ambulatory perineural infusions
Clinical Rotations
Each day, one RAAPM faculty member, two to three residents and one to two fellows provide care for patients. Fellows perform regional anesthesia procedures, instruct residents and conduct clinical research under the supervision of the RAAPM faculty.
A second RAAPM faculty member, one to two residents and up to one fellow also integrate postoperative and ambulatory care plans with the regional anesthetics that were initiated in the RAAPM area. The Acute Pain Service (APS) is fully integrated into the process of perioperative patient care, and is committed to providing 24/7 care to patients with acute pain.
Fellows are also given the opportunity to maintain and enhance skills as a consultant anesthesiologist in a tertiary care facility. One day a week, the fellow functions at the level of faculty - supervising residents and student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) or medically directing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) for general operating room cases.
On Call Duties
Faculty, fellows and residents provide call from home. The fellow call commitment is always specific to the APS, is faculty-supervised and is approximately 1:8 (1 day of call out of 8 days).
Conferences and Didactics
A strong didactic program enhances the RAAPM fellowship education.
Available didactics include:
- Departmental grand rounds
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Regional anesthesia subspecialty conference
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Morbidity and mortality (M&M) conference
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Oral board practice sessions
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Journal club
Our section supports a visiting clinical preceptorship to our facility and fresh cadaver dissections.
Fellows are expected to participate and prepare presentations with faculty guidance, and each fellow is also expected to participate in and present a research project with faculty mentorship. The research project is will be completed by the end of the academic year.
Research Opportunities
It is anticipated that each fellow will be able to complete and submit at least one peer-reviewed abstract or article for publication during the fellowship.
Visiting Clinical Preceptorship
The RAAPM section now offers a clinical preceptorship for private practice and teaching physicians who wish to develop their regional anesthesia techniques, expand the scope of their practices, establish or improve an acute pain service, and update their documentation and billing procedures. For information, please call 336-716-7194.
Download the Visiting Clinical Preceptorship Brochure