The Department of Orthopaedics at The Ohio State University has designed a teaching program that includes comprehensive didactics, in which all areas of Surgery of the Spine are represented. The curriculum allows the fellow to be involved with all spine surgery faculty. The variety of styles in the management of spinal problems, surgical indication, patient/physician relationships, charting/documentation and billing methods that exist in this broad spectrum of practices offers an experience that is truly comprehensive.
The fellow will be exposed to the full spectrum of spinal disorders, both operative and non-operative. During the program, the fellow have access to a high volume of spine surgical procedures by rotating with the three orthopaedic spine surgeons on staff and will be exposed to cervical, thoracic and lumbar pathology, including degenerative diseases, trauma, deformity, infections and tumors. Anterior, posterior and direct lateral exposures will be taught as well as minimally invasive and open techniques for spinal fusion and decompression. The fellow will be involved in all phases of care for the patient, including pre-op, surgical care, post-op follow-up and long-term surveillance care. The fellow will also participate in an on-call schedule, where they will see and evaluate patients with residents in the emergency department. He or she will see patients in the clinic and will direct appropriate diagnostic studies as needed and participate in the surgical and postoperative care of patients and also supervise outpatient therapy until the patient is recovered.
Research is also an important component of the Spine Surgery Fellowship program. The fellow will be responsible for at least one research project during his or her training. This will include study design, IRB application, statistical analysis and writing. Resources are available in all of these areas within our division and department. Research projects are presented at the research day. Ample time is provided to the fellow throughout the program to complete their project.
Program overview
The training faculty members of The Ohio State University Surgery of the Spine Fellowship Program are committed to the education of all fellows and wish to prepare these physicians to function as well-qualified, independent specialists. We believe that fellows require training in basic science, and clinical care as it is relates to orthopaedics. Our role as educators is to instill trainees with those traits essential to success including honesty and integrity, objectivity, self-motivation, curiosity, timeliness and a sense of responsibility. Finally, as a division, we believe varied perspectives and backgrounds improve ourselves and our care of patients.
- Train graduates to understand the process of quality research and to critically evaluate literature
- Graduate surgeons who are capable of practicing competently and independently
- Train graduates to master all aspects of adult spinal surgery, including degenerative spinal conditions, revision spinal surgery, deformity, infection and spinal fractures
- Graduate surgeons who are competitive applicants for positions in either private practice or academic practice settings
- Graduate surgeons who perform well in subspecialty practice
- Recruit superior fellowship candidates
- Encourage and prepare fellows for roles in leadership organizations, such as health policy, advocacy, education, medical education accreditation and research; at regional, national and international levels
House officer salaries 2025 – 2026
- PGY6: $80,478
- PGY7: $81,153
The following benefits are provided by the Department of Orthopaedics to limited medical staff (residents and fellows):
- Three weeks paid vacation
- One week professional leave with pay for attendance at a national or international conference
- Reimbursement for attendance at above conference
Learn more about Ohio State benefits.
The fellow participates in the educational activities of the Department of Orthopaedics, specifically:
- Department of Orthopaedics Morbidity and Mortality Conference (monthly)
- Department of Orthopaedics Journal Club (monthly)
- Department of Orthopaedics Quality Conferences (quarterly)
- Department of Orthopaedics Visiting Professor programs (quarterly)
- Department of Orthopaedics Mallory-Coleman Research Day (yearly)
- Department of Orthopaedics Michael J. Patzakis Endowed Lectureship (yearly)
Educational activities specific to the division of spine surgery:
- Spine indications conference (weekly)
- Spine surgery Journal club (monthly)
- Joint Neuro/Ortho Spine Conference (bi-monthly)
Research is an important component of the Surgery of the Spine Fellowship. Each fellow is required to complete, present and submit a book chapter or case report for publication in a peer-reviewed journal prior to completion of the fellowship. In addition, the fellow will collaborate on ongoing research projects underway in the division. Research projects are presented at the annual Mallory-Coleman Research Day. Ample time is provided to the fellow throughout the program to complete the project.
Application process
Applications for fellowship are accepted through the SF Match. Applications are reviewed by the selection committee, and applicants are selected on the basis of their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills and personal qualities.
Application deadline: October 5, 2026
Applications for fellowship are accepted through the SF Match. Applications are reviewed by the selection committee and are selected on the basis of their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal qualities.
Eligibility Requirements
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Eligible applicants must be:
- Graduates of medical schools in the United States of America and Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
- Graduates of colleges of osteopathic medicine in the United States of America accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
- Graduates of medical schools outside of the United States of America and Canada who have received a currently valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), or have a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the Ohio.
- Graduates of medical schools outside the United States of America who have completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by an LCME-accredited medical school.
- For entrance into an ACGME-accredited fellowship program, all required clinical education must be completed in an ACGME-accredited residency program, an AOA-approved residency program, a program with ACGME International (ACGME-I) Advanced Specialty Accreditation, or a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)-accredited or College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)-accredited residency program located in Canada.
- The following exception may be made by the ACGME Specialty RRC: An ACGME-accredited fellowship program may accept an exceptionally qualified international graduate applicant who does not satisfy the eligibility requirements listed, but who does meet all of the following additional qualifications and conditions to include:
- Evaluation by the program director and fellowship selection committee of the applicant’s suitability to enter the program, based on prior training and review of the summative evaluations of training in the core specialty
- Review and approval of the applicant’s exceptional qualifications by the GMEC
- Verification of Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification.
- All entering residents must have successfully completed USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 (CK & CS) prior to appointment to the limited staff of University Hospital and prior to official appointment to their training program.
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Applicants must be eligible for either a training certificate or a permanent medical license as granted by the state medical board of Ohio. Prior to appointment into the program, applicants must have either:
- An acknowledgment letter of receipt of training certificate application
- A newly issued or renewed training certificate
- Proof of receipt of application for permanent Ohio medical license, or
- Permanent Ohio medical license.
- Applicants must apply for and receive limited staff privileges at OSU Hospital as defined in the OSUH Medical Staff Bylaws and Rules and Regulations. The application will be forwarded to OSU East and the James Cancer Hospital for acceptance/approval. a. Prior to beginning the program the individual must have been granted either: i. Limited Staff Privileges ii. Temporary Limited Staff Privileges
- Residents and fellows within graduate medical education training programs must sign the Limited Staff Agreement prior to beginning their resident or fellowship program. This agreement is uniform for all housestaff and is modified and approved annually by the Graduate Medical Education Committee with input from the Resident Advisory Committee. This agreement is updated each spring based on changes in university benefits, medical staff rules/regulations, and ACGME or other accreditation/regulatory requirements.
- Applicants who are non-US citizens must meet one of the following:
- Permanent Resident Status: Applicants must have permanent resident status with a work authorization prior to being appointed to a position in a residency or fellowship training program.
- J-1 Visa: Applicants to a residency or fellowship program must meet eligibility requirements for a J-1 Visa through the ECFMG Exchange Visitor Sponsorship Program. Application for the J-1 visa will be completed either after the match or after a position is offered to the applicant. Eligibility requirements can be found at www.ECFMG.org. A DS-2019 from the ECFMG must be received by the GME Office prior to beginning the program.
- H-1B Visa:
Applicants may be eligible for an H-1B Visa if they are either:
- A medical student at an LCME/AOA accredited US medical school on an F-1 student visa or;
- A trainee in a GME training program at another institution on an H-1B Visa.
Application must include:
- SF Match Fellowship Application, including personal statement
- CV
- Letter of Good Standing (Status Report Form)
- Three letters of recommendation
- USMLE score report
Program dates:
- Start date: August 1, 2028
- End date: July 31, 2029
Applicants selected for interviews will be notified the week of November 2, 2026. Interviews dates are TBD. All interviews will be in-person in Columbus, Ohio.
For more information, please contact:
Julia Panzo
Director of Graduate Medical Education – Department of Orthopaedics
Julia.Panzo@osumc.edu
Gabby Ford
Administrative Assistant
Gabrielle.Ford@osumc.edu
Phone: 614-293-6194
Department of Orthopaedics
241 W. 11th Ave.
Suite 6081
Columbus, OH 43210
What makes our training programs different
Surgery of the Spine Fellowship Faculty
Venkat Kavuri, MD
- Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopaedics, Division of Spine Spine Fellowship Program Director
Collin Lamba, MD
- Assistant Professor