The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) is excited to announce the creation of the North American Spine Society (NASS) recognized Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship, which will begin August 2025. Berdale S. Colorado, D.O., MPH will serve as Program Director and Lisa Koplik Humphries, M.D. will serve as Associate Program Director.
This new fellowship will offer comprehensive training in musculoskeletal (MSK) medicine. Fellows will have exposure to a wide variety of patients with acute and chronic spine pain/disorders and MSK injuries/disorders of the upper and lower limbs. Fellows will learn evaluation and non-operative management of many different types of MSK complaints as well as indications for surgical referral.
Fellows will perform various fluoroscopically-guided spine injections, ultrasound-guided injections, diagnostic musculoskeletal and neuromuscular ultrasound, and EMG's. Fellows will be eligible to sit for the Electrodiagnostic Medicine board certification exam and subsequently the Neuromuscular Ultrasound CAQ exam. They will also be eligible to sit for Musculoskeletal Ultrasound certification exam (RMSK). Fellows will have regular MSK didactics and journal club, as well as a weekly independent fellow clinic. There will be opportunities for sports medicine experiences/event coverage, performing arts medicine, teaching, and research.
“The high level of diagnostic ultrasound and electrodiagnostic medicine training in addition to the core interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine training is just one of the things that make this fellowship unique. In addition, the breadth of elective opportunities allows fellows to further tailor their fellowship experience," says Dr. Colorado. “We are excited to train physiatrists in this much needed area of medicine.”
NASS is the world’s largest spine society representing surgical and non-surgical specialties. In response to the growing demand for well-trained interventional spine and non-surgical musculoskeletal specialists, NASS developed criteria to officially recognize ISMM fellowship programs that meet a standard of academic and educational rigor. There are currently 31 NASS-recognized interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine fellowships around the country. This is a one-year program, and applicant registration is now open.
PM&R faculty involved in Musculoskeletal Medicine include Berdale S. Colorado, D.O., MPH; Johnny Carter, D.O.; Lisa Koplik Humphries, M.D.; Johan Latorre, M.D.; Vu Nguyen, M.D., MBA; Danielle Powell, M.D.; and Michelle Turnley, M.D.