UC Davis Health
Department of Neurological Surgery

Spine Fellowship | Neurological Surgery | Academic Programs and Training

Fellowships

Spine Fellowship

Spine surgery
  • Kee Kim, M.D.
    Overview From the Director

    About the Fellowship

    The UC Davis Spine Fellowship is accredited by the Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training (CAST). This fellowship will provide an advanced expertise in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of spinal disorders. Fellows will be exposed to both traditional and leading-edge technology to treat patients with spinal disorders including endoscopic spine surgery, robotic spine surgery, artificial disc surgery and complex reconstructive surgery. Typically, the fellowship lasts one year. It follows completion of a neurosurgery residency or, in some cases, an orthopedic spine surgery residency. UC Davis Spine Center was established in 2006 to provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary non-surgical and surgical care to the patients with spinal disorders. UC Davis Medical Center is California's only level 1 Trauma Center north of San Francisco, one of only three in the state with level I verification for both adult and pediatric trauma.

    Kee Kim, M.D.
    Spine Fellowship Director
    Chief, Spinal Neurosurgery
    Co-Director, UC Davis Spine Center
    Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery

The goal of this CAST-accredited spine fellowship is to provide an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of complex spinal conditions, including both degenerative and traumatic diseases, as well as congenital and neoplastic disorders. The fellowship emphasizes the integration of neurosurgical techniques with spinal care, enhancing the fellow’s ability to manage intricate cases and collaborate with other specialists.

2-year Traditional Post Residency Fellowship:
Eligible candidates: Completed an ACGME accredited residency in the following specialties: anesthesiology, neurology, emergency medicine, or child neurology.

1-year Post Critical Care Fellowship Track:
Eligible Candidates: Completed a fellowship which includes at least six months of critical care training in anesthesia critical care, surgical critical care, or in a pulmonary/critical care program. 

1-year Neurosurgery Fellowship Track:
Eligible Candidates: Completed an ACGME accredited neurosurgery residency or completed a minimum of 4 years in post-graduate clinical training in neurosurgery.

Surgical Experience

Fellows are trained in all aspects of spine procedures with the emphasis on hands-on experience. Fellow are exposed to variety of surgical techniquues including minimally invasive techniques including endoscopic spine surgeries, robotic spine surgeries, complex reconstructive surgeries, and advanced spinal instrumentation. Our faculty emphasize incorporating innovation into their surgical practice. Fellows will be exposed to augmented reality and robotic driven spine surgery.

Clinical Care

Fellows participate in clinical care in outpatient clinics at multidisciplinary UC Davis Spine Center and operating rooms. This includes performing and assisting in spine surgeries and managing post-operative care. Fellows learn to assess and manage neurological deficits and complications related to spine conditions.

Research and Education

Fellows engage in research projects, contributing to the advancement of spine knowledge. This may involve clinical trials, outcomes studies, or basic science research. In addition, they participate in regularly scheduled educational conferences for fellows and residents.

Please send the following application documents in one pdf file to Staci Leitner at sleitner@health.ucdavis.eduand Kee Kim, M.D. at kdkim@health.ucdavis.edu.

  • Cover letter
  • Current Curriculum Vitae
  • Two letters of recommendation

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Spine Fellowship, you must have completed residency training in neurosurgery or orthopedics.