UAMS Spine Surgery Fellowship Program Receives AO Spine North America (AOSNA) Fellowship Designation

The UAMS Integrated Spine Surgery Fellowship Program has been recognized as an AO Spine North America (AOSNA) Designated Fellowship site, providing additional networking opportunities, academic resources, and support to AO Spine fellows in the program.

The AOSNA fellowship program includes academic grants awarded to selected training institutions for the purpose of fostering fellow spine education and research. Site selection is based on the quality of the program structure, educational content, and success of prior fellows.

Spine surgeons Samuel Overley, M.D., assistant professor; David Bumpass, M.D., associate professor; and Jordan Walters, M.D., assistant professor in the College of Medicine Department of Orthopaedic Surgery prepared the application for submission, which was evaluated and scored on faculty/fellow involvement, clinical experience, educational environment and research.

“We are thrilled to be honored with the AO Spine North America Spine Fellowship award,” said Sam Overley, M.D., who serves as the Fellowship’s program director. “As an AO fellow myself a few years ago, I loved the societal involvement and most definitely want our fellows to have that experience that as well.”

The education award includes funding for the AO Spine Fellow to attend an Introductory Fellowship Course in September, as well as for the fellow and the Program Director or faculty sponsor to attend the annual AOSNA Fellows Forum in March 2024, which will be held in Banff, a town located in Alberta, Canada.

Industry partners have provided funding to the fellowship as well, including a $50,000 educational grant from Medtronic to support the education and training of the upcoming 2023-24 post-graduate spine fellow.

The Spine Surgery Fellowship Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is a one-year integrated orthopaedic spine and neurosurgery program that provides comprehensive training in adult and pediatric spinal disorders and injuries.