MSH Spinal Cord Fellowship | Icahn School of Medicine

RESIDENCIES & FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS

Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship at The Mount Sinai Hospital

The Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship at The Mount Sinai Hospital is a one-year program offering comprehensive training in the management of both traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injuries. Housed in the Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the fellowship provides our trainees access to Mount Sinai’s nationally recognized Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program—the only program of its kind in New York City accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

Our fellows gain diverse clinical experience by rotating through multiple sites, including The Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, and the James J. Peters VA Medical Center. These rotations encompass a wide range of settings such as inpatient care, specialty outpatient clinics (wound care, telemedicine, urologic testing), and a unique home visit program for veterans with spinal cord injuries.

Fellows receive hands-on experience in advanced procedures such as:

Intrathecal pump management for spasticity
Urodynamics
Neurotoxin nerve injections and muscle blocks
Ventilator management
Excisional wound debridement
Diaphragm pacer programming

They also participate in community outreach programs, including adaptive swimming classes, designed to support individuals living with spinal cord injury.

Curriculum

The Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship curriculum balances clinical practice with academic development. Fellows maintain a continuity outpatient clinic where they serve as primary medical contacts for patients. They also complete a scholarly research project and participate in structured weekly education through journal clubs, formal didactics, and research methodology training.

Our fellows play an active role in the education of Mount Sinai residents and staff through formal lectures, informal teaching, and the development of a quality improvement project. This comprehensive preparation has resulted in a 100 percent pass rate on the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation's subspecialty examination since 2020.

How to Apply

Our program participates in the National Resident Match Program. To be eligible for the Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship at The Mount Sinai Hospital, applicants should have completed an ACGME-accredited residency training program in one of the following specialties: physical medicine and rehabilitation, family medicine, neurology, internal medicine, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, neurological surgery, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, surgery, urology, or plastic surgery. All fellows receive a comprehensive benefits package including paid vacation, plus medical, dental, life, malpractice, and disability insurance, and more.

The application form is available through the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals. Please submit applications to our Fellowship Program Coordinator, Danellys Vargas, at danellys.vargas@mountsinai.org or Diosserlys Garrido at diosserlys.garrido@mountsinai.org.

Apply Now View Our Brochure

Meet the Program Director

Thomas N Bryce, MD

PROFESSOR | Rehabilitation and Human Performance

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Neurosurgery

Dr. Bryce researches spinal cord injury, focusing on pain assessment, neurological function evaluation, and robotic exoskeletons for mobility rehabilitation.

View Profile

Our Faculty

Thomas N Bryce, MD

Program Director

Miguel X Escalon, MD

PROFESSOR | Rehabilitation and Human Performance

PROFESSOR | Medical Education

Andrea Leyton-Mange, MD

ASSISTANT CLINICAL PROFESSOR | Rehabilitation and Human Performance

Meet Our Alumni

Rachel Santiago, MD

"The Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship was a truly valuable training and clinical experience. I was guided by leaders in the field of spinal cord injury to develop clinical and procedural skills that have greatly aided my current clinical practice, including ultrasound guided botulinum toxin injections, baclofen pump management, as well as the acute and chronic management within the field of spinal cord injury medicine."

Rachel Santiago, MD

Phillip Gordon, MD

"The Mount Sinai Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship provides trainees with an exceptional learning environment, dedicated mentorship, and comprehensive clinical exposure. The program fosters both professional growth and personal development, equipping fellows with the skills and confidence to lead in the field of spinal cord injury care."

Rachel Santiago, MD

Phillip Gordon, MD

Tabinda Syed, DO

"The fellowship offers a great learning experience for doctors who want to specialize in spinal cord injuries. Fellows work with a skilled team to care for patients at all stages, from acute care consults to their inpatient rehab stay. The program gives strong training in ultrasound guided botulinum toxin injections and intrathecal baclofen pump management as well."