1. Residencies & Fellowships
Image of doctor examining patient

Pain Management Fellowship at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West

RESIDENCIES & FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS

The Pain Management Fellowship at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West is a one-year, ACGME-accredited training program, providing comprehensive training in interventional, multimodal, and multidisciplinary approaches to the management of acute and chronic pain. Fellows train across multiple clinical sites, treating a broad spectrum of conditions—from common presentations such as radiculopathies and arthropathies to rare and complex diagnoses, including craniofacial neuralgias and complex regional pain syndrome.

Our faculty comprises a close-knit, multidisciplinary team with representation from the departments of anesthesiology, psychiatry, neurology, physiatry, and palliative care. This breadth of expertise offers a comprehensive perspective on pain medicine that extends well beyond a single specialty. Attendings bring varied training backgrounds and clinical approaches, enriching the educational environment and exposing fellows to a wide range of practice philosophies.

A unique component of our program is the non-hierarchical structure that encourages open communication, active inquiry, and individualized mentorship. Our faculty are consistently recognized for their commitment to fellow development, fostering a culture in which professional growth and clinical excellence are equally prioritized.

Apply Now

Meet the Director

Person headshot

Paul R Shekane, MD
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | Anesthesiology, Perioperative & Pain Medicine

Dr. Shekane is a dual board-certified physician in anesthesiology and pain medicine and offers an evidence-based approach to pain management.

Fellows receive hands-on training in both ultrasound-guided and fluoroscopy-guided procedures across multiple clinical sites, working with a diverse attending staff. Advanced procedures—including spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, minimally invasive lumbar decompression, kyphoplasty, and basivertebral nerve ablation—are performed in the operating room under attending supervision.

Outpatient procedural training encompasses a comprehensive range of interventions, including:

  • Epidural steroid injections (interlaminar, transforaminal, and caudal)
  • Medial branch blocks and radiofrequency ablations
  • Joint injections (sacroiliac, hip, knee, shoulder, and hand)
  • Trigger point injections
  • Peripheral nerve blocks
  • Craniofacial nerve blocks (trigeminal, occipital, and sphenopalatine)
  • Sympathetic and plexus blocks (stellate ganglion, lumbar sympathetic, superior hypogastric plexus, ganglion impar)
  • Spinal cord stimulator and dorsal root ganglion stimulator trials and implantations
  • Peripheral nerve stimulation
  • Intrathecal pump management
  • Minimally invasive lumbar decompression
  • Kyphoplasty and basivertebral nerve ablation

The fellowship is structured around four weekly rotation types, each designed to develop a distinct set of clinical competencies.

Consult Rotation

The consult rotation develops the medical knowledge and skills required to diagnose and treat patients with acute and chronic pain in the inpatient setting. A significant focus is placed on perioperative acute catheter management for orthopedic surgeries at Mount Sinai West. Fellows serve as supervisors and mentors for interns and rotating trainees on the inpatient team, gaining practical experience in delegation, triage, and the management of complex patient consults under attending supervision.

Procedure Rotation

The procedure rotation is designed to develop proficiency in interventional pain procedures and to provide thorough grounding in pre- and post-procedural care. Fellows learn to conduct pre-procedural assessments, including obtaining informed consent, evaluating radiological images, and reviewing procedural technique, as well as the pharmacology of agents used during procedures and the equipment required for each. Post-procedure follow-up assessments reinforce an understanding of procedural outcomes and their effect on patient care.

Office Rotation

The office rotation develops skills in comprehensive outpatient patient assessment, including history and physical evaluation and the management of common pain complaints. Fellows refine their presentation skills, documentation practices, and understanding of the authorization process for proposed treatment plans. Training in opioid prescribing assessment and monitoring, as well as medical cannabis certification, is also incorporated into this rotation.

Float Rotation

The float rotation at Mount Sinai Morningside further develops your interventional and office-based clinical skills while providing exposure to the diverse patient populations served by our West Side hospital clinics. Fellows address the prevalence of important comorbidities, including substance use and psychiatric disorders, and complete subspecialty rotations in palliative care, psychiatry, physiatry, and neurology/headache. Fellows also complete a self-directed research project during this rotation, learning to develop a clinical question into a structured research endeavor.

Our fellowship offers a robust didactic curriculum designed to prepare fellows for The American Board of Anesthesiology’s Pain Medicine board certification examination. The program includes:

  • Attending and fellow-led lectures
  • Anesthesia Departmental Grand Rounds
  • The Mount Sinai Hospital’s Pain Medicine Combined Grand Rounds
  • Monthly journal club, where fellows critically review and present an assigned article of interest
  • Manikin and ultrasound simulation training
  • Dedicated non-clinical time for research

Fellows participate in quality improvement (QI) initiatives through the Department of Anesthesiology's monthly QI meetings and the hospital's Opioid Safety Committee. One compensated meeting attendance per year is supported, and fellows are provided protected time to participate. Throughout the year, fellows also have the opportunity to attend industry-sponsored cadaver labs and procedural workshops, supplementing their clinical and didactic training with specialized hands-on learning.

We accept applications for the Pain Management Fellowship at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We accept four fellows per year. Candidates must submit:

  • A completed ERAS application
  • A personal statement
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • United States Medical Licensing Examination transcripts

Our Faculty

Paul R Shekane, MD
Paul R Shekane, MD

Program Director, Associate Professor, Anesthesiology, Perioperative & Pain Medicine

Jung H Kim, MD
Jung H Kim, MD

Associate Professor, Anesthesiology, Perioperative & Pain Medicine

Soo Kim, MD
Soo Kim, MD

Associate Professor, Rehabilitation and Human Performance

Darryl Brown, MD
Darryl Brown, MD

Assistant Professor, Pain Medicine, Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine

Steven G Halle, MD
Steven G Halle, MD

Associate Professor, Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine

Christopher Sikorski, MD
Christopher Sikorski, MD

Assistant Professor, Pain Medicine, Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine

Students group shot
Students group shot
Students group shot
Students group shot
Image of surgeons
Faculty group shot

Life as a Fellow

Our fellows enjoy on- and off-campus activities that nurture creativity, camaraderie, and community.

Hear From Our Fellows

Caroline Varlotta headshot

Caroline Varlotta, DO

“Fellowship training at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West provided an ideal balance of autonomy, mentorship, and support. Each member of the faculty is welcoming and brings a unique perspective, while sharing a patient-centered ethos. The workload is realistic and prepares fellows for independent practice, without being overwhelming. There is a high volume of procedure time, without taking away from the opportunity for patient selection and management in office visits. Dr. Shekane is deeply invested in both the educational experience and fellow well-being, ensuring each day is streamlined and productive. This fellowship provided me with the necessary resources to succeed in our training and independent practice. Research opportunities are readily available for interested fellows. The mentorship developed here has created lifelong professional relationships and friendships.”

Carousel Background Image 2

Caroline Varlotta, DO

“Fellowship training at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West provided an ideal balance of autonomy, mentorship, and support. Each member of the faculty is welcoming and brings a unique perspective, while sharing a patient-centered ethos. The workload is realistic and prepares fellows for independent practice, without being overwhelming. There is a high volume of procedure time, without taking away from the opportunity for patient selection and management in office visits. Dr. Shekane is deeply invested in both the educational experience and fellow well-being, ensuring each day is streamlined and productive. This fellowship provided me with the necessary resources to succeed in our training and independent practice. Research opportunities are readily available for interested fellows. The mentorship developed here has created lifelong professional relationships and friendships.”

Carousel Background Image 2

Marckenley Isaac, MD, MS

“Completing the Pain Management Fellowship at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai Morningside was an invaluable experience. The hands-on skills, patience, and thorough repetition not only helped me grow as a pain fellow but evolve as a clinician. Emphasis is placed on understanding pathology, correlating with imaging and establishing the appropriate treatment plan for each patient. Drs. Kim, Shekane, Brown, Halle, Sikorski, and Maryansky are invested in the development of the future leaders in our field.”

Caroline Varlotta headshot

Caroline Varlotta, DO

“Fellowship training at Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West provided an ideal balance of autonomy, mentorship, and support. Each member of the faculty is welcoming and brings a unique perspective, while sharing a patient-centered ethos. The workload is realistic and prepares fellows for independent practice, without being overwhelming. There is a high volume of procedure time, without taking away from the opportunity for patient selection and management in office visits. Dr. Shekane is deeply invested in both the educational experience and fellow well-being, ensuring each day is streamlined and productive. This fellowship provided me with the necessary resources to succeed in our training and independent practice. Research opportunities are readily available for interested fellows. The mentorship developed here has created lifelong professional relationships and friendships.”

Marckenley Isaac headshot

Marckenley Isaac, MD, MS

“Completing the Pain Management Fellowship at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai Morningside was an invaluable experience. The hands-on skills, patience, and thorough repetition not only helped me grow as a pain fellow but evolve as a clinician. Emphasis is placed on understanding pathology, correlating with imaging and establishing the appropriate treatment plan for each patient. Drs. Kim, Shekane, Brown, Halle, Sikorski, and Maryansky are invested in the development of the future leaders in our field.”

Vineet Aggarwal headshot

Vineet Aggarwal, MD

“The Pain Management Fellowship provided me with the tools necessary to be a safe and efficient practitioner. Its complex patient population as well as high volume of both bread-and-butter and advanced procedures prepared me to offer a variety of therapeutic options for my patients and to be a source of comfort for patients during their time of need. Most of all, the staff, attendings, and colleagues were extremely warm and welcoming, which always made me excited to come to work every day. If I had to do fellowship over again, I would pick Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West again in a heartbeat.”

Resources For You

Department of Anesthesiology
Mount Sinai Morningside
Mount Sinai West
The Association of Pain Program Directors
Fellow Housing
Fellow Well-Being and Resilience