Faculty / program leadership: Melissa Erickson, MD
Profile completeness100%
Comprehensive · Core fields complete
✓ Primary programme source linked✓ Dated source review current— Current cycle evidenced✓ Faculty identity sourced✓ Institution mark verified
DECISION SUMMARY
What matters before you keep reading.
Eligibility
International route mentioned
Funding
Paid non-ACGME faculty appointment; Duke does not publish the programme-specific salary
Deadline
Annual deadline: 1 November; the official table marks the 2027–2028 cycle as accepting applications
Duration
12 months, August 1–July 31
Hands-on
Unclear — confirm privileges
Last checked
31 Aug 2026
Duration · published12 months, August 1–July 31
Clinical exposureOperative and non-operative adult spine care across trauma, degeneration, deformity, tumour and reconstruction, with paediatric deformity observation, neurosurgery collaboration, conferences and protected research time
Funding · publishedPaid non-ACGME faculty appointment; Duke does not publish the programme-specific salary
DestinationUnited States
Participation levelClinical participation and hands-on restrictions must be confirmed directly with the host.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT CHECK
What the official evidence currently supports
Decision-critical fields are separated into confirmed facts, partial information and points requiring direct confirmation.
≈Partially published
International applicant eligibility
Foreign medical graduates may apply only as lawful permanent residents of the United States and must meet ECFMG, examination, North Carolina licence and DEA requirements. This non-ACGME faculty appointment does not sponsor visas.
✓Published by official source
Required training level
Completed orthopaedic surgery or neurosurgery residency · ABOS board eligible or board certified when the orthopaedic pathway applies · Passed all three USMLE or COMLEX steps within the published attempt limit · Eligible for a full North Carolina medical licence and DEA registration · Valid ECFMG certificate and United States permanent residence for a foreign medical graduate
✓Published by official source
Programme classification
Clinical or combined training pathway; exact duties remain appointment-specific.
?Confirm directly with host
Hands-on restrictions
Hands-on participation and operative restrictions are not explicitly published.
≈Partially published
Medical registration
A full North Carolina medical licence and DEA registration are required for the non-ACGME faculty appointment.
?Confirm directly with host
Licensing examinations
Any examination requirement must be confirmed with the relevant regulator and host.
✓Published by official source
Language requirements
No standalone programme-specific English-test requirement is published; foreign medical graduates require valid ECFMG certification
≈Partially published
Visa or work authorisation
Foreign medical graduates must be lawful permanent residents of the United States; this non-ACGME faculty position is ineligible for visa sponsorship.
✓Published by official source
Funding availability
Paid non-ACGME faculty appointment; Duke does not publish the programme-specific salary
DATA QUALITY & AVAILABILITY
86% of core application fields verified
Checked 31 Aug 2026. Next scheduled editorial review: 2027-02-27. Every unresolved field keeps its exact evidence state—unpublished, not yet researched, historical, conflicting, inaccessible or not applicable—so an absence is never converted into a fact.
✓ programme title✓ institution / department✓ city and country✓ programme classification✓ subspecialty✓ current status evidence✓ duration✓ positions✓ commencement / intake✓ eligibility✓ international eligibility✓ language✓ registration✓ visa / work authorisation✓ deadline✓ application process✓ required documents✓ application portal✓ official contact✓ faculty✓ verified institution logo✓ official source✓ institutional source✓ accreditation / organisation source✓ verification date— Funding information not published · not published by the cited official source— benefits · not published by the cited official source— accommodation / relocation · not published by the cited official source— Verified faculty photograph not available · not published by the cited official source
APPLICATION TIMELINE & CONTACT
Plan the application
Application deadlineAnnual deadline: 1 November; the official table marks the 2027–2028 cycle as accepting applications
Commencing date1 August to 31 July
Application route / cycleSF Match Central Application Service, programme #4375
Deadlines and intake dates can change between cycles. The data-quality ledger above explicitly labels application fields that the cited official source does not publish.
ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS
Published entry requirements
Clinical / academic eligibility
Completed orthopaedic surgery or neurosurgery residency
ABOS board eligible or board certified when the orthopaedic pathway applies
Passed all three USMLE or COMLEX steps within the published attempt limit
Eligible for a full North Carolina medical licence and DEA registration
Valid ECFMG certificate and United States permanent residence for a foreign medical graduate
Registration, licence & examinations
A full North Carolina medical licence and DEA registration are required for the non-ACGME faculty appointment.
Visa / work authorisation
Foreign medical graduates must be lawful permanent residents of the United States; this non-ACGME faculty position is ineligible for visa sponsorship.
Application documents
Duke fellowship application
Personal statement
Curriculum vitae
Letter of good standing
Three recommendation letters dated within six months
USMLE or COMLEX transcript
Copies of current medical licences
Valid ECFMG certificate when applicable
Licensing, visa and document rules depend on the individual programme and application cycle. OrthoFellow does not infer USMLE, AHPRA, ECFMG, recommendation-letter or visa requirements from the country alone.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What this program offers
A two-position Duke adult-spine fellowship covering degeneration, deformity, trauma, tumour and reconstruction with neurosurgical collaboration and protected research. The non-ACGME faculty route requires North Carolina licensure and US permanent residence for foreign graduates, without visa sponsorship.
BENEFITS & SUPPORT
Published benefits and support
The programme does not identify which general Duke trainee or faculty benefits apply to this non-ACGME faculty appointment
Benefits may depend on appointment type, training level, visa status and the active academic year. OrthoFellow keeps stipend and benefits separate so a salary figure is not mistaken for the full package.
HOST INSTITUTION
About Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Duke publishes two positions, August-to-July dates, non-ACGME faculty status, the adult-spine faculty group, documents, licensing, DEA and permanent-resident rules, and an annual SF Match deadline.
Adult Spinal Surgery Fellowship DirectorOfficial program roster
Current position
Fellowship supervisor / program leadership
Affiliation
Duke University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinical focus
Adult spine surgery, fellowship education and research
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Melissa Erickson is listed in the cited programme evidence as adult spinal surgery fellowship director for Duke Adult Spinal Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Adult spine surgery, fellowship education and research. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Melissa Erickson is listed by the official programme source as adult spinal surgery fellowship director. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Christopher Shaffrey is listed in the cited programme evidence as associated faculty for Duke Adult Spinal Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Complex spine and deformity surgery. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Christopher Shaffrey is listed by the official programme source as associated faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
William Richardson is listed in the cited programme evidence as associated faculty for Duke Adult Spinal Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Adult spine surgery. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
William Richardson is listed by the official programme source as associated faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Brett Rocos is listed in the cited programme evidence as associated faculty for Duke Adult Spinal Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Spine surgery. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Brett Rocos is listed by the official programme source as associated faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Christopher Brown is listed in the cited programme evidence as associated faculty for Duke Adult Spinal Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Spine surgery. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Christopher Brown is listed by the official programme source as associated faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Gloria Liu is listed in the cited programme evidence as associated faculty for Duke Adult Spinal Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Spine surgery. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Gloria Liu is listed by the official programme source as associated faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
H. Michael Guo is listed in the cited programme evidence as associated faculty for Duke Adult Spinal Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Spine surgery. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
H. Michael Guo is listed by the official programme source as associated faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Names and fellowship roles come from the cited programme source. A green “individual profile verified” label means the position, qualifications and biography were also checked against an official personal or institutional profile. OrthoFellow displays a portrait only when it can be tied to an official profile or faculty source; otherwise the host institution brandmark is shown, with initials retained only when neither image is available. Faculty rosters may change.
APPLICANT PROFILE
Orthopaedic or neurosurgery residency graduates, with priority given to applicants planning an academic orthopaedic career
◎
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Published international eligibility information
Foreign medical graduates may apply only as lawful permanent residents of the United States and must meet ECFMG, examination, North Carolina licence and DEA requirements. This non-ACGME faculty appointment does not sponsor visas.
This note is shown only when the official source publishes information relevant to overseas applicants. Applicants should confirm licensing and visa eligibility directly with the host.
