Clinical exposureTraumatic, degenerative, deformity, neoplastic and peripheral-nerve disorders with open and minimally invasive surgery, computer-assisted surgery and robotics, rotations with neurosurgical and orthopaedic spine faculty, cadaveric and simulation training at the Center for Advanced Surgical Education, and expected original research
Funding · not publishedSalary is not published on the reviewed programme page
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
The International Spine Fellowship track accepts neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons who completed residency abroad, under an Illinois training licence; non-US citizens must obtain a valid visa and US work authorisation.
✓Published by official source
Required training level
Complex Spine & Deformity track: completed an ACGME-accredited neurological surgery residency, ABNS board-eligible and eligible for an unrestricted Illinois licence; appointed at Instructor/Junior Faculty level · International track: completed a neurological or orthopaedic surgery residency abroad and meet Illinois training/institutional licence requirements; appointed at post-graduate training level
✓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
Complex Spine & Deformity fellows need an unrestricted Illinois licence; international fellows need an Illinois training or institutional licence.
?Confirm directly with host
Licensing examinations
Any examination requirement must be confirmed with the relevant regulator and host.
—Not published
Language requirements
No formal language requirement is published by the cited source.
≈Partially published
Visa or work authorisation
Non-US citizens on the international track must obtain a valid visa and authorisation to work in the United States.
✓Published by official source
Funding availability
Salary is not published on the reviewed programme page
DATA QUALITY & AVAILABILITY
72% of core application fields verified
Checked 3 Oct 2026. Next scheduled editorial review: 2027-04-01. 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✓ eligibility✓ international eligibility✓ registration✓ visa / work authorisation✓ application process✓ required documents✓ application portal✓ official contact✓ faculty✓ verified faculty photograph✓ official source✓ institutional source✓ accreditation / organisation source✓ verification date— positions · not published by the cited official source— commencement / intake · queued for source review— Funding information not published · not published by the cited official source— benefits · queued for source review— accommodation / relocation · queued for source review— Language requirement not published · queued for source review— Current deadline not yet published · not published by the cited official source— Verified institution logo not available · queued for source review
APPLICATION TIMELINE & CONTACT
Plan the application
Application deadlineNo current deadline published in the cited evidence
Commencing dateIntake date not published
Application route / cycleSend the application form, a letter of interest, CV and three references to the fellowship contact
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
Complex Spine & Deformity track: completed an ACGME-accredited neurological surgery residency, ABNS board-eligible and eligible for an unrestricted Illinois licence; appointed at Instructor/Junior Faculty level
International track: completed a neurological or orthopaedic surgery residency abroad and meet Illinois training/institutional licence requirements; appointed at post-graduate training level
Registration, licence & examinations
Complex Spine & Deformity fellows need an unrestricted Illinois licence; international fellows need an Illinois training or institutional licence.
Visa / work authorisation
Non-US citizens on the international track must obtain a valid visa and authorisation to work in the United States.
Application documents
Application form
Letter of interest
Curriculum vitae
Three references with names, titles and contact information
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 one-year Northwestern neurosurgical spine fellowship with a CAST Complex Spine & Deformity track for US-trained neurosurgeons and an International Spine Fellowship track for surgeons trained abroad.
HOST INSTITUTION
About Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Neurological Surgery
Northwestern Neurosurgery's spine fellowship is CAST-accredited and an AO-designated fellowship site, with neurosurgical and orthopaedic spine faculty.
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Ali Baaj is listed in the cited programme evidence as fellowship director for Northwestern Neurosurgery Clinical Spine Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Spine training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Ali Baaj is listed by the official programme source as fellowship director. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Fellowship Co-Director and Spine Service ChiefOfficial profile & photo verified
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Tyler R. Koski is listed in the cited programme evidence as fellowship co-director and spine service chief for Northwestern Neurosurgery Clinical Spine Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Spine training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Tyler R. Koski is listed by the official programme source as fellowship co-director and spine service chief. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Alpesh A. Patel is listed in the cited programme evidence as orthopaedic spine chief for Northwestern Neurosurgery Clinical Spine Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Spine training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Alpesh A. Patel is listed by the official programme source as orthopaedic spine chief. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Wellington K. Hsu is listed in the cited programme evidence as orthopaedic spine faculty for Northwestern Neurosurgery Clinical Spine Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Spine training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Wellington K. Hsu is listed by the official programme source as orthopaedic spine faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Srikanth N. Divi is listed in the cited programme evidence as orthopaedic spine faculty for Northwestern Neurosurgery Clinical Spine Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Spine training and clinical practice. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Srikanth N. Divi is listed by the official programme source as orthopaedic spine 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
Two tracks: a CAST Complex Spine & Deformity fellowship for US-trained neurosurgeons and an International Spine Fellowship for neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons trained abroad
◎
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Published international eligibility information
The International Spine Fellowship track accepts neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons who completed residency abroad, under an Illinois training licence; non-US citizens must obtain a valid visa and US work authorisation.
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.
