The NASS directory states the annual stipend varies with the level of training
Deadline
January (NASS directory; no year or day given)
Duration
1 year, 1 August–31 July (NASS directory)
Hands-on
Unclear — confirm privileges
Latest source audit
3 Oct 2026
Duration · published1 year, 1 August–31 July (NASS directory)
Clinical exposureDegenerative, traumatic, infectious, neoplastic and arthritic disorders of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine at UPMC's Oakland hospitals (a Level 1 trauma and referral centre), with major anterior and posterior operations and advanced implants, deformity cases at Children's Hospital and VA cases; about 80% operative and 20% non-operative with two research projects, alongside the Ferguson Laboratory and biomechanics, robotics and cervical motion labs. The programme page cites more than 1,200 spinal operations a year; the NASS entry cites over 800
Funding · publishedThe NASS directory states the annual stipend varies with the level of training
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.
—Not published
International applicant eligibility
The cited source does not explicitly confirm international-applicant eligibility.
✓Published by official source
Required training level
Completed an orthopaedic surgery residency (year-long training following orthopaedic residency)
✓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.
—Not published
Medical registration
Registration requirements are not published by the cited source.
?Confirm directly with host
Licensing examinations
No licensing-examination information is published.
—Not published
Language requirements
No formal language requirement is published by the cited source.
≈Partially published
Visa or work authorisation
Visa sponsorship is not published on the programme page or in the NASS directory
✓Published by official source
Funding availability
The NASS directory states the annual stipend varies with the level of training
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✓ positions✓ commencement / intake✓ funding✓ eligibility✓ deadline✓ application process✓ application portal✓ faculty✓ verified faculty photograph✓ verified institution logo✓ official source✓ institutional source✓ accreditation / organisation source✓ verification date— benefits · queued for source review— accommodation / relocation · queued for source review— international eligibility · queued for source review— Language requirement not published · queued for source review— Registration information not published · queued for source review— visa / work authorisation · not published by the cited official source— required documents · not published by the cited official source— official contact · official sources conflict
APPLICATION TIMELINE & CONTACT
Plan the application
Application deadlineJanuary (NASS directory; no year or day given)
Commencing date1 August
Application route / cycleThe NASS directory lists this programme in the spine fellowship match and gives a January deadline. 2026–2027 NASS Spine Fellowship Match through SF Match: applicant registration opened 3 August 2026, interviews run 30 November 2026–19 March 2027 and rank lists are due 6 April 2027 (match day 13 April 2027, training from August 2028).
Official contactWilliam F. Donaldson III · Fellowship Director (the programme page lists 412-605-3218; the NASS directory lists (412) 687-3900 x218)donaldsonwf@upmc.edu412-605-3218
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 an orthopaedic surgery residency (year-long training following orthopaedic residency)
Registration, licence & examinations
AHPRA, USMLE/COMLEX, ECFMG, medical-board or local-licence requirements are not stated by the cited source.
Visa / work authorisation
Visa sponsorship is not published on the programme page or in the NASS directory
Application documents
CV, personal statement, recommendation-letter, transcript and identity-document requirements are not published by the cited official source.
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 Pitt/UPMC orthopaedic spine fellowship with two clinical fellows, high-volume degenerative, trauma, tumour and infection surgery and strong spine research laboratories, listed in the NASS spine fellowship match.
HOST INSTITUTION
About University of Pittsburgh Department of Orthopaedic Surgery / UPMC
Pitt Orthopaedics' spine fellowship is based at UPMC's Oakland hospitals and its spine research laboratories, which host graduate students, postdocs, residents and two to four research fellows a year.
University of Pittsburgh Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
William F. Donaldson III is listed in the cited programme evidence as fellowship director for University of Pittsburgh 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.
William F. Donaldson III is listed by the official programme source as fellowship director. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Director of Clinical ResearchOfficial profile & photo verified
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
University of Pittsburgh Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Joon Lee is listed in the cited programme evidence as director of clinical research for University of Pittsburgh 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.
Joon Lee is listed by the official programme source as director of clinical research. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Director of Spine EducationOfficial program roster
Current position
Teaching faculty / co-leadership
Affiliation
University of Pittsburgh Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Jeremy Shaw is listed in the cited programme evidence as director of spine education for University of Pittsburgh 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.
Jeremy Shaw is listed by the official programme source as director of spine education. 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.
