$75,000 for academic year 2026–2027 (programme page); NASS lists $75,000/year plus benefits
Deadline
November 1 (yearly)
Duration
1 year (August 1 to July 31)
Hands-on
Unclear — confirm privileges
Latest source audit
3 Oct 2026
Duration · published1 year (August 1 to July 31)
Clinical exposureComprehensive orthopaedic and neurosurgical spine training across Scripps Clinic, Scripps Green Hospital, Scripps Memorial La Jolla, Scripps Memorial Encinitas and Rady Children's Hospital, with an annual average operative case load of about 350 (adult and paediatric deformity, degenerative, trauma, tumour, infection, complex revisions, MIS). NASS lists 70% operative, 20% non-operative and 10% research time; a one-week Global Spine Outreach mission trip is included.
Funding · published$75,000 for academic year 2026–2027 (programme page); NASS lists $75,000/year plus benefits
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
No specific provision for international medical graduates is published; a full California medical license before the start date is mandatory.
✓Published by official source
Required training level
Completed orthopaedic surgery or neurosurgery residency · Board-eligible or Board-certified · California medical license obtained 6 months before commencement (programme page); NASS states eligibility for a full California Physicians and Surgeons license 12 months in advance (see conflicts) · Use of the SF Match Central Application Service (CAS) is mandatory
✓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
California medical license required before commencement (6 months in advance per programme page; 12 months per NASS).
?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
Not published on the official programme page or NASS entry.
✓Published by official source
Funding availability
$75,000 for academic year 2026–2027 (programme page); NASS lists $75,000/year plus benefits
DATA QUALITY & AVAILABILITY
76% 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✓ commencement / intake✓ funding✓ benefits✓ deadline✓ application process✓ required documents✓ application portal✓ official contact✓ faculty✓ verified faculty photograph✓ verified institution logo✓ official source✓ institutional source✓ accreditation / organisation source✓ verification date— positions · official sources conflict— accommodation / relocation · queued for source review— eligibility · official sources conflict— international eligibility · not published by the cited official source— Language requirement not published · queued for source review— Registration information not published · official sources conflict— visa / work authorisation · not published by the cited official source
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
Board-eligible or Board-certified
California medical license obtained 6 months before commencement (programme page); NASS states eligibility for a full California Physicians and Surgeons license 12 months in advance (see conflicts)
Use of the SF Match Central Application Service (CAS) is mandatory
Registration, licence & examinations
California medical license required before commencement (6 months in advance per programme page; 12 months per NASS).
Visa / work authorisation
Not published on the official programme page or NASS entry.
Application documents
SF Match CAS application
Three letters of recommendation, including one from a residency program director
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 combined orthopaedic/neurosurgical spine fellowship built on a mentorship model, with rotations among Scripps faculty, a weekly research day, and a one-week Global Spine Outreach mission trip.
BENEFITS & SUPPORT
Published benefits and support
Health and malpractice insurance plus academic benefits (programme page); NASS adds personal and educational time off and a stipend for educational conference(s)
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 San Diego Spine Foundation
The San Diego Spine Foundation is a San Diego non-profit that runs the fellowship with Scripps Health spine surgeons and Rady Children's Hospital.
Gregory M. Mundis, Jr. is listed in the cited programme evidence as fellowship director for San Diego Spine 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.
Gregory M. Mundis, Jr. is listed by the official programme source as fellowship director. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Behrooz A. Akbarnia is listed in the cited programme evidence as director emeritus for San Diego Spine 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.
Behrooz A. Akbarnia is listed by the official programme source as director emeritus. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Ali Bagheri is listed in the cited programme evidence as faculty for San Diego Spine 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 Bagheri is listed by the official programme source as faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Ramin Bagheri is listed in the cited programme evidence as adjunct faculty for San Diego Spine 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.
Ramin Bagheri is listed by the official programme source as adjunct faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
James D. Bruffey is listed in the cited programme evidence as faculty for San Diego Spine 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.
James D. Bruffey is listed by the official programme source as faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Robert K. Eastlack is listed in the cited programme evidence as faculty for San Diego Spine 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.
Robert K. Eastlack is listed by the official programme source as faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Hani Malone is listed in the cited programme evidence as faculty (neurosurgeon) for San Diego Spine 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.
Hani Malone is listed by the official programme source as faculty (neurosurgeon). A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
Stephen Stephan is listed in the cited programme evidence as faculty for San Diego Spine 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.
Stephen Stephan is listed by the official programme source as 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.
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INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Published international eligibility information
No specific provision for international medical graduates is published; a full California medical license before the start date is mandatory.
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.
