Clinical exposureAdult scoliosis and deformity, degenerative cervical, thoracic and lumbar disease, complex revision, trauma including lumbopelvic fixation, tumour and infection, disc arthroplasty, navigation and robotics, endoscopic and tubular surgery and lateral and anterior approaches, with weekly spine and deformity-planning conferences, research support through a prospective registry and the International Spine Study Group, and an optional sports neurosurgery focus with Pittsburgh professional teams
Funding · not publishedSalary is not published; meeting travel is funded when research is accepted for oral presentation
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
Eligible to work in the United States · Hold a permanent Pennsylvania medical licence · Hold a DEA licence
✓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 permanent Pennsylvania medical licence and a DEA licence are required; fellows are appointed as Clinical Instructors with attending privileges.
?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
Fellows must be eligible to work in the United States.
✓Published by official source
Funding availability
Salary is not published; meeting travel is funded when research is accepted for oral presentation
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 Every unresolved field keeps its exact evidence state—unpublished, not yet researched, historical, conflicting, inaccessible or not applicable—so an absence is never converted into a fact.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✓ commencement / intake✓ 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— Funding information not published · not published by the cited official source— 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— 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 date1 July
Application route / cycleSend a cover letter, CV and two letters of reference to the fellowship director
Official contactDavid O. Okonkwo · Fellowship DirectorOkonkwoDO@upmc.edu
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
Eligible to work in the United States
Hold a permanent Pennsylvania medical licence
Hold a DEA licence
Registration, licence & examinations
A permanent Pennsylvania medical licence and a DEA licence are required; fellows are appointed as Clinical Instructors with attending privileges.
Visa / work authorisation
Fellows must be eligible to work in the United States.
Application documents
Cover letter
Curriculum vitae
Two letters of reference
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 CAST-accredited UPMC neurosurgery fellowship in complex, deformity and minimally invasive spine surgery, starting 1 July, with fellows appointed as Clinical Instructors; applications by email.
HOST INSTITUTION
About University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery / UPMC
UPMC Neurosurgery runs CAST-accredited transition-to-practice spine fellowships at UPMC Mercy, Presbyterian and Shadyside; a companion page describes the same programme with a sports neurosurgery emphasis.
University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
David O. Okonkwo is listed in the cited programme evidence as fellowship director for UPMC CAST Complex and Minimally Invasive 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.
David O. Okonkwo is listed by the official programme source as fellowship director. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Thomas J. Buell is listed in the cited programme evidence as fellowship co-director for UPMC CAST Complex and Minimally Invasive 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.
Thomas J. Buell is listed by the official programme source as fellowship co-director. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
James Cushing-Bayley is listed in the cited programme evidence as faculty for UPMC CAST Complex and Minimally Invasive 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 Cushing-Bayley is listed by the official programme source as faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Peter Gerszten is listed in the cited programme evidence as faculty for UPMC CAST Complex and Minimally Invasive 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.
Peter Gerszten is listed by the official programme source as faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
John Kanter is listed in the cited programme evidence as faculty for UPMC CAST Complex and Minimally Invasive 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.
John Kanter is listed by the official programme source as faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Vincent Miele is listed in the cited programme evidence as faculty for UPMC CAST Complex and Minimally Invasive 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.
Vincent Miele is listed by the official programme source as faculty. A separate individual short CV has not yet been verified by OrthoFellow.
University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery
Clinical focus
Spine training and clinical practice
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
John Moossy is listed in the cited programme evidence as faculty for UPMC CAST Complex and Minimally Invasive 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.
John Moossy 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.
APPLICANT PROFILE
Neurosurgeons preparing for independent complex and minimally invasive spine practice
