Understanding Ways to Improve Interventional Spine Exposure During Medical Training

Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine is an innovative and expanding fellowship supported by the North American Spine Society that uses minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and manage spine and musculoskeletal pain. This study surveys interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine fellowship program directors to provide greater awareness to applicants about interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine, their career motivations, important trainee characteristics, and interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine's distinct role within physical medicine and rehabilitation. An anonymous survey was distributed to interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine program directors and current fellows. It assessed participant demographics, career motivations, trainee characteristics, and differentiation of interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine versus pain medicine and sports medicine. qualitative thematic analysis was performed using the free-text response. Twelve (40%) of 30 interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine program directors and eight fellows completed the survey. Common motivations included strong job security, competitive salary, procedural focus, and obtaining advanced skills. Most did not consider research a major factor but emphasized the importance of research due to the rapidly expanding innovation in spine care. All respondents agreed that earlier exposure and mentorship are crucial in shaping career paths. Additionally, program directors noted key differences between interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine and pain medicine, emphasizing the need for awareness of interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine as a career path. These findings highlight the importance of early exposure, mentorship, passion, and a clear understanding of interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine for interested applicants.