Completing a pain management fellowship is a requirement for doctors who want to specialize in this area of medicine. In the United States and Canada, doctors must complete a three-year residency before applying to become fellows. Doctors from other countries who want to apply for a fellowship program must first demonstrate that they have completed equivalent training. A pain management fellowship is a training program that prepares a doctor to practice pain management medicine independently of other doctors’ supervision.
Although a residency in anesthesiology is not required for a pain management fellowship, most programs prefer candidates who have completed one. A doctor who lacks this experience will face competition from candidates who are often better qualified for a pain management fellowship. Doctors from other residency programs can complete anesthesia training or publish papers in the fields of anesthesiology or pain management to demonstrate proficiency in these fields and thus improve their competitiveness.
A fellowship in pain management is usually a short program. For about a year, a doctor studies the specialty while working in a hospital under the supervision of an experienced doctor who is a pain management specialist. Many programs accept applications for pain management fellowships all year long, and candidates may be accepted at any time. However, because each program has its own application process, a candidate for a pain management fellowship should research each program individually to determine when to apply.
The program director will require a number of documents from an applicant for a pain management fellowship. These documents demonstrate that the doctor is a capable professional who is eligible for this type of fellowship. Letters of recommendation from doctors with whom the candidate has worked during his residency are a crucial part of the application process. Strong grades and scores on medical board exams are also required, and proof of these academic achievements must be submitted to the program director of the pain management fellowship program in which the candidate wishes to participate. To be accepted as a fellow, the doctor must then perform well during the interview.