Regional Anesthesia & Acute Pain Fellowship

The Regional Anesthesia & Acute Pain Fellowship at the University of Minnesota Department of Anesthesiology is a one-year, high-volume training program designed to graduate experts in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia, acute pain management, and ambulatory anesthesia. Fellows master upper extremity, lower extremity, and truncal single-shot and continuous peripheral nerve blocks using advanced ultrasound guidance and nerve stimulation while developing clinical judgment in complex perioperative pain management.

Fellows serve as key leaders of the Acute Pain Service across multiple hospitals within the University of Minnesota system. They manage catheter-based analgesia, acute-on-chronic pain, and perioperative pain crises in a diverse surgical population including cardiac, thoracic, oncology, trauma, orthopedics, spine, obstetrics, pediatrics, and general surgery. Fellows lead rounds, supervise trainees, and collaborate closely with surgical teams to optimize multimodal recovery pathways.

A distinguishing feature of our fellowship is substantial experience at one of Minnesota’s largest ambulatory surgery centers, where fellows function as staff anesthesiologists throughout the year. This unique structure builds efficiency in high-throughput regional practice, refines supervisory and OR management skills, and maintains broad anesthetic expertise, preparing graduates for both academic leadership and highly competitive private practice environments.

Education is reinforced through structured didactics, acute pain journal club, and opportunities for clinical research with presentation at national and international meetings, including those hosted by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. With elective time, academic mentorship, flexible scheduling, and a supportive culture, our program produces highly skilled, confident regional anesthesiologists ready to lead acute pain and regional services in any practice setting.

Director's Message

The Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Fellowship at the University of Minnesota is designed to graduate highly skilled fellows proficient in all aspects of regional anesthesia, acute pain, and ambulatory anesthesia. During your fellowship year, you will be an integral part of the acute pain service managing catheter patients, acute on chronic pain, and acute pain crises. You will perform a large variety and volume of regional single shot blocks and catheters. To supplement your skills, you will participate in acute pain journal clubs, didactics and a number of research projects that can be presented at ASRA. Fellows will also function as staff throughout the year primarily at the state's largest ambulatory surgery center to become efficient in supervising multiple ORs, keep their anesthesia skills fresh, and supplement their salary. Overall the fellowship strives to be both academic and clinical to create a highly marketable anesthesiologist whether your future plans remain in academics or in private practice.

- Aaron Berg, DO, Program Director

Eligibility

Application Information

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Duration & Rotation Schedule

Three months regional anesthesia and acute pain in University Hospital

Focus on surgical subspecialties of cardiac, thoracic, oncology, trauma, gynecologic oncology, general surgery and urology

Three months regional anesthesia and acute pain in Riverside Hospital

Focus on surgical subspecialties of orthopedics, spine, pediatrics, obstetrics and urology

Three months regional anesthesia in Ambulatory Surgery Center

Focus on managing a busy ambulatory surgery center performing regional anesthesia, and supervising residents and nurse anesthetists

Average of one day per week (45 days) as staff in Ambulatory Center and Riverside Hospital
One week for expected presentation at academic conference
One month elective with the opportunity for clinical research

Teaching & Didactics

The core lecture series will focus on both regional anesthesia techniques as well as acute pain management. There will be scheduled lectures given by one of the Perioperative and Interventional Pain Service Staff, as well as a quarterly Acute Pain Journal Club.

Extracurricular & Global Opportunities

Ability to attend and present at the European Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Therapy Annual Conference.
Multiple opportunities for joining existing clinical research and/or conducting your own research.

Electives

Optional one month elective with the possibility of clinical research.

Additional Fellowship Details

Fellows will have the option of moonlighting on our west bank campus on weekends.
Ability to be flexible and move from site to site to optimize skills and blocks depending on the OR schedules.
8-10 weeks of home call per year. Only weekends during all weeks.
4 weeks of vacation.