ASSI Spine Surgery Fellowship (2 year course)

The Department of Spine Surgery at the ISIC Multispeciality Hospital is recognized as a premier center for comprehensive spine care and rehabilitation in India. The institution is accredited by the Association of Spine Surgeons of India for conducting the ASSI Spine Surgery Fellowship, a structured and intensive training program designed to develop advanced expertise in spine surgery.

Program Overview

The ASSI Fellowship at ISIC is a two-year full-time program open to qualified postgraduates in Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery. The program is designed to provide comprehensive exposure to the entire spectrum of spinal disorders, including trauma, degenerative conditions, deformity, infections, tumors, and spinal cord injury-related pathologies.

Selection of candidates is conducted through the centralized ASSI process, typically during the Annual ASSICON Conference, followed by allotment to accredited centers such as ISIC.

Fellowship Commitments

The fellows are actively involved in all aspects of spine care, working in close coordination with multidisciplinary teams including spine surgeons, rehabilitation specialists, neurologists, urologists, and critical care experts.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Participation in outpatient clinics, inpatient ward rounds, and emergency services
• Pre-operative evaluation and post-operative care of spine patients
• Exposure to complex spinal cord injury management and rehabilitation protocols

Surgical Training

• Hands-on surgical training under expert supervision
• Participation in a high-volume surgical program with exposure to:

• Minimally invasive spine surgery
• Instrumentation and deformity correction
• Tumor and infection-related spine surgeries
• Complex revision procedures

• Progressive increase in surgical responsibility based on competence

Academic & Research Activities

• Participation in academic discussions, journal clubs, and case presentations
• Mandatory involvement in clinical audits and data documentation
• Completion of:

• One long-term research project (dissertation)
• Multiple short-term research projects for conference presentations and publications

• Opportunities for national and international publications

Unique Strengths of ISIC Fellowship

• One of the largest dedicated spinal injury and rehabilitation centers in India
• Strong multidisciplinary integration (Spine Surgery + Neuro-Urology + Rehabilitation)
• Exposure to complete continuum of care from acute injury to long-term rehabilitation
• Advanced facilities including:

• Dedicated ICU and high-dependency spine units
• Comprehensive rehabilitation services
• Urodynamics and neurourology support for SCI patients

• High patient load ensuring rich clinical material and hands-on experience

Course Completion

At the end of the two-year tenure:

• Fellows undergo an exit assessment/examination as per ASSI guidelines
• Successful candidates are awarded the ASSI Fellowship Certification

How to Apply

• Applications are invited annually through the official ASSI platform
• Selection is based on:

• Academic credentials
• Performance in the ASSI selection process
• Centralized counselling and allotment

For detailed eligibility criteria and application process, candidates should refer to the official ASSI website.

Institutional Vision

The ASSI Fellowship at ISIC aims to produce highly skilled, academically driven, and ethically grounded spine surgeons capable of delivering world-class spine care and contributing to the advancement of spine surgery and spinal cord injury management in India and globally.