About the Program
Offering a comprehensive educational experience in a variety of clinical and research settings, the Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Fellowship takes place at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System (McGuire VAMC), the Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR), Sheltering Arms Institute and VCU.
Fellows receive comprehensive training in the following areas:
- Diagnosis and classification of various types of spinal cord injury (SCI)
- Pathophysiology of the spinal cord and affected body systems
- Clinical decision-making and management of traumatic and atraumatic SCI
- Neurogenic bladder management and urologic interventions
- Neuropathic and nociceptive pain management in the spinal cord population
- Spasticity assessment and multimodal management including chemodenervation procedures, baclofen pump titration, and intrathecal baclofen trials
- Research statistics in SCI medicine
- Rehabilitation technology and engineering
- Exercise physiology
- Biomechanics
- Cognitive behavioral management strategies for patients with SCI
- Neurogenic bowel management
- Assessment and treatment of pressure injuries
Learn more about the SCI Fellowship Faculty , SAI patients, and VA patients.
Fellows split their time between inpatient and outpatient clinics at VCU Medical Center and the Central Virginia VA Health Care System (McGuire VAMC), and we’ll work with you to create a specific rotation schedule that best suits you and your professional endeavors.
Inpatient SCI: Four months at CVHCS, four months at VCU
Outpatient SCI and affiliated SCI: Various times throughout the week
Urology SCI: Two-week genitourinary mini rotation
Pediatric SCI: Every first and third Wednesday at CHoR
Electives: Eight weeks (can include research)
Fellows also rotate through multidisciplinary specialty clinics for patients of varying ages with the following conditions:
- Meningomyelocele, spina bifida
- Pediatric spasticity clinic
- Multiple sclerosis
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and related diseases
2025-2026 PGY-5 Salary: $77,971
Vacation: 15 days, plus holidays
Professional development allowance for approved conferences (e.g. Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals, American Spinal Cord Injury Association)
Books allowance
Moonlighting: Discouraged, but allowable within departmental policy
Call schedule: None
How to Apply For the 2026-27 Academic Year
Candidates must have successfully completed an ACGME-accredited residency program in one of the following specialties:
- Anesthesiology
- Emergency medicine
- Family medicine
- Internal medicine
- Neurological surgery
- Neurology
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Pediatrics
- PM&R
- Plastic surgery
- Surgery
- Urology
This fellowship participates in the SCI Medicine Match through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). We require the following materials to be submitted by July 22, 2025:
- Current CV
- USMLE results or COMLEX transcript
- Copy of Medical School Diploma
- 3 letters of recomendation
- Personal Statement
- Completed fellow application
Interviews will be scheduled in August 2025. Currently recruiting for the 2026-27 academic year, please submit your application materials to:
vcu.pmr.education.programs@vcuhealth.org
Sean McAvoy, MD
SCI Program Director
Sean McAvoy, MD
SCI Program Director
School of Medicine
Program Director, Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Spinal Cord Injury Medical Specialist, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center
Email: sean.mcavoy@va.gov
Sharon Mann
Program Coordinator
Sharon Mann
Program Coordinator
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Senior Education Administrator
Phone: (804) 828-8693
2024 - 2025 Fellows
Makinna Moen, MD
SCI Fellow
Makinna Moen, MD
SCI Fellow
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Residency: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
Hobbies: Hiking with my golden retrievers, waterskiing, boating, cooking, gardening
Fun Fact: I trained in classical ballet and went to a performing arts high school.
Email: makinna.moen@vcuhealth.org
Robert Svoboda, MD
SCI Fellow
Robert Svoboda, MD
SCI Fellow
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Residency: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, adaptive sports
Fun Fact: I have two cats.
Email: joseph.svoboda@vcuhealth.org
2022 - 2023 Fellow
Raj Chaggar, MD
SCI Fellow
Raj Chaggar, MD
SCI Fellow
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Dr. Chaggar currently serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at VCU Health and as the Director of Spinal Cord Injury at the Sheltering Arms Institute.
Email: rajbir.chaggar@vcuhealth.org
2021 - 2022 Fellow
Kevin Forster, DO
SCI Fellow
Kevin Forster, DO
SCI Fellow
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
After graduating from the SCI Fellowship, Dr. Forster began practicing at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
2020 - 2021 Fellow
Jordan Adler, MD
Jordan Adler, MD
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Dr. Adler is currently practicing SCIM at the Syracuse VA Healthcare System