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 VAMC, the Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR) and the VCU Medical Center.
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
- Urological and pain interventions
- Spasticity management
- Research statistics in SCI medicine
- Rehabilitation technology and engineering
- Exercise physiology
- Biomechanics
- Cognitive behavioral management strategies for patients with SCI
Fellows split their time between inpatient and outpatient clinics at VCU Medical Center and the 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 VAMC, four months at VCU
Outpatient SCI and affiliated SCI: Various times throughout the week
Urology SCI: One afternoon weekly for 28 weeks, plus a 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
2021-2022 PGY-5 Salary: $67,316
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
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:
- Current CV
- USMLE results or COMLEX transcript
- Medical school transcripts
- Completed fellow application
Please submit your application materials to:

Sean McAvoy, MD

Sean McAvoy, MD
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Program Director, Spinal Cord Injury Fellowship Program
Email: sean.mcavoy@va.gov
Address/Location:
Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Service (652/128)
1201 Broad Rock Blvd.
Richmond, VA 23249