Appointments are made by late October for the following academic year. Types of Cases Regional fellows participate in a wide variety of surgical cases, and thus applications of regional techniques. Extensive experience is gained in thoracic and lumbar epidurals, spinals, retrobulbar blocks, and various extremity blocks. The average fellow will perform 90 or more brachial plexus blocks per year. Regional fellows do not participate in cardiac, intracranial, obstetric, trauma, or specialize pediatric cases unless they elect to do so.
Most fellows spend one month on the pain service.
Elective months in research and teaching techniques are also available. Regional fellows frequently take part in these protocols. The practice of regional anesthesia is historically an important component of the Virginia Mason Department of Anesthesiology.