The Minimally Invasive and Complex Spine Fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) offers advanced subspecialty training in minimally invasive spine surgery and complex spine surgery.
Fellows gain exposure to a wide range of advanced surgical techniques, innovative technologies and world-class treatments at one of the largest academic medical centers in the United States. The fellowship prioritizes personalized mentorship and professional development to prepare fellows for successful, independent practice. In addition to technical and leadership excellence, the program emphasizes academic networking, brand development and essential business skills.
This spine surgery fellowship at UAB is designed for neurosurgeons who want to lead in the evolving field of spinal care.
Why Choose UAB for Spine Fellowship Training?
As Alabama’s largest academic medical center and one of the largest in the nation, UAB draws a high-volume, complex patient population from across the Southeast. The Minimally Invasive and Complex Spine Fellowship is structured to provide fellows with immersive training in cutting-edge procedures, research mentorship and a transition-to-practice model. Fellows work closely with nationally recognized neurosurgery spine specialists and gain experience in multidisciplinary care across service lines.
UAB Hospital holds The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Certification in Spine Surgery (ACSS), a designation that reflects the institution’s commitment to safe, high-quality and coordinated spine care. This designation is supported by our development of highly successful clinical care pathways and pioneering pre- and postoperative optimization strategies that have placed UAB Neurosurgery on the national stage.
Neurosurgery Spine Expertise at UAB
UAB is home to a nationally recognized team of spine neurosurgeons who are not only leaders in the operating room and clinical space, but also in research and innovation. Our spine faculty have published extensively in the areas of:
- Spine surgery
- Minimally invasive spine surgery techniques
- Virtual and augmented reality
- Neurosurgical education and training
- Novel surgical technologies and innovation
Fellows benefit from a robust, multidisciplinary training experience, managing wide range of complex cases and collaborating closely with experts from Plastic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Rehabilitation Medicine, Anesthesiology, Rheumatology and other specialties across UAB.
Learn more about UAB's spine disorders clinical services.
Fellowship Structure
Fellows train primarily at UAB under the direction of Fellowship Program Director Jakub "Jake" Godzik, M.D., MS, alongside distinguished faculty:
Clinical Responsibilities
Fellows gain advanced experience in:
- Adult deformity surgery
- Adult idiopathic scoliosis
- Neuromuscular spinal surgery (e.g., neuromuscular scoliosis, spina bifida)
- Complex spinal oncology (primary bone and metastatic tumors)
- Congenital deformity management (e.g., diastematomyelia, detethering, spinal column shortening)
- Minimally invasive deformity surgery
- Outpatient minimally invasive spine surgery (tubular and endoscopic)
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
Fellows also:
- Participate in weekly Spine Indications and Postoperative Conferences
- Participate and practice in UAB's Ambulatory Surgery Center, one of only a few in the country
Academic Opportunities
- Participate in a monthly research conference with UAB Neurosurgery's active research group
- Attend leading national academic conferences (e.g. CNS, AANS, DSPN, SMISS, SRS, IMAST)
- Receive mentorship toward peer-reviewed publication goals
Instructorship and Transition-to-Practice Model
As part of transition-to-practice model, fellows will:
- Hold staff privileges
- Take complex spine trauma call
- Manage a clinical service
- Run a weekly neurosurgery clinic
- Learn and practice independent billing
- Build a referral base through local outreach initiatives
As part of their neurosurgery instructorship, fellows will also:
- Participate in quality improvement projects
- Mentor neurosurgery residents in and out of the operating room
- Participate in neurosurgery resident education/teaching conferences
- Participate in a social media and marketing bootcamp to build an academic and professional online presence
- Play in the department’s Neurosurgery Softball League!
Application Information
To learn more about applying to the Minimally Invasive and Complex Spine Fellowship at UAB, please contact: Jake Godzik, M.D., MS - jgodzik@uabmc.edu.
Stay Connected
Follow the UAB Department of Neurosurgery for the latest updates on spine fellowships, research and clinical innovation:
- Twitter: @NeurosurgeryUAB
- LinkedIn: UAB Department of Neurosurgery
Contact
Jakub "Jake" Godzik, M.D., MS
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery