Interventional Orthopedics Foundation Awards Grants

The Interventional Orthopedics Foundation (IOF) has announced that it has awarded two grants for the 2016-2017 academic year. The grants were awarded through the Foundation and provide a total of $75, 000 to recipients for the placement of clinical PM&R (physical medicine and rehabilitation) Fellows. The Award recipients are Emory University Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, and Stanford University PM&R Sports Medicine Fellowship in Redwood City, California.

“These programs demonstrate a comprehensive curriculum that fits well with the IOF’s mission to expand the reach of regenerative interventional orthopedics. Fellows in these programs have the opportunity to acquire significant hands-on spine and peripheral joint ultrasound and fluoroscopy training focused on Interventional Orthopedics—by utilizing more invasive and technically advanced stem cell therapies, ” said Nancy Ho, executive director for Interventional Orthopedics Foundation, in the September 2, 2016 news release.

Nancy Ho told OTW, “The Foundation’s primary function is to serve as a resource to physicians who seek to understand the growing field of interventional orthopedics, which includes the development and availability of regenerative medicine therapies. Both academic programs have begun to focus on promoting biologics as part of their curriculum. Through their application, the IOF Committee recognized that these programs continue to advance the art of regenerative medicine through the increase in peripheral joint interventional orthopedics experience via ultrasound and fluoroscopy precise imaging techniques. Although there are a handful of advanced fellowship training programs for physicians in this area, there is only a just a few of such fellowship programs worldwide offering interventional orthopedics as part of their curriculum.

“Stanford University PM&R Sports Medicine program stated on their application that they will use the funds to support another fellow salary as well as funding for their fellows to attend regenerative medicine conferences and other education opportunities. Emory University stated on their application that they will utilize the funds to assist in the operations of their orthobiologics lab including IRB [institutional review board] research on regenerative medicine advancing how cells are harvested, processed, and re-implanted. This will facilitate and increase the curriculum for regenerative medicine to their fellows in the program.”