Fellowship Program
Location: Northern New Jersey, just minutes from New York City
The University Spine Center (USC) offers a Spine Fellowship Program for board-eligible orthopedic or neurosurgical surgeons. This immersive, comprehensive program focuses on spinal pathology within a high-volume "academic" setting.
The fellowship runs annually from August 1 to July 31.
This one-year clinical fellowship aims to provide advanced training across a broad spectrum of spinal disorders, including degenerative conditions, deformities, trauma, tumors, and infections. Fellows will gain extensive exposure to all spine regions—cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and lumbosacral—and will learn operative and non-operative management strategies. Emphasis is placed on critical decision-making; understanding when and what surgery to perform is just as important as knowing how to execute it.
The fellowship is led by four fellowship-trained spine surgeons: Dr. Arash Emami, Dr. Ki Hwang, Dr. Nikhil Sahai, and Dr. Kumar Sinha. Their collective expertise encompasses a range of techniques, including:
- Minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS-TLIF, cervical/lumbar tubular decompression/fusion)
- Percutaneous instrumentation with and without navigation/robotics
- Lateral interbody fusion
- Traditional open spinal procedures
Fellows will participate in surgeries at two high-volume academic trauma centers, each affiliated with orthopedic residency programs and an ambulatory surgery center. They will also have the opportunity to manage their own clinics and bookcases independently, promoting autonomy guided by mentorship.
In addition to surgical training, the fellowship provides a robust academic foundation. Fellows are expected to complete at least one clinical research project, supported by a dedicated spine research fellow and access to ongoing high-impact research initiatives. Our team regularly presents at leading national and international meetings, including CSRS, SRS, IMAST, SMISS, and NASS (presentation is optional but encouraged).
Weekly educational sessions include case conferences, faculty-led lectures, and monthly journal clubs. Fellows are responsible for the day-to-day management of surgical patients under the supervision of faculty surgeons.
Application Process
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Board-eligible or board-certified by the ABOS, AOBOS, ABNS, or AOBNS
- Graduates of an accredited U.S. orthopedic or neurosurgery residency program
- Eligible for unrestricted medical licensure in New Jersey, including malpractice coverage and hospital privileges
We are currently accepting applications for the 2025–2026 fellowship cycle. All interviews will be conducted in person.
If you plan to attend NASS 40th Annual Meeting November 14-16, 2025, Denver, CO and would like to meet with our team, please email Dr. Nikhil Sahai at nsahai@universityspinecenter.com before the conference to arrange a meeting.
The University Spine Center does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status in any of its programs or activities.
Our Current Fellow
Jibran Khan, DO
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate: Texas Tech University
Dr. Jibran Khan is an orthopaedic surgeon currently located in Jersey City, NJ. He completed his medical education at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating with honors in 2020. Dr. Khan has completed orthopaedic surgery residencies at Samaritan Health Services in Corvallis (2020-2022) and continued his residency at Rutgers Health/Jersey City Medical Center (2022-2025).