Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine

Our faculty consists of over ten physicians who all have specialized training in regional anesthesiology and acute pain medicine. Typical blocks include single injection and continuous catheter nerve and plexus blocks for extremity surgeries and injuries as well as epidural and spinal blocks for various insults to the chest, abdomen, or pelvis. More recently, we offer newer techniques such as ultrasound-guided paravertebral blocks, pectoralis and serratus plane blocks, transversus abdominis plane and rectus sheath blocks and have been called to assist with head and facial blocks for neurosurgical procedures. Incorporation of slow release, long acting local anesthetics can at times extend the patient's comfort for prolonged periods. Other components of care might include intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), oral analgesics and co-analgesics. The most advanced equipment is always used to ensure excellence, accuracy, and the greatest safety in our procedures. Perhaps the division’s most unique contribution to patient care is the comfort level in safely placing regional blocks in adult patients who are heavily sedated or under general anesthesia – techniques that many other centers are still hesitant to perform. Patients and surgeons alike are reporting positive results with regional anesthesia techniques and customized acute pain medicine pathways and are more frequently requesting these services for future procedures.

Education is a key component of the Program. In 2012, the Program initiated a Regional Anesthesiology Fellowship at the University of Maryland, based both at the University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institute (UMROI) and UMMC. In 2016, we revised the fellowship to a comprehensive Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine fellowship. In addition to training our fellows, we educate medical students, anesthesia residents, and other subspecialty anesthesiology fellows. Our educational curriculum is multi-faceted with dedicated hands-on training, simulation, lectures, and self-study. We are part of a consortium of world-class institutions that provide peer-reviewed, expert-generated educational content via “the Anesthesia toolbox." We conduct neuraxial and peripheral nerve block workshops and provide bedside teaching during clinical procedures that instill confidence in residents and fellows to function independently in any regional anesthesia practice post-training. Finally, with special expertise in peripheral nerve blocks in trauma patients, ultrasound-guided techniques, and caring for many of Maryland’s sickest patients, the faculty is often invited to lecture and train others nationally and internationally in the rapidly emerging field of Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine.

Education is a key component of the Program. In 2012, the Program initiated a Regional Anesthesiology Fellowship at the University of Maryland, based both at the University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institute (UMROI) and UMMC. In 2016, we revised the fellowship to a comprehensive Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine fellowship. In addition to training our fellows, we educate medical students, anesthesia residents, and other subspecialty anesthesiology fellows. Our educational curriculum is multi-faceted with dedicated hands-on training, simulation, lectures, and self-study. We are part of a consortium of world-class institutions that provide peer-reviewed, expert-generated educational content via “the Anesthesia toolbox." We conduct neuraxial and peripheral nerve block workshops and provide bedside teaching during clinical procedures that instill confidence in residents and fellows to function independently in any regional anesthesia practice post-training. Finally, with special expertise in peripheral nerve blocks in trauma patients, ultrasound-guided techniques, and caring for many of Maryland’s sickest patients, the faculty is often invited to lecture and train others nationally and internationally in the rapidly emerging field of Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine.

• Ron Samet, MD, Assistant Professor and Fellowship Director
• Jason C. Brookman, MD, Assistant Professor
• Nicolas J. Dorsey, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor
• Rachel B. Johnson, MD, Assistant Professor
• Samuel C. Onyewu, MBChB, Instructor
• Erin Treacy, MD, Assistant Professor and Education Committee Co-Chair
• Matthew Tulis, MD, Assistant Professor and Clinical Director
• Judah E. Weiss, MD, Assistant Professor
• Earl Wilson, MD, Assistant Professor