Two 2017 Interventional Orthopedics Fellowship Slots Announced

Our Interventional Orthopedics Fellowship at our Colorado headquarters is a sought-after program. We have many more applicants than slots because we’re one of the only training programs worldwide where young physicians can learn how to use PRP and stem cells to help patients avoid invasive orthopedic surgery. This morning we’re announcing that two of the slots for our 2017 program have been filled by bright young minds. These are Dr. Ugochi Azuike from Baylor College of Medicine and Dr. Otono Silva from LSU.

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The Interventional Orthopedics Fellowship

We began this program five years ago with a dream: the idea that orthopedic surgery desperately needed a reboot, as what we saw every day in our patients who had these procedures were poor results and reams of complications. For less-invasive, precise image-guided injections to replace most of these invasive procedures, we needed an educational program, a way to teach young minds how to reimagine orthopedic care. The Interventional Orthopedics Fellowship was born.

For 2017, we’re likely taking three slots. These first two fellows share what we value most, the necessary background training to succeed as well as passion. While we’ve interviewed some excellent physicians for these positions, there’s no substitute for a fire in the belly, which both of these doctors share.

Who will be our third 2017 fellow? We’re still trying to figure that one out. However, it’s great to know that we have two leading minds already engaged in growing this amazing medical specialty. Below are their own biographical sketches. A big welcome to Dr. Azuike and Dr. Silva!

Ugochi Azuike, DO

I am a native of Houston, Texas, with deep Nigerian roots, who immeasurably loves medicine, my culture, and my family. I left Houston to attend the University of Texas at Austin, from which I had the honor of graduating cum laude. After four years of focusing on education, I pursued my long-deferred desire to travel the world. In the ensuing year, I spent weeks and months in countries such as Nigeria, London, Egypt, and Dubai. I subsequently applied to, and gained admittance to medical school at Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM). Though acquiring medical knowledge, and becoming proficient at osteopathy were my primary objectives, my pioneering nature led me to found TCOM’s first Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation interest group. As a medical student, I also served as the vice president of the Sports Medicine Society and mentored several high school students interested in pursuing medicine. My early interest and leadership in Physical Medicine and Sport Medicine translated into a PM&R residency position at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX.

My eclectic talents extend far beyond medicine. In my earlier years, I was an avid Scottish dancer, and became the first African American Scottish Dance instructor in the United States. Also, during my year of world exploration, I launched Gaia Beauty Solutions, a business in which I manufacture and sell natural hair and skin products in Nigeria. Currently, during my free time, I travel to New York and Los Angeles to record music for an upcoming album I plan on releasing in the future.

As a fourth-year resident, I head our musculoskeletal ultrasound club, the Musculoskeletal and Regenerative Medicine Journal Club, and have spearheaded several ultrasound workshops within my specialty and other specialties of Baylor College of Medicine at large.

On May 22, 2015, The Baylor College of Medicine/University of Texas Health Sciences PM&R Program held our annual William P. Blocker Lectureship, in which we invite prominent physicians in the field of PM&R and its subspecialties to speak. That is when I first heard Dr. Centeno speak on the field of interventional orthopedics. I was completely captivated and from that moment on, I knew I wanted to be a part of such dynamic field; a field that was changing the face of medicine. Dr Centeno’s passion for regenerative medicine and his explanations regarding the use of the body’s healing factors to treat musculoskeletal and spinal injuries awakened a new passion in me. I have now attended several of the interventional orthopedic workshops and have begun learning information that is not being taught anywhere else! I am excited to start my journey in this innovative and growing sect of medicine, and I am blessed to be at the forefront of regenerative medicine as a whole.

Otono Silva, MD

Dr. Otono Silva is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he acquired a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of New Mexico. He went on to acquire his medical degree at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. His intern year was in general surgery at Harbor University California Los Angeles Medical Center where he worked in a variety of surgical specialties. His residency specializes in the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Louisiana State University. There he has gained a diverse set of inpatient and outpatient skills with an emphasis on procedural physiatry, including interventional spine, peripheral joint injections, acupuncture, trigger point injections, and chemodenervation. After completing various workshops in the field of regenerative medicine, he was inspired to pursue a fellowship in Interventional Orthopedics at the Centeno Schultz Clinic beginning summer of 2017.
Additionally, Dr. Silva has a unique experience as a licensed massage therapist, certified personal trainer, and nutrition educator. Early in his career, he acquired a Natural Therapeutic Specialist certification at the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics. His practice provided mixed modality body work including myofascial release, shiatsu, polarity, craniosacral, and herbal therapies. This diverse background has established his Holistic approach to healing and to helping people maximize function and quality-of-life.
While completing his fellowship, Dr. Silva intends to team up with the knowledgeable staff at the Centeno Schultz Clinic and further research the field of regenerative medicine and interventional orthopedics. During his free time, he likes to mountain bike, camp, hike, and kayak, as well as traveling to enjoy various cultures.

Chris Centeno, MD is a specialist in regenerative medicine and the new field of Interventional Orthopedics. Centeno pioneered orthopedic stem cell procedures in 2005 and is responsible for a large amount of the published research on stem cell use for orthopedic applications. View Profile

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NOTE: This blog post provides general information to help the reader better understand regenerative medicine, musculoskeletal health, and related subjects. All content provided in this blog, website, or any linked materials, including text, graphics, images, patient profiles, outcomes, and information, are not intended and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please always consult with a professional and certified healthcare provider to discuss if a treatment is right for you.

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