Neuromuscular Fellowship

Program Description

This is a one-year, ACGME-certified fellowship focused on the evaluation and management of patients with neuromuscular disease. Fellows learn the clinical, electrodiagnostic, imaging, and pathophysiological aspects of neuromuscular diseases. Graduates are eligible to sit for the ABPN Neuromuscular Board examination. Fellows learn the underlying physiology, methodology, and interpretation of standard neurophysiologic techniques, including standard needle electromyography, single-fiber electromyography, sensory and motor nerve conduction studies, H-reflex studies, F-wave studies, and analysis of changes in the waveforms of compound action potentials. Fellows learn how to interpret nerve and muscle biopsies. Fellows are invited to take a summer course on clinical research protocol development; they are invited to collaborate on existing research projects or develop their own.

Mission

We strive to provide a broad education in the clinical, electrodiagnostic, imaging, and pathophysiological aspects of neuromuscular diseases. Our fellows learn in a number of different clinical contexts, including: multidisciplinary ALS clinics, multidisciplinary nerve injury clinic, general neuromuscular clinics, muscle pathology conferences, MDA clinic, and fellow conferences. Through these experiences, our graduates are prepared to care for patients in many different contexts, including
community practices and large academic medical centers. We strive to align our efforts with the Mission of UCSF Health: Caring, Healing, Teaching, and Discovering.

Details

There are two training tracks, the adult track and the pediatric track.

Adult Track:
• Multidisciplinary ALS Clinic
• Multidisciplinary Nerve Injury Clinic
• Multidisciplinary Brachial Neuritis Clinic
• Neuromuscular Clinics
• Muscle Pathology Conference
• Neuroradiology Peripheral Nerve Conference
• MDA Clinic
• Fellow Conferences

Pediatric Track:
• Multidisciplinary ALS Clinic
• Multidisciplinary Nerve Injury Clinic
• Multidisciplinary Brachial Neuritis Clinic
• Neuromuscular Clinics
• Muscle Pathology Conference
• Neuroradiology Peripheral Nerve Conference
• MDA Clinic
• Fellow Conferences
• Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland Clinic
• Pediatric multidisciplinary nerve injury clinic

Research Opportunities 

Fellows are invited to participate in the Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI) summer “Designing Clinical Research” course. Tuition is paid by the fellowship. Fellows are encouraged to participate in active research projects and/or develop their own projects under the direction of their mentor.

How to Apply

Prerequisites
Information to Provide
Application Process

Starting January 1 of the year prior to the fellowship start date, applications may be submitted through the AANEM Neuromuscular Fellowship Portal.


Program may view applicants beginning March 1. This is when the interview season begins.


Rank lists are finalized by the end of May and the match results are revealed on June 1.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current size of the program?
2 Fellows. 
We have an adult track and a pediatric track.


Who may apply?
Adult neurologists, child neurologists, and physiatrists (PM&R).


How many core educators?
Fourteen faculty members.


Who leads the neuromuscular pathology sessions?
Neuropathology faculty and neuropathy fellows lead the weekly readout sessions. The neuromuscular faculty and fellows participate in these sessions.


What about didactics and lectures?
The fellows organize a weekly conference on Friday mornings. These sessions include a live patient conference, journal club, M&M conference, and subject reviews. It is really up to the fellows what happens and every year is a little bit different. There are a series of faculty-led didactics, which are generally given right before the fellow-lead conference.


What about research?
The neuromuscular faculty are involved in many clinical research and medical education projects. The UCSF Department of Neurology is one of the largest departments in the country. Basic research is conducted in motor neuron disease, FTD-ALS, neuromuscular channelopathies, neuro-immunology, and many other fields. There are many potential opportunities for pursuing basic research after a one-year clinical neuromuscular medicine fellowship. The fellowship director can steer you in the right direction in terms of finding the right mentor for your research interest.


What do the fellows do after graduation?
About 50% pursue careers in academic neurology and 50% go into practice.


Do the fellows have fun?
They are a happy bunch.
San Francisco is an awesome, albeit expensive, place to live. It’s exciting to live in an epicenter of the tech world. There are rich cultural and culinary offerings in the city. It is also very easy to escape to nearby natural areas for rest and relaxation.

Contact Us

Jeffrey Ralph, Program Director
[email protected]

 

Ashley Robelo, Program Coordinator
[email protected]