Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship

This one-year, ACGME-certified position is aimed at providing a broad education in the clinical, electrodiagnostic, and pathophysiological aspects of neuromuscular diseases. Fellows are eligible to sit for the ABPN Neuromuscular Boards and for the ABEM exam. 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 learn about neuromuscular disease in a number of different contexts, including:

• Multidisciplinary ALS Clinic

• Multidisciplinary Nerve Injury Clinic

• Neuromuscular Clinics

• Muscle Pathology Conference

• MDA Clinic

• Fellow Conferences

Director: Jeffrey Ralph, MD, [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the size of the program?

1-2 Fellows

How many core educators?

Seven faculty members. (This is like to expand because the neuromuscular division has been hiring.)

Who leads the neuromuscular pathology sessions?

Neuropathology faculty and fellows lead the weekly readout sessions. The neuromuscular faculty and fellows also 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.

There are a series of faculty-led didactics, which are held on Wednesday afternoons.

What about research?

The neuromuscular faculty are involved in a number of 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.

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.

How do I apply?

Please email [email protected] and [email protected] for additional information about our program. We can also answer questions you may have about living in the Bay Area.

Starting in January of the year prior to the fellowship start date, applications to our program may be submitted through the AANEM Neuromuscular Fellowship Portal ( https://www.aanem.org/Careers/Fellowships/Neuromuscular-Fellowship-Portal). Per AANEM guidelines, interview offers will not be made before March 1 of the year prior to the fellowship start date. Fellowship positions will not be offered before June 1 of the year prior to the fellowship start date.