Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship (Neuromuscular/EMG or Epilepsy/EEG Track) and Epilepsy Fellowship Programs

Our Clinical Neurophysiology (Neuromuscular/EMG & Epilepsy/EEG Tracks) and Epilepsy fellowship programs provide unique opportunities to gain a breadth of exposure within the field while developing a string foundation in the fellow’s primary area of focus. Fellows receive outstanding clinical instruction within an environment of academia.

Our Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy fellowship programs are ACGME-accredited. We offer two funded positions per year beginning in July. Applicants may choose amongst three tracks (CNP-Neuromuscular/EMG, CNP-Epilepsy/EEG, & Epilepsy Fellowship). In specific circumstances, fellows can choose another year of fellowship training.

Clinical Neurophysiology fellows are eligible for board certification in Clinical Neurophysiology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and the Epilepsy fellow is eligible for board certification in Epilepsy by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Fellows attend weekly didactic sessions led by faculty members. Fellows also lead a monthly journal club. Neuromuscular/EMG track fellows attend quarterly interdisciplinary muscle and nerve biopsy conferences. Epilepsy fellows attend monthly interdisciplinary epilepsy surgical case conferences.

Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship – Neuromuscular/EMG track

This track focuses on diagnosing and managing clinical neuromuscular diseases, electrodiagnosis, including electromyography (EMG) and routine and special nerve conduction studies (NCSs). Fellows participate in the general Neuromuscular clinic. They also engage in weekly multidisciplinary Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALSA) clinics. They learn to manage myasthenia gravis, neuropathies, muscular dystrophies, inflammatory and non-inflammatory myopathies, ALS, and spinomuscular atrophy (SMA), among other conditions.

Fellows are based at Georgetown University Hospital and can rotate at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC) for additional exposures in pediatric EMG and ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin injections. Fellows also have electives in electroencephalography (EEG),intraoperative monitoring (IOM), and sleep disorders.

The Neuromuscular/EMG fellow does not take call or have weekend hours. Completion of a research project is expected of all fellows.

Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship – Epilepsy/EEG Track

Fellows are provided with in-depth exposure to routine and special techniques in adult EEG and gain experience in neonatal and pediatric EEG. There is extensive exposure to routine and video EEG monitoring, including long-term ICU (Intensive Care Unit) studies, intracranial depth and grid electrode recording, and electrocorticography. Weekly fellows’ clinics allow exposure to medical and surgical management of epilepsy.

Advanced neuroimaging, including PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and functional MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), are available for seizure focus localization and functional mapping. Fellows also receive training in neurostimulation device programming (vagus nerve stimulators, responsive neuro stimulator and deep brain stimulator) as well as interpretation of depth electrode recordings.

Additionally, there is some exposure to intraoperative evoked potentials (EPs). Fellows have the opportunity for elective time in IOM, EMG/NCS, and sleep disorders.

Fellows are based at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and can rotate at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as well as the Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC) for additional exposure in pediatric EEG. Fellows take home calls on a rotating basis including weekends. Completion of a research project is expected of all fellows.

Epilepsy Fellowship

This fellowship focuses on the diagnosis and management of epilepsy patients, as well as routine and special electroencephalography (EEG) techniques. The medical and surgical management of epilepsy are covered in weekly clinics. Advanced neuroimaging, including PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and functional MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), are available for seizure focus localization and functional mapping.

Epilepsy fellows also receive training in neurostimulation device programming (vagus nerve stimulators, responsive neuro stimulator and deep brain stimulator) as well as interpretation of depth electrode recordings. Completion of a research project is expected of all fellows.

Fellows are based at Georgetown University Hospital and can rotate at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC) for additional exposures in pediatric EEG. Fellows take home calls on a rotating basis including weekends.

Epilepsy fellows engage in two half day clinics per week at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and the MedStar Chevy Chase Outpatient Neurology clinic.