Multiple Sclerosis Fellowship Program

The Georgetown Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Fellowship program trains physicians to become clinical experts in the diagnosis and management of CNS autoimmune disorders including multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, optic neuritis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, neurosarcoidosis, paraneoplastic syndromes, etc.

The fellows work in the nation’s first and only Multiple Sclerosis Patient Centered Specialty Practice, where the focus is placed on the care of the patient, in the spirit of cura personalis. In addition, the Georgetown MS Center is recognized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as a NMSS Center for Comprehensive Care (the only one in Washington, D.C.,).

Fellows work in the outpatient clinic with Drs. Faria Amjad, Brian Barry, Nancy Hu,Benjamin Osborne, Robert Shin, and Carlo Tornatore. Through this broad and varied clinical training, the fellows gain expertise in the medical management of  diverse clinical syndromes, including training in neuro-ophthalmology (incorporating the use of visual field testing and spectral domain OCT), neuroradiology and spasticity clinic (learning botulinum toxin therapy and management of intrathecal baclofen pumps).

Professional collaboration

Four times a year, we have a unique neuro-immunology conference with participants from the National Institutes of Health, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Johns Hopkins, the Veterans Administration Medical Center, and many community neurologists. Our fellows present challenging diagnostic cases and have the opportunity to network and meet other MS specialists in the region.

Recently trained fellows have included:

Weekly MS center meetings

Gatherings include a monthly journal club, a monthly neuroradiology case conference, and discussions of challenging cases.

Opportunity

Our fellows are offered the opportunity to be trained in the management of spasticity (baclofen pump management, botulinum toxin clinic), neuro-ophthalmology (visual field testing, optic coherence tomography), pediatric neuroimmunological disorders, and neuropathology.

Patient education

Fellows help organize and participate in quarterly patient education programs for newly diagnosed MS patients and in our annual patient education day, which typically attracts 300 to 400 participants.

Clinical trials

Our fellows are trained to participate in clinical trials for MS and other neuroimmunological disorders, such as neuromyelitis optica. They become proficient in performing the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and are trained in developing their own research protocols. 

Some fellows choose to complete a second research-focused year. By handling clinical trials, fellows become familiar with Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements and the role of a principal investigator.

In clinic

Fellows will gain a diverse exposure to the clinical management and treatment not only of MS but of several other neuroimmunologic disorders such as: 

In addition, they will have the opportunity to work in a spasticity clinic to become proficient in the use of botulinum toxin and management of baclofen pumps.

Neuro-ophthalmology

Part of the clinical rotation also includes exposure to neuro-ophthalmology. 

The vast majority of patients with MS and other neuroimmunological diseases have visual problems. Our fellows become proficient in understanding how to evaluate, diagnose, and treat a large number of these diseases, including optic neuritis, nystagmus, diplopia, NMOSD, and MOGAD.

Pediatric diseases

There are opportunities to rotate at Children’s National Medical Center to gain exposure to pediatric demyelinating diseases such as pediatric MS, neuromyelitis optica (NMO)  acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), and MOG disease.

Once per week we have our MS group meeting, parts of which entail neuroradiology conferences, journal clubs, and updates on the latest clinical evidence presented at academic meetings.