Training overview:
The fellowship includes training in the clinical assessment and evidence-based management of the entire spectrum of neuromuscular medicine patients, adults and children, in outpatient and inpatient settings including critically ill patients. Training will include performing and interpreting electrodiagnostic studies, nerve/muscle ultrasound, ordering and interpreting the appropriate diagnostic investigations (laboratory, genetic, neuropathologic, histopathologic, and radiologic testing). Options exist for training in special studies such as single fiber EMG, autonomic testing and performing needle muscle biopsies. Fellows receive feedback regularly on their progress, and work with faculty mentors on an individualized learning plan. Upon successfully completing this fellowship, fellows are eligible to sit for the Neuromuscular Medicine subspecialty board (ABPN), and the electrodiagnostic medicine board (ABEM).
Clinical Activities:
Fellowship is mainly outpatient-based, structured, and supervised clinical training to gain expertise in the evaluation and management of all neuromuscular disorders. Fellows will work with our faculty at weekly subspecialty multidisciplinary clinics (including MDA Muscular Dystrophy Clinic, ALS Clinic, Myasthenia Gravis Clinic, Neuropathy and CMT Clinics, and MDA Neuromuscular Clinic at the Children’s Hospital). (4 half days a week)
Fellows will participate in a busy EMG laboratory offering advanced electrodiagnostic testing, performing nerve conductions and needle examinations. (4 half days a week)
Fellows will gain expertise in managing acute critically ill inpatients with complex neuromuscular conditions working closely with the neurology and critical care teams, as a weekday standard consult service at PUH with no night or weekend calls.
Research options:
Research activities in the Neuromuscular Division are led by multiple faculty members with varied interests and breadth of clinical and research expertise in different neuromuscular conditions. Several ongoing clinical trials cover the spectrum of the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders and clinical management of neuromuscular patients. Research opportunities and protected time are provided to encourage scholarly activity.
Fellows are expected to complete one research project during the fellowship year, under the mentorship of a faculty member in the division of Neuromuscular Medicine. An individualized project for fellows and a timeline will be developed based on the fellow’s interest, including epidemiology, observational studies, clinical trials, retrospective case reviews or other areas of clinical research. It is expected that fellows will attend at least one relevant scientific meeting per year and present their research project at such a venue and/or in a peer-reviewed publication.
Structured academic-teaching activities:
Didactic lecture series and clinical conferences.
Conference presented by fellow:
Journal club (monthly)
Neuromuscular clinical case conference (weekly)
EMG-NCS case conference (weekly)
Neuromuscular Pathology Lectures (twice monthly), with scheduled topics
Lecture series presented by faculty:
Neuromuscular teaching conference (monthly), with scheduled topics and speakers
EMG-NCS basic teaching conference (monthly), with scheduled topics and speakers
Muscle and nerve histopathology case review session and conference (weekly).
Neurology Grand Rounds (weekly from September to June.)
Conference opportunities:
4 weeks of vacation time and protected time to go to the AANEM or AAN
Education Fund, $1,000
Opportunity to apply for $1,000 scholarship fund, for presenting at national meeting.
Accreditation: ACGME
Application Process: Via the AANEM Portal (Fellowships | AANEM)
Program Directors: Tawfiq Al Lahham
List Attendings:
Joshua Smith
Hoda Abdel-Hamid
Jonathan Brent
Fang Sun
Paula Clemens
David Lacomis
Fellowship Contact: Abigail Biery, Bieryak@upmc.edu