Welcome!
The Clinical Neurophysiology (CNP) Fellowship is accredited by the ACGME and allows fellows to become certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology for Added Qualifications in Clinical Neurophysiology. The training period is one year and available to residents who are Board-eligible or certified in Neurology. We offer 2-4 CNP positions annually with one dedicated to the EMG track and one dedicated to the EEG track.
Fellowship Overview:
The fellowship emphasizes comprehensive electrodiagnostic testing and provides training in neuromuscular diseases with additional exposure to neuromuscular pathology, neuromuscular ultrasound, and autonomic testing. Fellows with also receive broad training in EEG/epilepsy and evoked potentials and they may take an elective in intraoperative monitoring. Structured didactics and scholarly activities supplement the clinical experience.
We pride ourselves in maintaining quality one-on-one teaching of electrodiagnostic medicine by EMG technicians and attending in out AANEM-certified EMG Laboratory.
Training is based at UPMC Presbyterian and pediatric EMG is performed at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. EMG training includes pediatric and single fiber EMG. Fellows also use neuromuscular ultrasound for common mononeuropathies, diaphragm assessment, and for evaluation of myopathy. In the second half of the year, they learn autonomic testing. EMG/neuromuscular track fellows will spend a minimum of one-half day per week doing outpatient evaluations f patients with neuromuscular diseases, especially myasthenia gravis, peripheral neuropathy, amyotrphic lateral sclerosis, and myopathies, including dystrophies. Patients are seen in the MDA Care Center and in the MDA-ALS/ALSA-certified multidisciplinary clinic. Fellows also lean to perform needle muscle biopsies and interpret muscle and nerve histopathology.
Two months are dedicated to EEG training and include acquiring an understanding of the principles and interpretation of EEG as well as its clinical correlation. Training includes all aspects of inpatient and outpatient EEGs. The fellows have the opportunity to participate in long-term video-EEG monitoring in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU).
The program has a strong faculty base (4 adult neuromuscular, 1 pediatric neuromuscular, 9 adult epilepsy, 8 pediatric epilepsy attendings). We take a special interest in career development and subspecialty board preparation for our fellows while balancing life and enjoying all that Pittsburgh has to offer.
Fellows are encouraged to participate in scholarly activities, including quality improvement projects and clinical research.
Example Schedule:
Here you will find an approximate schedule breakdown for various rotations (rows) experienced in each fellowship track (columns).
| CNP-EEG | CNP-ICU EEG | CNP-EMG | CNP-Peds | Epilepsy Adult | Epilepsy Combined | Epilepsy Second Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMU | 1-3 mo. | 0-1 mo. | x | 1-2 mo. | 4-6 mo. | 5-6 mo. | 3-6 mo. (surgical) |
| EEG | 3-6 mo. | 3 mo. | 2 mo. | x | 2-3 mo. | x | 0-1 mo. |
| ICU EEG | 1-3 mo. | 4-6 mo. | x | x | 1-3 mo. | 1-2 mo. | 1-3 mo. |
| Peds EEG/EMU | 0-1 mo. | 0-1 mo. | x | 6-8 mo. | 1-2 mo. | 4-5 mo. | 1-2 mo. |
| EMG (adult) | 2 mo. (vs. IOM) | x | 9-10 mo. | 2 mo. (vs. IOM) | x | x | x |
| IOM | x | 2 mo. (vs. EMG) | x | x | x | x | x |
| Elective | 1 mo. | 1 mo. | 0-1 mo. | 1 mo. | 1 mo. | 1 mo. | 1 mo. |
| Research | x | x | x | x | x | x | 3 mo. |
Example Didactics
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 3:45-5:00 p.m. - MEPMC (Multidisciplinary Epilepsy Surgery Conference) | 3:30-4:30 p.m. - Neuromuscular Pathology Conference | 4:00-5:00 p.m. - Neurology Grand Rounds | 12:00-1:00 p.m. - Epilepsy Lecture 4:00-5:00 p.m. – Neuromuscular Journal Club/ EMG Conference |
12:00-1:00 p.m. - Epilepsy/EEG Journal Club, alternates with EEG Rounds and Epilepsy Board Review |
Application Process
We offer interviews on a rolling basis. Details regarding requirements and the mailing process are included in the application form. Applicants must be either board-eligible or board-certified in Neurology and have completed an ACGME-accredited adult or pediatric neurology residency in the United States.
We look forward to hearing from you, and hope that you will visit us soon!
Dr. Alexandra Urban, Program Director, Epilepsy
Dr. Viji Rajasekaran, Associate Program Director Clinical Neurophysiology
Dr. Fang Sun, Assistant Program Director, CNP- EMG track
Audrey Rohe, Fellowship Program Manager, (412) 647-7654, rohea@upmc.edu