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Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship


There are 3 positions available for the one-year training program, 2 of which are EEG/Epilepsy major track and one for the EMG/Neuromuscular track. The applicants must apply to the desired Clinical Neurophysiology track only through ERAS. The fellows will be selected through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Information about the program is also available on the American Academy of Neurology fellowship directory.

Applicants to the fellowship must have successfully completed an accredited 3-year residency program in Neurology or Child Neurology in the United States or Canada. At least 3 letters of recommendation are required, one of which must be from the residency program director.

The selection committee consists of faculty members in the Division of Clinical Neurophysiology. The Program Director reviews all files sent by ERAS and invites applicants for the interview process. Applicants are interviewed by at least 2 faculty members, besides the program director. Communication, maturity, professionalism, motivation and social skills are evaluated at the interview. After all the applicant interviews are completed, the committee has a final meeting and a rank list is generated and submitted to the NRMP.


Mission

The mission of the Clinical Neurophysiology program at the SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is to provide comprehensive compassionate care for patients with a variety of neurological conditions, including epilepsy and neuromuscular disorders. We strive to provide education to our patients and their families as well as train outstanding clinical neurophysiologists to deliver outstanding care to the culturally diverse, often underserved population.

Our mission is in complete alignment with the overall mission of the SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University which is dedicated to providing exceptional education of physicians, scientists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Its mission is to care for and improve the lives of our globally diverse communities, and to foster an environment that embraces cultural diversity.

Its vision reflects the goal to be nationally recognized for improving people’s lives by providing excellent education for healthcare professionals, advancing research in biomedical science, health care and public health, while delivering the highest quality patient-centered care.

The value statement of the SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is P.R.I.D.E., which describes our satisfaction in the work we do every day and to value our collective contributions to the Downstate community (Professionalism, Respect, Innovation, Diversity, Excellence).


Overview

The aim of the Clinical Neurophysiology Training Program at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is to provide the physician with extensive, high-quality training in clinical neurophysiology. The Training Program is based upon a one year format. Sufficient flexibility has been built-in to permit maturation of individual talents within the broad range of the clinical neurophysiology field. It is realized that to achieve the goals of training clinical neurologists, as well as accommodating those who will pursue careers as physician-scientists, a wide range of expertise must be represented. The breadth of our staff interests provides such a range of interest and experience.

The cornerstone of training is the development of sound clinical judgment, and includes the ability to recognize and treat patterns of neurologic dysfunction, as well as excellent interpersonal skills involving patients and members of the health care team.

The primary goals of Clinical Neurophysiology training are to give the fellows adequate exposure and training in at least two of the following: EEG/LTMs, EMGs, Evoked potentials, Intraoperative Monitoring and Sleep studies.

At the end of one year of fellowship, the fellow is eligible to appear for the ABPN Clinical Neurophysiology subspecialty board, provided he/she has fulfilled other requirements (i.e. board certification in Neurology/Child Neurology).

Fellows elect to major in either EEG/Epilepsy or EMG/Neuromuscular Disorders, and spend approximately four-fifths of their time in their major area. The remainder of their time is spent in the other areas of neurophysiology, including electroencephalography (EEG) or electromyography (EMG) or evoked potentials (EP). Broad exposure to clinical neurophysiology is accomplished by hands-on experience, observation, and didactic lectures. Intensive attending teaching and supervision is provided throughout all rotations. The fellows responsibility and autonomy are increased progressively as his or her fund of knowledge increases.


EEG/Epilepsy

The EEG/Epilepsy track includes exposure to studies of adult, pediatric, and neonatal inpatients and outpatients with a wide variety of neurological disorders. The combined laboratories of SUNY Downstate and Kings County Hospital Center perform over 2500 routine EEG studies per year. Long-term video-EEG monitoring is performed in the SUNY Downstate Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, a 6 bed inpatient unit for adults and children with refractory epilepsy, with additional 2 portable video-EEG monitoring units for bedside recording.

Continuous long-term video-EEGs are performed at Kings County Hospital primarily in the ICU and inpatient setting, that provides fellows exposure to critical care EEGs, which the fellows review and interpret, under close attending supervision. Fellows gain experience in managing clinical epilepsy patients in the weekly half-day Epilepsy Clinics at both SUNY Downstate and Kings County Hospital, including titrating the newest anti-seizure medications, vagus nerve stimulation and following ketogenic diet in selected patients.


EMG/Neuromuscular Disorders

The EMG/Neuromuscular track is done at the EMG laboratories of SUNY Downstate and Kings County Hospital Center, ensuring exposure to a broad spectrum of neurophysiological techniques. Trainees perform and interpret EMG and related studies, including motor control physiology, magnetic stimulation, and autonomic nervous system testing. Clinical experience in neuromuscular disorders is acquired through inpatient consultations and participation in the weekly half-day MDA Neuromuscular Clinic at SUNY Downstate.


Other Activities

A weekly didactic lecture series covers all aspects of clinical neurophysiology. Other weekly or biweekly conferences include Neurology Grand Rounds, an epilepsy management conference, and neuromuscular conference. Fellows may elect to participate in rotations outside the fellowship program to gain more in-depth experience in sleep, intraoperative monitoring, autonomic function testing, and intracranial EEG. Opportunities are available to individually design fellowships to include the various disciplines offered. Faculty mentoring of the fellows is integral to the program. Web based evaluation utilizing the New Innovations software provide regular evaluations and feedback during the training.


Hospitals

Fellowship training involves rotations in the following hospitals:

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (SUNYDHSU): This is the primary center for the training of clinical neurophysiology fellows. The Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at SUNY Downstate provides the major training in epilepsy and diagnoses of epileptic and non-epileptic patients, with prolonged video-EEG monitoring. Routine and long term EEGs are read daily by the fellow, under supervision of an attending, with production of clear concise reports. The Epilepsy clinic is on Thursday afternoons (3rd, 4th and 5th), where the fellow sees and follows patients for the duration of the fellowship. All the didactic conferences are held at SUNY Downstate in the EMU conference room. The EMG fellow performs EMGs four days a week in the EMG lab on the first floor, under attending supervision. Evoked potentials are performed by the technologist once a week, which are interpreted and reported by the fellow, along with an attending. The MDA Neuromuscular Clinic is a major clinic attended by the fellow, and is an integral part of the fellow’s training and education.

Kings County Hospital Center (KCHC): This is the major affiliate. This institution provides the major source of routine EEGs and critical care continuous EEGs and epilepsy patients for the fellow to assess and manage. The Epilepsy Clinic is a half-day session every week (Wednesdays), where the fellow sees and follows patients for the duration of the fellowship. EMGs are done two days a week here, under supervision of the attending physician.

Maimonides Medical Center: This is a minor affiliate. The fellow has an option of rotating through Maimonides outpatient EMG practice once a week, to gain insight into private practice. In addition, the fellows cover weekends, under supervision of a faculty member to review and report emergent EEGs.


Contact Info:

Geetha Chari, MD
Fellowship Program Director

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
450 Clarkson Avenue, MSC 118
Brooklyn, NY 11203
Telephone: 718-270-2042
Fax: 718-270-3748
Email: Geetha.Chari@downstate.edu

Kim Kearns
Fellowship Coordinator

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
450 Clarkson Avenue, MSC 118
Brooklyn, NY 11203
Telephone: 718-270-2042
Fax: 718-270-3748
Email: Kim.Kearns@downstate.edu