Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship

The University of Washington Department of Neurology is currently recruiting for two ACGME-accredited neuromuscular medicine fellows for 2022-2023. The fellow would be board eligible for the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine and ABPN certificate in neuromuscular medicine. The fellowship is for one year with a chance to do a second year of basic/translational research with world-renowned muscular dystrophy researchers.

UW Medicine is at the forefront of neuromuscular disease research, patient care and education. Our leading-edge research efforts have resulted in a greater understanding of muscle and motor neuron diseases, and we are driven to develop the kind of high-quality, comprehensive care that people afflicted with neuromuscular diseases need. We are also committed to training the next generation of experts in these diseases. With support, we can continue to provide the best care possible to patients within the five-state region of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho, and to train physicians and scientists who will move the field forward. We hope you will join us in this important work. Fellows will also rotate in the operating room at HMC to gain additional procedural experience and have elective time to pursue clinical or research interests.

From Research to Cure
Neuromuscular diseases affect young and old alike, impairing muscle function and nervous system control, causing muscle cramps, pains, paralysis, and sometimes heart failure and trouble breathing.

While much remains to be done to improve patient care, UW Medicine’s understanding of the mechanisms of disease and treatment of neuromuscular conditions is at an unprecedented level:

Amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease). A fatal condition that causes neuronal death and progressive weakness in various muscles. Michael D. Weiss, M.D., is researching whether mexiletine helps patients with ALS, work that is part of the Northeast ALS Research Consortium.

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy. Causes progressive weakness in muscles of the face, upper arm and shoulder. Leo Wang, M.D., Ph.D., is researching whether MRIs can detect changes in the condition to focus treatment. Stephen Tapscott, M.D., Ph.D., and his team identified the mechanisms that cause the disease, which opens the door for future treatments

Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A progressive muscular dystrophy, usually affecting boys, causing disability and early death. Jeff Chamberlain, Ph.D., is trying to find a cure with gene therapy. It is an exciting time in neuromuscular disease research; we think that we are on the threshold of turning certain fatal diseases into manageable chronic diseases. As a result, it’s also an exciting and hopeful time for our patients and their families, as well as for the next generation of neuromuscular researchers and physicians.

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How to Apply

Please complete this form, and send a CV, 3 letters of reference (including a letter from your current program director), and a letter of interest to neurofellowship@uw.edu.

Visas

The UW Neuromuscular Fellowship Program accepts foreign national physicians who meet UW Eligibility and Selection requirements into its accredited Fellowship program. Foreign nationals requiring visa sponsorship must obtain a J-1 visa sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). The UW does not generally provide H-1B sponsorship for residents or fellows in its clinical training programs unless the resident/fellow is otherwise ineligible for a J-1 visa. Requests for H-1B visa sponsorship are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are subject to approval by the UW GME Office and the UW Provost’s Office. Please refer to UW Medicine Graduate Medical Education Policies and Procedures for more detail.

Fellowship Team

Previous Graduates