University of Alabama Hospital (Birmingham) Program

The Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is an ACGME accredited, one-year fellowship designed to provide extensive training in clinical neuromuscular evaluation, electrodiagnostic tests, and interpretation of muscle and nerve histopathology. The program aims to develop competence in handling both adult and pediatric neuromuscular diseases under a faculty rich in expertise and abundant institutional resources. There are specific emphases on academic as well as private practice career paths, making it suitable for aspiring neurologists with diverse professional goals.

Fellows engage primarily in outpatient clinical care where they assess and diagnose patients suffering from various neuromuscular disorders. Clinics include, but are not limited to, general neuromuscular clinics, ALS Clinic, and MDA Clinics at both the Kirklin Clinic and Children’s Hospital of Alabama. This exposure ensures fellows gain thorough experience in assessing, monitoring, and treating a variety of neurological disorders affected by the peripheral nervous system, such as neuropathy, motor neuron diseases, and myopathy.

A critical component of the fellowship involves performing and interpreting electrodiagnostic tests under faculty supervision. Fellow activities include routine nerve conduction studies, EMG needle involvement, and stimulated reflex tests, all conducted at the EMG Laboratory at UAB Hospital and the Birmingham VA Medical Center. Additionally, there is an opportunity to learn how to conduct single fiber EMG, allowing for enhanced expertise in diagnosing neuromuscular junction disorders.

Fellows also receive extensive exposure to neuromuscular pathology through working with an attending physician in the Shin J. Oh Nerve and Muscle Histopathology Laboratory. They are encouraged to engage in skin, muscle, and nerve biopsies, benefiting from hands-on training and mentorship.

UAB provides a robust platform for research involvement in various basic, translational, and clinical studies. The fellows are encouraged to partake in multiple ongoing clinical trials related to conditions such as myasthenia gravis and ALS, tailoring their research experience in line with their career aspirations. Moreover, fellows participate in at least one quality improvement project and frequent discussions regarding their research progress with faculty members.

Educational activities are abundant and include weekly lectures, from core to advanced topics, spanning the entire duration of the fellowship. Opportunities for teaching neurology residents during assessments at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital also enhance the fellows’ teaching and mentoring skills.

For application requirements, full licensure in the State of Alabama is essential, which includes obtaining a State Medical License, Controlled Substance Certificate, and Federal DEA. Prospective fellows must have successfully completed all three steps of the USMLE. The program participates in the AANEM Fellowship Match, requiring submission of a CV, personal statement detailing career goals, and letters of recommendation from three faculty references, including one from the Residency Program Director or Department Chair.

The program is especially accommodating for international applicants as it provides sponsorship for suitable visa types, thus enhancing its appeal to a wider pool of candidates.

Lastly, the program is known for being competitive. Applicants with diverse backgrounds, including those from DO and IMG communities, are welcomed, especially if they exhibit strong communication skills, a solid foundation in neurology, and adaptability to a fast-paced clinical environment.