University of Mississippi Medical Center Program

The Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center offers an ACGME-approved training experience aimed at developing skilled practitioners in the field of neurophysiology. This program recruits two to three fellows annually for a first-year training period, with the option for an additional year of specialized training based on the fellow's career aspirations.

The first year of the fellowship encompasses both Electroencephalography (EEG) and Electromyography/Nerve Conduction Studies (EMG/NCS), providing a balanced educational experience. Additionally, fellows may engage in elective rotations in associated fields such as sleep medicine or clinical and basic science research, allowing for a customizable training trajectory that aligns with their long-term career objectives. The volume of clinical work is significant, with approximately 5,000 procedures conducted each year across a variety of modalities, including routine adult and pediatric EEG, video-EEG monitoring, multi-modality evoked potentials, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, WADA testing, and electrocorticography.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center is recognized as the only comprehensive epilepsy center in Mississippi, certified by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC). This distinction allows fellows to gain access to a wide breadth of clinical cases and specialized training opportunities in epilepsy management. In addition to EEG studies, muscle and nerve biopsies are performed by neuromuscular staff and interpreted collaboratively with neuropathology, ensuring fellows are integrally involved in complex diagnostics.

The faculty associated with the program consists of full-time physicians who are board-certified in their respective specialties, providing fellows with rich mentoring experiences. The fellow-to-faculty ratio is 1:1, facilitating personalized education and ample opportunity for hands-on learning. This tailored approach supports the development of technical proficiency in various neurophysiological procedures in both pediatric and adult populations.

The didactic teaching schedule is comprehensive and structured to ensure that fellows receive a well-rounded education. For example, the weekly schedule includes:

• Monday - Neuromuscular medicine clinic at 8 a.m. and EEG reading (adult and pediatric) at 1 p.m.
• Tuesday - MDA clinic at 8 a.m. and muscle biopsies at 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday - Neurology Grand Rounds at 8 a.m. and EEG reading at 3:30 p.m.
• Thursday - Neuromuscular medicine clinic at 9 a.m., Seizure clinic at 1 p.m., and EEG/EMG didactics at 4 p.m.
• Friday - Clinical epilepsy rounds at 12:30 p.m. and EMG lectures/muscle biopsy reading at 4 p.m.

Furthermore, the program actively supports international medical graduates, offering visa sponsorship for J-1 and H-1B visa types, catering to non-U.S. citizen applicants who meet program requirements. This openness fosters a diverse educational environment, enhancing cultural competencies within the training group.

Regarding competitiveness, the fellowship is regarded as moderately competitive. The program welcomes both DO and IMG applicants, promoting a diverse candidate pool, provided they meet specific application requirements. Typically, applicants should have graduated from medical school within the last five years, and recent scores on USMLE/COMLEX exams are required, with a maximum of one failed attempt permitted to ensure candidates possess the necessary foundational knowledge.

This fellowship is an excellent opportunity for physicians aspiring to specialize in neurophysiology, emphasizing extensive clinical exposure, individualized learning paths, and supportive faculty engagement.