University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Program

The Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is an ACGME-accredited program designed to provide specialized training in the diagnosis and management of disorders affecting the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems. This one-year fellowship incorporates intensive clinical evaluation and electrophysiologic testing, including electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies (NCS), autonomic testing, polysomnography, and intraoperative monitoring. Fellows have the option to focus either on adult or pediatric tracks, ensuring a broad exposure to both patient populations under the guidance of expert faculty.

Curriculum and Training

The education curriculum of the program includes a comprehensive neurophysiology lecture series alongside weekly clinical conferences that focus on topics such as epilepsy surgery, EMG, and muscle biopsies. The program allows fellows to gain direct experience and undergo intensive training in a variety of clinical activities and procedures, such as:

• Basic electronics and principles of neurophysiology
• Pharmacology of antiepileptic drugs
• Investigational drug research for epilepsy
• Outpatient epilepsy clinics
• Utilization of the vagus nerve stimulator and responsive neurostimulation
• Presurgical evaluations and surgical treatments for epilepsy, including scalp EEG in diverse populations
• Invasive electrophysiological procedures and electrocorticography
• Intraoperative monitoring and evoked potentials
• Multidisciplinary outpatient neuromuscular clinics
• Muscle biopsies and NCS
• Polysomnography and clinical evaluation of sleep disorders

Training Sites

This fellowship's adult program offers training at Parkland Memorial Hospital and the Zale Lipshy Pavilion—William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, both of which deliver specialized neurology services. The Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at these facilities features 11 beds and handles around 500 patient admissions each year, with additional outpatient services provided for over 1,100 beds. On the other hand, the Pediatric Fellowship is primarily conducted at Children's Health℠, where there is an 8-bed Epilepsy Monitoring Unit that admits approximately 600 patients yearly for video-EEG monitoring. The pediatric Neurophysiology Laboratory performs over 3,500 EEGs annually, and the associated Comprehensive Epilepsy Center sees around 7,000 outpatient visits each year.

Prerequisites and Special Requirements

To apply for the Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship, applicants must meet several prerequisites, including:

• Possessing an M.D. degree or equivalent from an LCME-accredited medical school
• Completion of an ACGME-accredited adult or pediatric neurology residency program
• Being board-eligible or board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
• Holding a current Texas Medical License
• Foreign medical graduates are required to maintain ECFMG certification and be eligible for J-1 visa sponsorship.

This program is noted for being competitive, and while it is welcoming to both U.S. MD graduates and International Medical Graduates (IMGs), the application process has specific timelines most often aligned with PGY-3 or PGY-4 residency years.

Research Opportunities

This Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship is integrated with numerous research initiatives. Fellows are encouraged to engage in research projects culminating in presentation at national meetings and publication opportunities. The program's structure fosters collaboration with faculty, many of whom are leaders in neurophysiology and epilepsy research, thereby enhancing the fellows' academic and professional development. The training is complemented by various clinical and basic science research topics relevant to common neurophysiological disorders.

Application Process

The application process for the Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship typically begins 24 months before the desired start date, with interviews occurring in the fall or winter months following submission. The program accepts applications from both adult and pediatric tracks, ensuring that candidates meet ERAS requirements for consideration.