Clinical Neurophysiology

UCLA Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship Program

Description

The ACGME-accredited UCLA Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship Program offers multi-site training that reflects the diversity of Los Angeles. This one-year fellowship delivers subspecialty training in multiple electrodiagnostic modalities, including EEG, EMG/NCS, Intraoperative Neuromonitoring, and Evoked Potentials. Organized clinical experiences are coordinated with the following sites:

• Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center
• Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center
• Sepulveda VA Medical Center
• West LA VA Medical Center

This one-year ACGME-approved fellowship has three tracks, with the potential for individual customization within each track to best align with the fellow’s educational and career goals. The training structure in our program rewards the fellow with intensive learning experiences, leading to expertise in a wide range of clinical techniques in clinical neurophysiology.  Ongoing clinical and basic science research projects are available and may be further explored with additional training time.

All tracks incorporate comprehensive experience in clinical neurophysiology and robust training in EEG. This includes experience with evoked potentials and interpretation of EEG and video-EEG from ambulatory, outpatient, inpatient, ICU, and EMU settings. All tracks present opportunities for elective rotations with sleep, EMG/NCS, Intraoperative Monitoring, adult epilepsy, and pediatric epilepsy. In addition to EEG, all fellows also incorporate training in EMG and/or Intraoperative Monitoring (IOM) based on track preference. 

Fellows in our EEG-EMG track graduate with mastery of both EEG and EMG/NCS interpretation and are often sought to carry these skills into their inpatient and/or outpatient clinical practice. Fellows in our EEG-IOM and VA EEG-IOM tracks effectively complete one of the few IOM fellowships available in the United States, and our fellows are highly sought after for positions once they have completed the fellowship. We take great pride in tailoring our program to the specific needs and goals of each young physician.  This training program has successfully prepared many physician neurophysiologists for a variety of careers, which in recent years has included faculty positions at UCLA or other renowned academic medical institutions including other UC campuses, entry into private practice, employment with large healthcare organizations (e.g. Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health), or working with national IONM companies.

This fellowship prepares fellows in all tracks to obtain ABPN board certification in Clinical Neurophysiology and ABCN certification in Clinical Neurophysiology. Fellows may also quality for ABCN certification for special qualification in Epilepsy monitoring, ABCN certification for special qualification in Intraoperative Monitoring, or for ABEM board certification in EMG depending on their chosen track. 

EEG-EMG Track:

In addition to training in EEG as above, fellows in this track gain expertise in EMG/NCS and participate in a variety of neuromuscular and seizure clinics to gain a comprehensive clinical context for the interpretation of electrodiagnostic studies. These fellows rotate regularly through procedure clinics at the Ronald Reagan UCLA, Santa Monica UCLA, West Los Angeles VA, and Sepulveda VA training sites. There are also opportunities to train in supplemental advanced techniques such as neuromuscular ultrasound and single fiber EMG. 

EEG-IOM Track:

In addition to training in EEG as above, fellows in this track spend a minimum of 6 months learning intraoperative monitoring, monitoring cases both at our major university hospital in Westwood and telemonitoring remotely for cases at our Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center campus, our West Valley UCLA Medical Center campus, and multiple regional community hospitals. This includes time participating in the operating rooms to understanding how procedures are performed and interpreted in neurosurgery, orthopedics, cardiothoracic, vascular, head and neck, and other disciplines. 

VA EEG-IOM Track:

In addition to training in EEG as above, fellows in this track spend a minimum of 6 months learning intraoperative monitoring, monitoring cases both at our major university hospital in Westwood and telemonitoring remotely for cases at our Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center campus, our West Valley UCLA Medical Center campus, and multiple regional community hospitals. This includes time participating in the operating rooms to understanding how procedures are performed and interpreted in neurosurgery, orthopedics, cardiothoracic, vascular, head and neck, and other disciplines. 

These fellows also participate in the clinical care of epilepsy patients at the West Los Angeles VA, gaining experience in the medical and surgical aspects of epilepsy care including interpretation of EMU studies and neuromodulation (e.g. DBS, RNS) therapies. 

Didactics 

Each week, fellows from all tracks participate in a didactic lecture series about clinical neurophysiology and related clinical disorders. Faculty members present most lectures, with fellows presenting at least once per year with a journal club presentation. 

All fellows are given access to the ACNS CNP Bootcamp series each summer, which is a highly recommended 7-week online program designed to expose new fellows to the core aspects of clinical neurophysiology in the first weeks of their training. 

Fellows in the EEG-EMG track also join colleagues in our neuromuscular medicine fellowship to supplement their didactics with a rigorous didactics program that encompasses EMG/NCS case conference and neuromuscular disease lectures. This program includes journal clubs, complex case conferences, and research presentations also interspersed throughout the year. The curriculum covers topics pertinent to the practice of neuromuscular medicine and outlines the principles of electrodiagnosis. 

Fellowship Salary and Benefits

All fellows at UCLA enrolled in ACGME-accredited training programs benefit from and are subject to the terms of the UCLA Resident/Fellow Union Contract. Contract highlights include: 

• Competitive salary (please see the benefits and salary webpage linked below for the most up-to-date salary rates)
• Health insurance benefits, including dental coverage, vision coverage, and supplemental fertility/postpartum care coverage
• Meal stipend for use at UCLA rotation sites, and Uber Eats subsidy for use when rotating at the West Los Angeles VA site
• UCLA-issued smartphone
• Educational stipend
• Relocation reimbursement
• Licensure reimbursement 

To learn more about ACGME benefits and salary, or to view a copy of the most recent union contract, visit our benefits and salary webpage.

Prerequisites and Requirements

• Completion of an ACGME accredited internship in medicine or pediatrics.
• Completion of a US ACGME accredited residency in Neurology or Child Neurology, AOA-approved residency program, ACGME-I Advanced Specialty Accreditation program, or Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or College of Family Physicians of Canada-accredited residency program before the start of fellowship. Proof of completion must be submitted at the start of training. 
• Board-certified or board-eligible in neurology or pediatric neurology by the start of fellowship. 
• U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Residency, or J-1 Visa Status.

• Applicants accepted to the fellowship are required to obtain an unrestricted medical license from the California Medical Board before the start of fellowship. Please note that obtaining a California medical license may take six months or more from the time of filing the application with the Medical Board in Sacramento. Candidates must apply to the California Medical Board during the summer prior to beginning the fellowship and contact the medical board periodically to make sure the application is making its way through the system.  Any offer of a position is contingent upon issuance of an unrestricted medical license by the California Medical Board. For more information on obtaining a California Medical license, please visit: Medical Board of California.

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Application Process

We have joined the National Residency Match Program (NRMP). Candidates should submit their application materials through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and their match list through NRMP. Fellowship tracks are listed in ERAS and are considered when ranking a comprehensive match list. Candidates may apply to more than one track. There may be years when one or more tracks are not listed for a Match cycle if positions are not available for that cycle. Interviews will be held during the late winter and early spring prior to NRMP rank list deadlines. 

Candidates should include in their ERAS submission:

1. Which track(s) are being applied for
2. Curriculum Vitae or Resume
3. Personal Statement
4. Three recommendation letters, one of which should be from your Neurology Residency Program Director
5. USMLE scores for parts 1, 2 and 3
6. For foreign medical school graduates, an ECFMG certificate
7. The following information must be included:
   a. Citizenship. For foreign citizens, please specify your visa status.
   b. Name of your internship hospital and type of internship 

Off-cycle candidates and candidates with an early interest in our program are encouraged to reach out with inquiries. 

Meet Our Team

Program Leadership

John Lee, MD PhD
Fellowship Director
[email protected]  

Oscar Arellano
Program Coordinator
[email protected]

Training Faculty