Neuromuscular disorders encompass diseases of the anterior horn cells, peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junction and muscles. Mayo Clinic's Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship is a two-year program of advanced training in the clinical diagnosis, management, and pathology of neuromuscular disorders. This fellowship is designed for individuals planning a career in academic neurology with a focus on neuromuscular diseases.

During the Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship, you will:

• Evaluate patients with all forms of muscle, neuromuscular junction, peripheral nerve, and anterior horn diseases
• Participate in the laboratory evaluation of patients, including electromyography (EMG), muscle and nerve pathology, and genetic tests
• Learn the indications for and interpretation of muscle and nerve biopsies
• Learn the indications for and interpretation of genetic tests and be able to provide genetic counseling
• Design treatment for people presenting with the full spectrum of neuromuscular diseases
• Design and complete a research project related to neuromuscular diseases

The emphasis of this fellowship is on acquiring special competence in the diagnosis and management of neuromuscular diseases, electromyography (EMG), and muscle and nerve biopsy interpretation. The fellowship includes a didactic course on neurophysiology, weekly EMG conferences, muscle and nerve biopsy reading sessions, muscle conferences, and peripheral nerve conferences.

You will be encouraged to initiate a clinical or basic research project. A large collection of clinical and pathological material in this fellowship has made clinical research at Mayo Clinic a strong component of the curriculum.

Upon completion of the Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship, you will be competent in the clinical evaluation of diverse neuromuscular disorders, performing EMGs, and interpreting nerve and muscle biopsies. This fellowship is designed to prepare fellows for a career in an academic neuromuscular practice.

Accreditation

The Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship at Mayo Clinic is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Certification

When you successfully complete the Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship, you will be eligible to complete the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) Neuromuscular Certification examination, the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine examination, and the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties/ Clinical Neuromuscular Pathology Certification.

Program history

The Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester follows a long tradition of Mayo Clinic's neuromuscular disorders fellowships and clinical neurophysiology fellowships. It is anticipated that two fellows will be engaged in the Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship annually and successfully complete the two-year program.