Education

The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Neuroimmunology Fellowship at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine provides one to two -year advanced training in the diagnosis, treatment, and clinical research of patients with immune-mediated disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). We provide excellent care to patients with MS and other neuroimmunological disorders at our dedicated MS Center of Excellence at the University of Miami, a site by the National MS Society. The center has become a nationally and internationally recognized center for expertise in patient care and research in MS. Our program emphasizes developing clinical and research skills pertaining to MS, neuroimmunologic disorders, neuromyelitis optica and related inflammatory demyelinating disorders. We offer opportunities for coursework in the design of clinical research studies, statistics, clinical epidemiology, clinical trials design, and conduct, as well as basic graduate immunology and more advanced courses in immunology.

Fellows will receive extensive training in clinical evaluations and paraclinical testing related to the diagnosis and care of these disorders in a state-of-the-art clinic that serves a culturally diverse patient population. An infusion center where patients receive intravenous drug therapies and a magnetic resonance imaging suite with 3T MRI is also available on campus. Electives in neuropsychology, physical medicine, and rehab can be arranged. There is also an opportunity to gain procedural skills to evaluate and manage baclofen pumps and botulinum toxin therapy for spasticity. There are also opportunities to work closely with the genetics department and to collaborate in research that performs multiple sclerosis blood tests is involved in developing new tests to detect multiple sclerosis activity and possible gene identifiers.

Requirements

Prior to appointment in the program, fellows must have completed an ACGME-accredited program in neurology and be eligible for a full Florida Medical license.

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted until January. Apply via application.

Curriculum

The Multiple Sclerosis curriculum entails:

• Evaluate patients in the outpatient MS Center and the inpatient hospitals
• Become proficient in all MS medications and have knowledge of clinical trails
• Become proficient in reading magnetic resonance imaging studies and other radiological studies for the evaluation of our patients
• Learn to perform intrathecal baclofen testing to determine the suitability of patients to receive a permanent baclofen pump
• Learn to use botulinum toxin in spastic muscle to relieve spasticity in muscles
• Present in Journal Clubs
• Publish articles in peer-reviewed journals
• Teach medical students and residents one-on-one or in a lecture-hall setting, and assist Neurology Chief Residents with the
• MS curriculum
• Present materials from research at local or national neurology meetings
• Fellows participate in weekly Journal Clubs and a formal curriculum on the fundamentals of clinical MS and neuroimmunology care

Educational & Other Experience: The Multiple Sclerosis fellowship program focuses on evaluating and managing Immune, Infections, and Inflammatory Demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system.

Such disorders include:

• Multiple Sclerosis
• Optic Neuritis
• Transverse Myelitis
• Neuromyelitis Optica
• Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
• CNS Sarcoidosis
• Autoimmune disorders of the central nervous system such as Lupus, Sjogren’s Syndrome
• Ongoing care for patients with Multiple Sclerosis
• Management of disorders requiring monitored infusion therapies

Research

As part of the MS team, the fellow will be involved in all MS clinical trials in the division. Currently, the division conducts 17 clinical trials in MS.  There are industry, NIH, and investigator-initiated trials. The fellow will learn clinical research and clinical trial design and actively participate as an investigator in multi-center clinical trials. As part of the training, the fellow will become familiar with the fundamentals of biostatistics and become proficient in meeting the requirements of the Institutional Review Board for protocol submission and consenting patients. The fellow will participate in a one-week research boot camp in November.

Teaching Hospitals: University of Miami Hospital, Sethi Desai Medical Center, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Program Manager