UC San Diego Headache Medicine Fellowship

Welcome to the UC San Diego Headache Medicine Fellowship, a one-year UCNS-accredited program designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in headache medicine.

We select one fellow per year, ensuring an intimate, mentorship-heavy environment where your professional growth is our primary focus.

Why Choose UC San Diego?

1. A Balanced and Supportive Journey

We believe that the best clinicians are those who have the time to reflect, learn, and recharge. Our program is built on a foundation of work-life balance, ensuring you gain elite-level expertise without burnout.

• Educational Depth: Weekly dedicated didactics and grand rounds.
• Conference Integration: We don't just encourage conference attendance; we support it. Fellows receive dedicated funding to attend major national meetings (AHS/AAN), fostering networking and professional visibility.

2. Clinical Breadth

The UC San Diego Headache Center is a tertiary referral hub, offering exposure to the full spectrum of cephalalgia and facial pain. You will gain hands-on mastery in:

• Sub-specializations including: Facial pain, neuro-otology (vestibular migraine), post-traumatic headache, integrative medicine, and headache in women (pregnancy, menstrual, etc).
• Complex Cases: Diagnosis and management of secondary headaches and CSF leak disorders.
• Advanced Procedures: Intensive training in Botox® injections, nerve blocks, trigger point injections, and sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) blocks. Fellows will also gain exposure to more advanced pain medicine treatments.

3. Your Fellowship, Your Way

No two career paths are identical. We pride ourselves on flexibility and tailoring. Whether you wish to focus more heavily on procedural mastery, sub-specialty clinics, teaching, or academic leadership, we adapt the curriculum, with built in elective time, to meet your specific clinical and professional goals.

4. Research Excellence with Protected Time

Innovation is at our core. As a fellow, you aren't just an observer; you are a contributor.

• Protected Research Time: You will have dedicated, non-clinical time to pursue your interests.
• Collaborative Innovation: Lead your own independent study or integrate into ongoing, cutting-edge clinical trials at the Headache Center.

5. Life in San Diego

Training at UCSD means your "office" is minutes away from world-class beaches, hiking trails, and a vibrant cultural scene. From the cliffs of La Jolla to the Balboa Park museums, San Diego offers a year-round outdoor lifestyle that complements our commitment to your well-being.

Connect With Our Leadership

We understand that choosing a fellowship is a significant career milestone. To help you determine if our program is the right fit for your goals, we invite prospective candidates to schedule an informal meeting with our Headache Clinic Director and Fellowship Program Director, M. Wasif Hussain (mohussain@health.ucsd.edu). Whether you have specific questions about our clinical experiences, research opportunities, or life in San Diego, we are happy to connect and provide more insight into the UCSD experience.

Wasif Hussain, MBBS, FRCPC

Associate Clinical Professor of Neurosciences

Director, UC San Diego Headache Center

Program at a Glance

• Duration: 1 Year (Option to extend on case-by-case basis).
• Positions: 1 Fellow per year, funded.
• Accreditation: UCNS.
• Location: Sorrento Valley / San Diego, CA.

Apply to the UC San Diego Headache Medicine Fellowship

Our program takes part in the NMRP national match. Further information can be found on the AHS and NMRP websites. For application requirements and information, please contact our program coordinator at headachefellowship@health.ucsd.edu.

Helpful Links:

American Headache Society: https://americanheadachesociety.org/opportunities/fellowships

UCSD Headache Center: https://health.ucsd.edu/care/neurological/headache/