Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship

Program Overview

The ACGME-accredited UCSD Neuromuscular Medicine Program is a one-year clinical fellowship providing excellent training in the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular diseases. Currently there is one fellowship position per year.

Training Sites

• Jacobs Medical Center at UC San Diego Health
• UC San Diego Medical Center - Hillcrest Hospital
• Rady Children's Hospital

Clinical Training

The muscle/nerve disease clinics (child and adult MDA clinics) and ALS clinics at UCSD use an interdisciplinary approach involving neurology, pulmonology, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, occupational therapy, genetics, social work, nursing and support staff from MDA and ALSA. Fellows are trained in the nuisances of neuromuscular care for children and adults with equal emphasis in both as the medications and standards of care aspects often disseminate across age groups. Fellows become adept in neuropathology, genetics, immunology, muscle and nerve biopsies, genetic therapeutic modalities, rehabilitation, electrodiagnostic studies, genetic testing techniques, and billing. The fellow also receives additional training in autonomics, ultrasound, and polysomnography. We have robust inpatient pediatric and adult neuromuscular consultation and EMG services. Fellows take primary responsibility for the care and management of neuromuscular patients and will work in conjunction with the Neurophysiology EMG track fellow. We have designed the fellowship to provide all the skills necessary to ensure career success in either an academic or private practice setting.

This ACGME-approved fellowship prepares fellows to obtain ABPN board certification in Neuromuscular Medicine and ABEM board certification in EMG.

Conferences

Fellows will also attend and present at 2 conferences per year:

1. Carrell-Krusen Neuromuscular Symposium in Dallas, Texas
2. University of California, Irvine Neuromuscular Colloquium in Newport Beach, California

Research

Fellows are expected to complete a clinical or QI project by the time they complete their training (1 year). These projects typically are presented during the above mentioned conference venues. Fellows are encouraged to pursue additional neuromuscular research based on their interests with the aim of publication or presentation. There are also opportunities to participate in clinical trials. An additional year of training in ALS translational research is available at UCSD and further information is available at ALS Fellowship.

Didactics

Rigorous and dynamic didactics occur one half day per week. During these sessions, attendings from various subspecialties and the fellows will participate in presenting lectures to the group.

Weekly didactic session topics include:

1. EMG/NCS and/or muscle ultrasound topic and analysis review
2. Neuromuscular topics
3. Interesting case conference
4. Nerve and muscle pathology reading review

Monthly conference sessions include:

1. Neuromuscular Journal Club
2. Neuropathology slide review

Calendar- UCSD Neuromuscular Medicine (PDF)

Training Faculty

• Chamindra Laverty, MD - Clinical Professor of Neurosciences
• Carolyn Vergara - Fellowship Program Coordinator
• John Ravits, MD - ALS/Neuromuscular
• Dominic Ferrey, MD - Neuromuscular
• Betul Gundogdu, MD - Neuromuscular
• Denise Malicki, MD PhD - Neuropathology
• Jeremy Orr, MD - Pulmonary/Sleep
• Andrew Skalsky, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Daniel Lesser, MD - Pulmonary/Sleep
• Wali Qayoumi, MD - Neuromuscular
• Gaurav Chenji, MD, MS - Associate Physician Diplomate, Neurosciences
• Marie Sweat, MD - Assistant Clinical Professor, Neurosciences

Requirements

Applicants must have:

1. Completed a U.S. Residency in Neurology or Pediatric Neurology
2. U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Residency, or J-1 Visa Status

Applicants who are accepted to the fellowship are also required to obtain a California Medical License prior to start of fellowship. 

How to Apply

Applications are being accepted for the 2026-2027 fellowship training program. You will need the following:

1. Personal statement
2. Current CV
3. Three Letter of Recommendation
4. Step 1, 2, and 3 board scores.

Please visit the AANEM Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship Portal for participating fellowship centers and rules for applying to our fellowship. 

• Applicant Timeline
  • January 1, 2025: Begin uploading your required application documents on the AANEM Fellowship Match Portal and request Letters of Recommendation. You may apply for our fellowship positions at this time, but we will not see your application until March 1 (there is no advantage to applying before February 28). 
  • March 1, 2025: We will receive all previously submitted applications on this date. 
  • March - May 2025: We will conduct interviews (virtually) with select candidates on a rolling basis. 
  • May 27, 2025: Deadline for applicants and programs to submit their preferred rank order list. 
  • June 2, 2025: Match results will be released to both programs and applicants at 11AM CDT.

For questions about our fellowship, please email: 

Carolyn Vergara, Fellowship Coordinator
cvergara@health.ucsd.edu