Autoimmune Neurology Fellowship
Autoimmune Neurology Fellowship
Fellowship Overview
The Autoimmune Neurology Fellowship at the University of Utah is a one-year program with an optional second year for fellows who want additional clinical or research depth. This fellowship is designed to provide the training needed to pursue a career as an academic neurologist trained in the treatment of autoimmune and paraneoplastic neurologic disease. These conditions overlap with all traditional subspecialties of neurology, allowing you to tailor your training to individual subspecialty interests within the spectrum of autoimmune neurology. You will spend time in both the Autoimmune Neurology and Neuroimmunology clinics.
This fellowship emphasizes recognition of immune-mediated neurological syndromes, diagnostics, and immunomodulatory/immunosuppressive treatments of CNS demyelinating diseases and CNS manifestations of rheumatologic disease.
At a Glance
- Length: 1 year, with an optional second year
- Training sites: Autoimmune Neurology Clinic, Neuroimmunology Clinic, University Hospital, Primary Children’s Hospital, and ARUP Laboratories
- Tracks: Clinical, research, or combined
- Focus: Autoimmune and paraneoplastic neurologic disease
- Teaching: Residents, medical students, Grand Rounds, and journal club
Opportunities During Fellowship
Research
You will be able to pursue clinical and/or research tracks, with numerous opportunities to participate in projects focused on laboratory research, translational research, and/or clinical trials.
Additionally, you are expected to:
- attend at least one national/international meeting,
- complete at least one mentored, self-driven research project,
- present one lecture to the department at Neurology Grand Rounds, and
- gain the experience necessary to competitively write for research funding.
Clinical
In addition to caring for patients with neuronal antibody-mediated disease (NMOSD, MOGAD, SPSD, AE, etc.) and related conditions, you will have exposure to:
- Neurosarcoidosis
- Autoinflammatory syndromes
- Neurologic autoimmunity in the context of immunodeficiency (often CVID)
- Post-infectious syndromes
- Neurologic complications of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI-complications)
- Central nervous system complications of systemic disease (including Sjögren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, and other rheumatologic conditions)
- Emerging therapeutics, including CAR-T therapies for autoimmune neurologic diseases
You will participate in our inpatient subspecialty consultation service offered at the University Hospital and Primary Children’s Hospital to gain exposure to the diagnosis and management of acute/severe autoimmune encephalitis and related conditions (average 3 – 6 consults/month).
Techniques used in testing for antibody-mediated disorders will be gained through experience in both the Neuroimmunology Research Laboratory and during a one-month rotation at ARUP Laboratories (located on the University of Utah campus).
ARUP Laboratories is a national clinical and anatomic pathology reference laboratory and an enterprise of the University of Utah. ARUP offers over 3,000 tests, ranging from routine screening tests to esoteric molecular and genetic assays.
Education
- Teach residents and medical students.
- Attend Grand Rounds, Autoimmune Neurology Lab Meeting, and journal club meetings (required).
- Lead the bi-monthly Neuroimmunology Neuroimaging conferences (required).
Applying for Fellowship
The fellowship application period opens each October for the next July start. Interviews are held during November and December.
Eligible applicants:
- BC/BE neurologists or individuals who have completed their ACGME-accredited neurology residency training by the fellowship start date.
- US citizen or permanent resident. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applicants who are in need of J1 visa sponsorship at this time.
Application materials must include:
- CV,
- Personal Statement, and
- 3 Letters of Recommendation.
Why Utah?
