Location of the Fellowship Activities:
Boston Children’s Hospital (primary affiliation) & Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center & Massachusetts General Hospital Duration: 12-months (July 1st 2025 – June 30th 2026)
Prerequisites:
Applicants must hold an M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. degree, must have completed a residency program in child neurology by July 2025, and must be eligible for a medical license in Massachusetts. A strong interest in clinical and translational research is encouraged.
A. Clinical Training: The goal of this clinical training program is to provide fellows with the skills to become experts in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric movement disorders, with a particular focus on genetic movement disorders. The core component of the clinical education consists of evaluating patients in the Movement Disorders Program at Boston Children’s Hospital and select clinics within the Movement Disorders Division at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Massachusetts General Hospital. Clinical activities will be overseen by faculty with sub-specialty training in Movement Disorders. The program also includes training in neurogenetics, rare disease research, precision medicine approaches, and specialized techniques and procedures for movement disorders, such as deep brain stimulation and botulinum toxin injections.
Core Competencies:
- Anatomy and pathophysiology of the motor system as it pertains to movement disorders.
- Physical examination skills to elicit the diagnosis of a movement disorder.
- Knowledge of the differential diagnoses for the various clinical presentations of genetic movement disorders.
- Knowledge of the appropriate laboratory investigations for the diagnosis of neurogenetics disorders.
- Expertise in the interpretation of genomic analyses and approaches to gene therapy, with exposure to technology. development, regulatory and safety aspects and clinical trial design.
- Expertise in counseling patients regarding penetrance, expressivity, prognosis, and recurrence risk.
- Knowledge of ethical issues regarding DNA-based and non-DNA-based genetic testing.
- Pharmacology of commonly used medications for the treatment of movement disorders.
- Therapeutic use of botulinum toxin injections.
- Pre-operative and post-operative care of patients receiving deep brain stimulation.
- Skills to evaluate the biomedical and clinical literature relevant to movement disorders and neurogenetics.
- Skills in the didactic teaching of movement disorders and neurogenetics.
- Skills to pursue an academic career in the field of pediatric movement disorders and neurogenetics.
B. Academic Core: A faculty advisor will be assigned to help guide clinical training, research and overall career development. Fellows are able to participate in the academic lectures and conferences offered at Boston Children’s Hospital and the affiliated hospitals. Attendance of the ‘International Symposium on Paediatric Movement Disorders’ and educational activities offered through the Movement Disorders Society are supported.
C. Research: Given that neurogenetic disorders are at the forefront of biomedical research, there are unique opportunities for translational and clinical research. Research and scientific training will be provided through the faculty of Movement Disorders Program. Fellows are expected to complete a research project at the intersection of clinical and translational research, and to publish and present their results to a scientific audience.
Application:
The application should consist of a cover letter, personal statement (1-page), curriculum vitae, list of publications, and two letters of recommendation (one from department chair or program director). Copies of USMLE parts 1, 2, and 3; ECFMG certification and visa status (if applicable) should be provided. Applications should be submitted as a single PDF to movementdisorders@childrens.harvard.edu by April 30, 2024. Letters of acceptance will be issued before September 01, 2024.
For more information visit: https://dme.childrenshospital.org/graduate-medical-education/movement-disorders-fellowship / https://www.childrenshospital.org/programs/movement-disorders-program/meet-our-team
Selection Committee:
D. Ebrahimi-Fakhari, MD, PhD (Director, Movement Disorders Program, BCH); C. Blackstone, MD, PhD (Chief, Movement Disorders Division, MGH); E. Barkoudah, MD (Director, Cerebral Palsy Center, BCH); A. Poduri, MD, MPH (Director, Epilepsy Genetics Program, BCH), M. Sahin, MD, PhD (Director, Translational Neuroscience Center, BCH)
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