Fellowship Programs in Neurology

Residents with particular clinical or research interests are encouraged to pursue specialized training for one or two years following completion of their residencies. Positions and facilities are available in the various clinical and basic science laboratories within the department and Health Sciences Center. Senior resident neurologists are aided in making arrangements for further training either at this or another institution and are urged to complete their plans early in the third year.

Prospective applicants should contact the fellowship director directly.

The directors' names on this page are links to their listings on our faculty page. There you will find an e-mail link and phone number for each director. You can also follow a link on that page to see the director's research interests.

The department sponsors fellowships in the following areas:

See also: The Neuroscience Graduate Program.

Critical Care Neuroscience

Director, Barnett R. Nathan, M.D.

The first-year fellow has primary clinical responsibilities in the neurology/neurosurgery critical care unit; one to three months of experience in other critical care areas can be arranged. Basic and clinical research opportunities are available in status epilepticus, stroke, septic encephalopathy, intracranial pressure control, and neuromuscular respiratory failure. In the second year, the fellow may pursue either basic or clinical research, or may elect EEG or EMG training for certification by the American Board of Clinical Neurophysiol-ogy or the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine.


Clinical Epilepsy/EEG/Intensive Monitoring

Director, Nathan B. Fountain, M.D.

The fellowship program is designed for a two-year experience, but one-year fellowships are considered. The fellowship is designed to prepare fellows for comprehensive diagnosis and care of patients with epilepsy. The training includes experience in clinical epileptology, clinical neurophysiology, epilepsy surgery, and research. Clinical epileptology training is centered around a large referral base of patients that are seen in outpatient epilepsy clinics at the University hospital and in outreach field clinics. Patients are cared for in the inpatient Epilepsy Unit with capabilities of intensive video/EEG monitoring of seven patients. A systematic approach to clinical neurophysiology education includes time dedicated to routine EEG, evoked potentials, and intensive video/EEG monitoring, meeting qualifications for an ACGME-accredited fellowship for board certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Added Qualifications in Neurophysiology) or by the American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology. Experience is obtained in all aspects of epilepsy surgery including stereotactic placement of depth, strip, and grid electrodes; cortical mapping; and intraoperative electrocorticography in evaluation for temporal lobectomy or tailored extratemporal resections. Clinical research experience is gained by participation in experimental drug studies as well as a faculty mentored clinical research project.

For more details, please visit see the
Epilepsy Fellowship at the University of Virginia page.

Clinical Neuropsychology (for Neuropsychologists)

Director, Carol Manning, Ph.D.

This two-year fellowship is clinically based with a focus on obtaining expertise in neurop-sychological evaluation of individuals with a broad range of neurological disease. Particular emphasis is placed on the dementia spectrum with participation in the Memory Disorders Clinic. The aim of the fellowship is to prepare the fellow to run a neuropsychological assessment laboratory in a neurological setting. Training opportunities include work in neu-ropsychological assessment, psychological assessment, therapeutic intervention, supervision, case presentation, and participation in didactics. Ample opportunities for research exist during the second year.

Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology

Director, David Geldmacher, M.D.

The curriculum for this 2 year fellowship has been designed to provide the trainee with experience in applying the fundamentals of behavioral neurology and dementia in clinical practice and research.  This will include the evaluation and management of dementia patients; the design, conduct and interpretation of pharmacotherapeutic trials; and the principles of behavioral neurologic and neuropsychological evaluation.  In addition, the trainee will be expected to develop and conduct a mentored clinical research project culminating in peer-reviewed research presentations and publications.  The goal of this curriculum is to provide the academic fundamentals, clinical exposures, and research experience necessary for an individual to become a thought leader in the field of dementia practice and research.

Experimental Epilepsy

Directors, Edward H. Bertram, M.D. and Jaideep Kapur, M.D., Ph.D.

This multi-disciplinary research program is investigating basic mechanisms of status epilepticus, epileptogenesis, and epileptic brain damage. This program also screens compounds for anticonvulsant effects in animal models of temporal lobe epilepsy and status epilepticus. Experimental animal models of different forms of epilepsy and status epilepticus are used. Research methods include in vivo and in vitro physiology, electroencephalography, autoradiography, neurochemistry, and anatomy. The fellowship involves collaboration among various laboratories. This fellowship is intended for concentrated and dedicated basic neuroscience experience, but the possibility of integrating the experience with training in clinical epileptology will be considered.

Mitochondrial Genetics/Neurodegenerative Diseases

Director, W. Davis Parker, M.D.

The major focus of this two-year fellowship is basic laboratory work in mitochondrial genetics, mitochondrial biochemistry, and mechanisms of neuronal death. A wide array of techniques are used and include tissue culture, molecular biology, and spectrophotometric/fluorescent assays of electron transport chain activities, reactive oxygen species, and calcium homeostasis. Limited clinical work with patients with dementia and movement disorders is encouraged.

Movement Disorders

Director, Madaline B. Harrison, M.D.

The Movement Disorders Program at the University of Virginia Health System is offering a two year Fellowship of clinical and research training with a focus on preparation for academic investigators. The clinical program offers experience in a broad range of movement disorders, including Parkinson's disease and related disorders, Huntington's disease, dystonia, ataxia, myoclonus, tics and gait disorders. Faculty from the program participate in multidisciplinary clinical programs for the care of patients with Parkinson's and Huntington's disease which have been recognized as Centers of Excellence by the American Parkinson's Disease Association and the Huntington's Disease Society of America. Clinical training in management of deep brain stimulation, including programming, and Botulinum toxin injection is available. There is an active clinical trials program in experimental therapeutics for Parkinson's and Huntington's disease under the auspices of both the Parkinson Study Group and the Huntington Study Group. Additional training in clinical investigation and health care research is available through the Master's Degree in Health Evaluation Sciences offered by the Department of Public Health Sciences. Educational activities include a journal club and video case conference. Research opportunities are available in both clinical and basic science related to movement disorders, though the Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, including the Morris K. Udall Center for Parkinson's research.

Neuromuscular Diseases/EMG

Director, Ted M. Burns, M.D.

This clinically based, ACGME-accredited fellowship involves intensive experience in an accredited academic EMG laboratory that is sufficient for fellows to qualify for examinations in Clinical Neurophysiology (administered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology) and in EMG (administered by the American Board of Elec-trodiagnostic Medicine). The goal of the EMG training is to train the fellow to be able to run a laboratory in an academic medical center. The fellow is responsible for running a busy Neuromuscular Consultation Service for in- and outpatients. Research is conducted in a number of areas, including the neurophysiology of neuromuscular transmission, epidemiology of neuromuscular diseases, new and innovative EMG techniques, and treatment trials in various neuromuscular diseases, including ALS and diabetic neuropathy.

Neuro-Oncology

Director, David Schiff, M.D.

The Neuro-Oncology Center offers a neuro-oncology fellowship for neurologists, neurosurgeons, and medical oncologists.  The fellowship is typically two years.  During the first year, fellows learn clinical neuro-oncology through clinics, inpatient consults, formal didactic sessions, and participation in Tumor Board.  They become versed in the conduct of clinical trials and are trained in administration of and complications of chemotherapy.  Opportunities for rotations in Radiation Oncology, Gamma Knife, Neuropathology, and the Pain/Palliative Care Service are available.  In the second year, the fellow pursues laboratory or clinical research. 

Stroke/Cerebrovascular Disease

Director, E. Clarke Haley, Jr., M.D.

During this recently accredited ACGME one or two year fellowship in cerebrovascular disease, the first year is devoted entirely to clinical research and consultation on a busy stroke service. Experience in an active noninvasive neurovascular laboratory is available. The second year is flexible with opportunities for bench research in the pathophysiology and treatment of cerebral ischemia or for training in clinical trials methodology. Stroke call is shared with stroke and critical care attendings and the two critical care fellows.

For more details, please visit see the
Stroke Fellowship at the University of Virginia  page.

Neuroscience Graduate Program

Varied opportunities for fellowship and postdoctoral study in the neurosciences are also offered in association with the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the University of Virginia. It brings together faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Medicine to provide a unified program of graduate study, which can lead to the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Neuroscience. This program combines formal coursework and substantial research experience in order to provide the training necessary for original and significant research and to offer teaching to undergraduate, graduate, and medical school students. The interests of faculty members are diverse, and students may choose from a broad spectrum of elective neuroscience-related courses provided by the program or available through various departments at the University. Fellowship stipends are in accordance with NIH postdoctoral rates.