Pediatric Movement Disorders & Neurogenetics Fellowship

Learn more about the Boston Children’s Hospital Movement Disorders Program.

Location of the fellowship activities: Boston Children’s Hospital (primary affiliation) and Massachusetts General Hospital

Duration: 12 months (July 1 to June 30)

Prerequisites: Applicants must hold an MD or MD/PhD, must have completed a residency program in child neurology, and must be eligible for a medical license in Massachusetts. A strong interest in clinical and translational research is encouraged.

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 Boston Children’s Hospital Movement Disorders Program and select clinics within the Movement Disorders Division at 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

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 Massachusetts General Hospital. Attendance of the “Aspen Course; A Comprehensive Review of Movement Disorders for the Clinical Practitioner” and other educational activities offered through the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society are supported.

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 the Boston Children’s 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:

  • cover letter
  • personal statement (1-page)
  • curriculum vitae
  • list of publications
  • two letters of recommendation
  • copies of USMLE parts 1, 2, and 3; LMCC (if applicable); ECFMG certification (if applicable)
  • visa status (if not a citizen/permanent resident of the U.S.)

Applications should be submitted as a single PDF document to movementdisorders@childrens.harvard.edu by April 30 the year prior to starting (i.e., April 30, 2023, for the July 1, 2024, start date). Interviews will be conducted in the spring/early summer, and letters of acceptance will be issued by Sept. 1.

Selection committee