DMRF Launches Clinical Fellowship Training Program

Dystonia is a multifaceted neurological disorder.  Despite advances in clinical management and research, the diagnosis of dystonia continues to be far too often delayed or missed. Treatment options have expanded with the recent approvals of new botulinum neurotoxins and deep brain stimulation, yet dystonia patients continue to report difficulties in locating physicians who know how to evaluate their individual needs and develop a treatment plan to successfully manage their dystonia. This emphasizes the need for new experts in dystonia, which can be best achieved by the availability of dedicated dystonia clinical fellowship training programs.  

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF) is pleased to offer one-year fellowships to support clinical training of exceptionally qualified physicians in preparation for their clinical and/or research career in movement disorders with a special competence in the evaluation and treatment of dystonia. The fellowship will support a training program in movement disorders with special emphasis on dystonia.  Fellowships will be awarded in the amount of $75,000 per year through a grant to the DMRF from Merz Pharmaceuticals.

The training program should focus on critical aspects of dystonia including: clinical diagnosis and evaluation, ongoing patient care and management, pharmacotherapy with a special emphasis on neurotoxin therapy, and neurosurgical interventions, such as deep brain stimulation. The training must be patient-oriented and include hands-on experience in clinics as well as participation in professional meetings and workshops. Involvement in the activities of the Dystonia Coalition (http://rarediseasesnetwork.epi.usf.edu/dystonia/) and participation in courses related to dystonia at major neurological meetings will also be required. 

ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must be board certified or board eligible in neurology, have completed a neurology residency, and hold or be able to hold an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States.  Applicants must have already been accepted into an eligible movement disorders training program.

Fellowships will only be awarded at institutions with established training programs in movement disorders that have the appropriate resources to treat dystonia and conduct clinical research.  The applicant must select a mentor at the institution with clinical expertise in dystonia, who will develop a mentorship plan for the fellow. To become eligible, an institution must provide information on their training environment, program curriculum, available resources and the amount of exposure to dystonia patients that fellows will receive.  Fellows should devote at least 20% of their time to dystonia.  This time may include both clinical work as well as clinical research projects.

Applications for the fellowship should be submitted electronically to the DMRF by November 1, 2011. For application instructions and application, please contact Jody Roosevelt at jroosevelt@dystonia-foundation.org

Each fellow will be provided with up to $75,000 award per year. Up to 10% ($7,500) of the award may be used by the fellow for approved educational and training purposes. No institutional indirect cost is allowed.

The option to continue the fellowship for a second year may be offered to outstanding candidates who wish to pursue dystonia clinical research and have demonstrated evidence of commitment during the first year of the fellowship. 

For further information and application materials please contact Jody Roosevelt at jroosevelt@dystonia-foundation.org

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