Neurophysiology and Epilepsy

The Department of Neurology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer and educator. For more information about our mission to ensure a diverse and inclusive community, please visit our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Program.

Clinical Neurophysiology (CN) is an area of medicine in which selected neurological disorders are evaluated, monitored and treated using a combination of clinical assessment and electrophysiological testing. The field assesses derangements of normal physiology of the nervous system and uses electrophysiological methods to evaluate the abnormal physiological state. Fellowship trainees in CN acquire a detailed knowledge of the normal physiology and relevant anatomy of the nervous system; the normal and abnormal electrophysiology of the central and peripheral nervous system. They acquire detailed knowledge of electrophysiological testing procedures specifically related to common neurological disorders that affect the nervous system, including epilepsy, neuromuscular disease, sleep disorders, demyelinating diseases, movement disorders, degenerative diseases, conditions that alter mental function, as well as intraoperative evaluation of nervous system function.

The CN Fellowship Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center offer trainees the choice of two “majors”: EEG/Epilepsy or EMG/Neuromuscular Medicine. At the time of application, applicants select one of these two majors. The majority of their time is then devoted to acquiring extensive knowledge and expertise in that areas. In addition to their major track rotations, fellows are exposed broadly to the field of clinical neurophysiology though actual experience, formal lectures, and observation, including approximately 20% of time devoted to specific rotation in their “minor” areas.

This fellowship is accredited by the American Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the American Board of Medical Specialties, the certifying bodies for physician training in the United States. Upon successful completion of their training, fellows are eligible for Certification in the Subspecialty of Clinical Neurophysiology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Epilepsy & Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG/Epilepsy Track)

We offer ACGME fellowships in both Epilepsy & Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG/Epilepsy). Fellows receive one or two year positions which can be in the ACGME Epilepsy fellowship, or the ACGME Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG/Epilepsy) fellowship, or both. We accept pediatric and adult neurologists. The amount of time spent in pediatric and adult activities is adjusted depending on the fellow's individual goals and neurology training background.

In the Clinical Neurophysiology program, fellows acquire extensive experience in electrodiagnostic testing including electroencephalograms, long term video-EEG monitoring, evoked potentials, intraoperative monitoring, and sleep studies. The Epilepsy Fellowship includes more specific training in epilepsy, also including EEG and video-EEG but additional concentration on epilepsy surgery and clinical epilepsy.  It is preferred that fellows do two years with the first year as a clinical neurophysiology fellow and the second year as an epilepsy fellow. The Columbia Comprehensive Epilepsy Center provides all electrodiagnostic testing for NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. Fellows in training have in-depth exposure to all aspects of electrodiagnosis at the Columbia Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, as well as comprehensive care of adult and pediatric epilepsy patients, which is continuously staffed by experienced faculty. As both a tertiary care facility and the sole medical center laboratory, the center provides exposure to a wide variety of cases in multiple clinical settings including outpatient clinics, OR, inpatient monitoring unit (adult and child), neuro ICU, as well as other adult and child inpatient services. Fellows get exposure to the available electrodiagnostic testing and epilepsy care in these clinical settings on different rotations. In addition, an extensive didactic program is in place including a programmed lecture series and dedicated epilepsy/neurophysiology conferences providing 4 to 6 hours of direct didactic instruction per week.

Fellows completing the program(s) are eligible for Certification in the Subspecialty of Epilepsy and/or Clinical Neurophysiology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and for certification by the examination of the American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology.  

Clinical Neurophysiology (EMG/Neuromuscular Medicine)

Fellows in the Clinical Neurophysiology (EMG/Neuromuscular Medicine) Fellowship receive one year positions in the EMG Laboratory and in the Department of Neurology Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, in the  Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. The EMG Laboratory provides all electrodiagnostic testing for NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Fellows in training have in-depth exposure to all aspects of electrodiagnosis in the EMG lab, which is continuously staffed by experienced faculty. As both a tertiary care facility and the sole medical center laboratory, the section provides exposure to a wide variety of unusual cases, as well as substantial grounding in the electrodiagnosis of common disorders. Fellows also rotate through the neuromuscular outpatient centers and muscular dystrophy association clinic in the Neurological Institute of New York, where they learn neuromuscular diagnostic and management skills directly from our distinguished neuromuscular faculty. In addition, an extensive didactic program is also in place, which includes a programmed lecture series, dedicated neuromuscular conferences, and EMG morning report, providing 4 to 6 hours of direct didactic instruction per week.

In addition to eligibility for Certification in the Subspecialty of Clinical Neurophysiology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, fellows that successfully complete the program are eligible for certification by the examination of the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

Our program is committed to abiding by the following fellowship application process – interview offers will not be made before March 1 of the year prior to the fellowship start date. Fellowship positions will not be offered before June 1 of the year prior to the fellowship start date. Violations of this will result in removal of our institution from the AANEM Fellowship Portal. For more information about our program and the new portal system, please see: www.aanem.org/Careers/Fellowships.

Requirements and Eligibility

To apply for the fellowship, the applicant must be eligible for a New York State Medical License on the start date of the fellowship. Those applicants who have attended a non-US medical school must have completed at least one year of training in internal medicine in a GME-approved residency training program, and three years of residency training in adult neurology or two years in pediatrics and three years of child neurology training.

Apply

  • Applications are reviewed by a diverse committee.
  • Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG Track):
    For candidates looking to be begin training July 1, 2025, we will continue to participate in the Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology Match, conducted through the National Residency Matching Program® (NRMP®) and the application process will be managed through the Electronic Residency Application System® (ERAS®). The match is officially sponsored by the American Epilepsy Society (AES) with support of the American Clinical Neurophysiology Society (ACNS).
    Interested candidates should submit all documentation via ERAS. The application timeline, as well as additional information can be found on the following webpages:
    AESNET.ORG and NRMP.ORG
  • Currently Accepting Applications for the Following Tracks:
    • 1-Year Epilepsy (Pediatric)
    • 1-Year Clinical Neurophysiology (Pediatric)
    • 2-Year Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy (Adult)
    • 2-Year Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy (Pediatric)
  • Clinical Neurophysiology (EMG Track):
    For fellowship training beginning July 1, 2025, we will continue to participate in the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM ) Match. Information on how to apply through the AANEM EMG fellowship portal can be found on the following webpage:
    AANEM.ORG 
  • If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ashley Chang, Program Coordinator, at adc2193@cumc.columbia.edu.