News

ACNS to Host Townhall Meetings on Proposed Fellowship Match

Driven by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN)’s efforts to standardize the timeline for Neurology fellowship and by the recognition that timelines for fellowships had become unreasonable, ACNS, the American Epilepsy Society (AES) and the American Academy of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) have been both independently and collaboratively exploring the idea of developing a match process for CNP, Epilepsy and Neuromuscular fellowship programs.

Several Neurology-based fellowships have agreed to move towards the AAN proposal. For example, Headache and Movement Disorders, as well as Sleep, Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care already have matches that are either consistent with the AAN timeline or may shift towards them.

Until recently, Neuromuscular, Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology had not agreed to move in this direction. As of this year, Neuromuscular programs have moved to a centralized application process and timeline (both being managed by the AANEM). Epilepsy programs (through an effort being led by AES) are considering options for a match process starting with the class of trainees starting in July 2023. Both the AANEM and AES have expressed interest and willingness to include interested CNP programs in their process.

Because of the complex makeup of Clinical Neurophysiology - with techniques, clinical skills and procedures, practitioners and applicant pools that cross/overlap with multiple other subspecialties (Epilepsy, Neuromuscular, Sleep, Autonomic, Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring) - this issue is especially complex. In order to ensure that CNP fellowship programs are well-represented in this process, the ACNS is undertaking the following:

  1. A survey of CNP Program Directors, designed to help gather information about the nature/makeup of CNP and related programs, current recruitment process, and views on options for matches/timelines. The survey will go out to ACGME-accredited programs via email the week of December 14.
  2. Initial CNP Program Directors Townhall Meeting on Thursday, January 21, 7:00pm ET to discuss the survey results, current state of recruitment and current efforts undertaken by AES and AANEM; and a
  3. Final CNP Program Directors Townhall Meeting on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 7:00pm ET immediately following the CNP Program Directors Symposium at the virtual ACNS Annual Meeting to reach final consensus and finalize the action course.

ACNS members and directors of ACGME-accredited CNP, Epilepsy and Neuromuscular Medicine programs will receive more information on the townhall meetings via email. If you are or know of a director at a non-accredited program that would like to participate in the meetings, please contact ACNS Executive Director Megan Hille.