The Department of Neurology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai offers two Movement Disorders Fellowship Tracks—the fellowship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel (primarily at 14th Street), and the fellowship at The Mount Sinai Hospital (primarily at 98th Street, with added locations at Mount Sinai West and James J. Peter VA Medical Center). Fellows from both tracks share conferences and resources to ensure the depth and breadth of movement disorders faculty and rare cases.
Our Faculty
Our faculty is led by two internationally renowned movement disorder specialists and clinical researchers, Susan B. Bressman, MD, and Rachel Saunders-Pullman, MD, MPH. Other faculty members include movement disorder clinician educator, Vicki Shanker, MD, clinical trials director, Matthew Swan, MD, and other movement-disorders trained neurologists. Our multidisciplinary fellowship program includes a pediatric movement disorders expert, genetic counselors, nurse practitioners specializing in deep brain stimulation, a psychiatrist, and a neuropsychologist.
Susan B. Bressman, MD, Co-Director, Bonnie and Thomas Strauss Center for Movement Disorders
Rachel Saunders-Pullman, MD, MPH, Fellowship Director
Matthew Swan, MD, Associate Fellowship Director
Deborah Raymond, MS
Sonya Elango, MS
Clinical Experience
The movement disorder fellowship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel is a multidisciplinary program focused on personalized and intensive training in diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson disease, the atypical Parkinsonian syndromes, dystonia, tremor, Tourette syndrome and tics, myoclonus, chorea, ataxia, tardive syndromes, paroxysmal movement disorders, and functional movement disorders. Our two-year fellowship is focused on teaching exceptional patient care. More than 3,000 patients from around the globe visit our clinicians and clinician-researchers annually to address diagnostic dilemmas and therapeutic challenges. Because of our expertise in neurogenetics, as well as a depth of neurogenetics research and genetic counseling and a pediatric movement disorders specialist, we are also able to address rare disorders. In addition to training in diagnosis and treatment with oral therapeutics, fellows receive comprehensive training in chemodenervation, and deep brain stimulation therapy.
Teaching is very case-focused, and there is tremendous breadth of exposure to a range of hyperkinetic and hypokinetic movement disorders cases. We are also pleased that our Center sees all patients, regardless of insurance, in the same facility. This improves the access to care and teaching for fellows. In addition to providing patient care, fellows also attend video rounds and didactic lectures, which address integration of knowledge of genetics, pathophysiology, and clinical judgment in differential diagnosis and treatment. There are also monthly joint deep brain stimulation rounds. Fellows participate in clinical research, with an option for more in-depth training in clinical research methodology, and clinical trials (see below).
Prior fellows have received national awards from the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, the MJFF Edmund J Safra Fellowship, the American Academy of Neurology Clinical Research Fellowship, and the Empire State Clinical Research Program. Selected prior fellows and their current positions include: Michele Tagliati, MD, Cedars-Sinai; Marta San Luciano, MD, UCSF; Amanda Deligtisch, MD, University of New Mexico; Vicki Shanker,MD, Mount Sinai; Andres Deik, MD, University of Pennsylvania; Matthew Barrett, MD, University of Richmond; Matthew Swan, MD, Mount Sinai; Harini Sarva, MD, Cornell University; Jeffrey Ratliff, MD, Jefferson; Inge Meijer, MD, University of Montreal.
Research
Research is an important part of our fellowship, although the level of research involvement will vary depending on the fellows’ interest. All fellows are at a minimum exposed to genetics research and standardized examinations for Parkinson and dystonia. We encourage fellows, with faculty support, to pursue individual interests and either develop novel research or become actively involved with ongoing projects. We are involved with continuing research on various topics including the genetics and epidemiology of dystonia, Parkinson’s disease, and essential tremor.
Fellows interested in epidemiological clinical research usually have a major project, and can pursue a Master’s Degree Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. They can also hone research skills through the Epidemiology and Population Health Summer Institute at Columbia University and through online clinical trials coursework for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Clinical Trials.
For the 2021-2023 years, we aim to train at least one research clinician by focusing on Parkinson’s disease. In this role, the fellow will not only develop clinical skills in movement disorders, but will also learn clinical research methods through structured courses as well as closely mentored applied clinical research.
Fellows attend and present at Parkinson’s disease support groups and patient education lectures at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and throughout the tri-state area. If we present a research study that you have worked on, or if you receive a special award, you have additional opportunities to attend professional meetings. Our fellows have successfully competed for the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation Fellowships, American Academy of Neurology Fellowships, and the Empire Clinical Research Training Award.
Current fellows for the July 2021 academic year:
Kathryn Cooper, MD
Andrea Yoo, MD
Osama Abu-Hadid, MD
How to Apply
The Icahn School of Medicine is interested in applicants who will have completed residency training before enrolling and have satisfactorily performed an ACGME/LCME-approved training program in neurology and the GME office credentialing process. We will need to see verification of your successful completion of your residency training from the program director of that program.
As a clinical fellow, you must be licensed to practice in New York State before beginning the fellowship.
We participate in the San Francisco Match. Please also submit:
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CV
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Three original letters of recommendation
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Personal Statement
Interviews are held on Wednesdays between June and August, with opportunity to interview for The Mount Sinai Hospital track the day prior. For any questions, contact Jean Peng, MPH at 212-844-6897 or email jean.peng@mountsinai.org.