Trainee Talk: Making the Most of Your Neuromuscular Fellowship
Published January 30, 2025
Trainee Talk
Submitted by: Michael P. Skolka, MD
As I’ve recently finished fellowship and begin reflecting on my time there, I thought I could share some advice on how one might maximize their time in fellowship. While I am not sure that there is one right way that fits all, I can share with you my thoughts on how to set yourself up for success in completing a neuromuscular fellowship.
For my background, I completed my residency in Neurology and early on in residency discovered my passion for electrodiagnostic (EDX) and neuromuscular (NM) medicine. I entered into a two year NM fellowship and sincerely enjoyed my time there. During residency, you are exposed to many different facets of your overarching specialty, but fellowship is a time to hone in on one specific area.
I would say when starting fellowship, read and learn as much as you can. There are many resources out there to learn EDX and NM medicine including some resources that are provided through the AANEM – check out the Training Program Partnership (TPP)! There are several excellent books, YouTube videos, podcasts, and even interactive training programs out there to choose from. Sample these different resources and find what works for you. Attend lectures in your subspecialty, and go to conferences. AANEM’s Annual Meeting is a great way to connect with people in this specific field, and I always learn something new when attending their annual teaching sessions.
When in clinic or the EMG lab, see and perform as many cases as you can. I think that every patient can be a learning experience. So, take a chance and push yourself. Try doing a new nerve conduction study or needle a new muscle each day. Practice your skills in ultrasound. When first learning NM ultrasound, I would ultrasound my own arm for practice while learning the location of the median nerve. Don’t be afraid to ask your seniors or faculty for help, as these people are there to assist you as needed and want to help you learn.
Search through the NM literature. The Muscle & Nerve journal is a great starting place to learn about new or growing topics in this field. If you can, identify a research mentor early on and try and find a project or topic that interests you. Researching is a great way to advance the field but also to learn and advance your own knowledge too. Then share what you’ve been researching with others, whether through presenting at a conference or publishing a paper. The medical community in general wants to know what you’ve been doing.
Last, your time in fellowship will fly by, so have fun!