Press and Media

Thank you for your coverage of the AANEM Annual Meeting. Please join us at the 2025 AANEM Annual Meeting, being held Oct.29-Nov. 1 in San Francisco, California. Journalists covering the annual meeting and posting stories on social media channels are encouraged to use the official meeting hashtag #AANEMinSanFran.
Please review the Abstract Embargo Policy. For questions regarding AANEM Annual Meeting policies, please email communications@aanem.org.

View the latest AANEM Achievement Award winners, the American Neuromuscular Foundation (ANF) Abstract Award winners, and the latest AANEM news articles on News Express.

Inside the Match — An Applicant’s Experience Using the AANEM Fellowship Match Portal

Feb 12, 2025, 13:15 by Allie Happel (Admin)
Hear from Amber Vocelle, DO, PhD, Member of the AANEM Young Leadership Council, on her experience as an applicant in the AANEM Fellowship Match Portal.
Submitted by: Amber Vocelle, DO, PhD, Member of the AANEM Young Leadership Council

Are you considering a fellowship in neuromuscular (NM) medicine? Are you not sure where to get started or are you looking for more information about the match process itself?

NM Fellowship training frequently occurs over one year, although some programs are two years. Many programs also offer an additional year for research and additional training if desired. Most programs are ACGME accredited; accreditation status is listed on each program’s portal page.

Who is eligible to apply for a NM fellowship?
Individuals who have completed/will have completed a neurology or physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) residency. However, not all programs are open to PM&R residents (approximately 44 of the 60 programs listed allow PM&R residents to apply).

How and when do I apply?
All NM programs have agreed to take part in the AANEM NM match. The AANEM NM (and clinical neurophysiology) fellowship portals include participating program information, application requirements, and should be utilized to submit application materials and communicate with programs during the application process. To assess the portal and submit materials, you may need to log into the portal even if you are logged into the main AANEM webpage.

Programs update their program material each year by October 1. Applicants can begin submitting materials Jan. 1, and applications are released to programs March 1. The match occurs the first week of June. Exact dates for deadlines can be found on the AANEM website. If you are planning to start fellowship immediately after residency, you should apply in the winter of your PGY-3 year.

What materials do I need to apply? 

  • AANEM application
  • COMLEX/USMLE score reports
  • Personal statement
  • CV
  • Letters of recommendation (most programs request 3)
How much does it cost to apply?
There is no cost for residents to apply to programs using the AANEM portal. 

How easy is the application and submission process?

The website and portal are easy to find at: AANEM Fellowship Match Portal. The application itself is very straightforward (4 pages with basic information including education and experience). However, some of the search filters in the portal are less intuitive. If you need help, you can reach out to aanem@aanem.org.

Search Filters

Patient type: All, adult, pediatric.
If you choose adult, all programs that include pediatrics exposure will be excluded from the search. This will include adult programs that include a pediatric rotation.
Specialty: All, Neurology, PM&R.

Note: ACGME accreditation status is usually noted under each program’s name in the program list when you enter the portal.

Things I wish I had known

Match communication should go through the portal site. However, some coordinators are still learning the process, so you may receive communication through your primary or secondary listed email.

Combine all your board reports into a single pdf to submit. You can only upload one file for this category.

Although you cannot submit a program-specific personal statement, you can submit cover letters to specific programs. Information about submitting a cover letter does not appear until you are ready to start submitting your application packet to a program.

How many programs should I apply to? How many programs should I rank to match?

NM fellowship is often thought of as less competitive than some other subspecialties as there are more positions than applicants. Over 90% of applicants match, and in recent years, nearly 2/3 match into their number one program. However, many programs accept 1-2 fellows and thus a specific fellowship position is not guaranteed. As one might expect, individuals who rank fewer programs are more likely to be among the 10 % of unmatched applicants at the end of the cycle. From 2021-2023, applicants who ranked 5 or more programs had a >95% chance of matching into a fellowship program.

Interviewing and the Match

Interview scheduling is easy and flexible. Programs are excited to interview applicants and, in my experience, quick to rectify any scheduling issues that arise during the process. Submitting the applicant rank list is easy and intuitive.

Last Thoughts

Not only is the fellowship match process relatively straightforward, it is a great opportunity to meet others with similar interests and career goals. If you have an interest in NM medicine, or are trying to decide, consider learning more on the AANEM website and check out the match portal for specific program information.   

Questions? Check out the frequently asked questions below or contact communications@aanem.org

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will be content of abstracts be viewable, as opposed to just the titles?
A: The abstract content will be available at the annual meeting during the Poster Hall hours. We do not provide abstract presenter information or slides ahead of time. All available information can be found in the AANEM Abstract Guide online when it becomes available.

Q: How do I reach out to abstract or session presenters for an interview?
A:
 We do not offer member contact information. To connect with abstract or session presenters, review the AANEM Annual Meeting Program when available. Find the topics of interest and connect with the presenter after their lecture or during their abstract poster session time. Currently there is no interview option for virtual attendees.

Q: When can I share information?
A: The embargo on the abstracts themselves is lifted when they have been published in Muscle & Nerve and online in the AANEM Abstract Guide. However, the additional information beyond what is in the abstract itself is still embargoed. 

AANEM requires information that goes beyond that which is contained within the abstract, e.g., the release of data not included in the abstract, discussion of the abstract done as part of a scientific presentation, etc. to be embargoed until the start of the annual meeting. Please see the Abstract Embargo Policy.

Q: Will the Abstract Award Reception feature the best posters? 
A: The Abstract Award Reception is a social hour in honor of the abstract award winners where all authors, including award winners, will be available to discuss research. 

Q: Original research is ONLY presented as posters, correct?
A: Yes - the research is presented in the Poster Hall via abstract posters.