Neuroimmunology/MS Fellowship

Program Director: John R. Corboy, M.D.

Associate Program Director: Robert H. Gross, M.D.

 ​Goals of Fellowship Training in the Care of MS and other Neuroimmunological Conditions

(1) To develop a comprehensive knowledge base encompassing basic science and clinical aspects of MS and other neuroimmunological conditions of the central and peripheral nervous system,
(2) To become familiar with principles of comprehensive management of persons with MS and other neuroimmunological conditions,
(3) To be a resource for information about current research directions and clinical trials in MS including education of patients, colleagues, and other trainees at multiple levels in various disciplines,
(4) To become familiar with and participate in clinical research, including clinical trials.

At the end of the fellowship year, with regard to the diagnosis and care of those with neuroimmunological conditions, the fellow should be able to: recognize common and unusual presentations and manifestations of neuroimmunological conditions; generate a differential diagnosis of conditions that may have similar clinical presentations to MS and other neuroimmunological conditions; describe the basic immunopathophysiology of MS and other neuroimmunological conditions; discuss sensitivities, specificities and indications for paraclinical tests that are used to help establish (or rule out) a diagnosis of MS and other neuroimmunological conditions; directly and personally review and interpret results of paraclinical tests, especially MRI scans and CSF examinations; manage primary, secondary and tertiary symptoms of MS and other neuroimmunological conditions, and treat acute attacks, including management of baclofen pumps; prescribe treatment of MS with disease modifying agents, including use of immunosuppressive medications and management of their complications; lead the health care team in the rehabilitative approach to caring for persons with MS and other neuroimmunological conditions; and serve as an expert consultant for questions of complicated management issues in persons with MS and other neuroimmunological conditions. The latter will include: giving coherent didactic and other presentations to a variety of health care professionals; designing innovative treatment approaches utilizing neurologic and rehabilitative strategies; interpreting and understand basic and clinical research approaches in MS and other neuroimmunological conditions; understanding and performing outcome measures in clinical MS studies; providing a critical review of current literature regarding research and clinical trials in MS and other neuroimmunological conditions; and implementing clinical research in an MS or MS-related area.

Training Curriculum in Multiple Sclerosis

University of Colorado offers a 1- to 2- year post-residency clinical fellowship in multiple sclerosis (MS) and related neuroimmunological disorders. Over the course of the fellowship, fellows participate in training at multiple locations and different venues. Training occurs at the University of Colorado Hospital Anschutz Outpatient Pavilion (AOP) and Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion (AIP) in Aurora, CO; the Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Administration Medical Center (RMR VAMC) in Aurora, CO; and the Neurology Clinic at the Denver Health Medical Center (DHMC) in Denver, CO. At the AOP, fellows see patients in clinics supervised by recognized experts in MS and other neuroimmunological conditions, neuro-urology, neuro-ophthalmology, neuro-otology, and rehabilitation medicine, and may attend behavioral neurology, neuro-infectious disease, and palliative neurology clinics according to their clinical interests. Fellows participate in various clinical or research opportunities at the AOP. At RMR VAMC, there is MS clinic every Monday morning. At DHMC, there are two afternoon clinics per month dedicated to MS patients. 

In general, it is expected that fellows spend ~65% time seeing patients and 35% time divided between clinical research, academic projects, and studying various aspects of MS and other neuroimmunological conditions. Fellows interact with the physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and support staff at all locations, including fellowship-trained experts in the subspecialty areas. Fellows typically attend the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting and/or at least one MS-specific national or international conference. Fellows lead group meetings at our monthly Interesting Case Conferences and Education Meetings. Fellows are expected to give a Neurology Department Grand Rounds presentation at the end of the year. Fellows take call on a Neuroinflammatory inpatient consultative service approximately 6 weeks out of the year. Training in different procedural techniques may include lumbar punctures, baclofen pump refills and programming, and Botox injections. Fellows may participate in community outreach or educational activities sponsored by our non-profit partner the Rocky Mountain MS Center (mscenter.org) including Conversations on MS, Spring and Fall Education Summits, Webinars, InforMS magazine, and eMS News. Fellows’ performance will be reviewed by supervising faculty on a regular basis, and fellows will meet with Program Directors semi-annually for evaluation.

Methods of Evaluation

Fellows will be reviewed by all the physicians and practitioners who help train them on a monthly basis. Fellows should be able to sit for an examination which will assess their knowledge of basic science principles and clinical care of MS, such as that sponsored by the Consortium of MS Centers. Practitioners should be eligible to take a shorter more clinically based examination for which they may receive CME credit.

Primary Faculty

John R. Corboy, MD. . . . . . . . . . . . MS, other Neuroimmunological conditions
Robert H. Gross, MD, MSCR. . . . .  MS, other Neuroimmunological conditions
Jeffrey Bennett, MD, PhD. . . . . . .  Neuro-Ophthalmology, MS, NMO, other NI conditions
Enrique Alvarez, MD, PhD. . . . . . . MS, other Neuroimmunological conditions
Teri Schreiner, MD. . . . . . . . . . . . . Pediatric MS, other Neuroimmunological conditions
Ryan Kammeyer, MD. . . . . . . . . . . Pediatric MS, other Neuroimmunological conditions
Amanda Piquet, MD . . . . . . . . . . .  Autoimmune Neurology, MS, other NI conditions
Anna Shah, MD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MS, other Neuroimmunological conditions
Justin Honce, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neuro-Radiology
Dan Wood, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neuro-Urology
Janine Oliver, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Neuro-Urology
Mark Mañago, DPT, PhD. . . . . . . . . Neuro-Rehab

Fellowship positions