The Spasticity Management Fellowship is a one-year fellowship opportunity offered at UT Southwestern Medical Center through the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Department. This program is for board-eligible/board-certified physicians interested in spasticity management.

The fellow will receive in-depth training on how to evaluate and treat both adults and children with spasticity issues caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and stroke while working with a team of physiatrists, neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, orthoptist/prosthetist, and psychologists. The clinical setting is a multidisciplinary facility with on-site clinics, imaging (ultrasound, X-ray, CT, and MRI), therapy gym, and surgical center.

Leadership

Fatma Gul, M.D.
Professor and Program Director

Dr. Gul is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine. She is a spasticity management specialist who has evaluated/treated adults and children with spasticity issues caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke for more than 30 years. In addition to performing botulinum toxin injections, she is an expert in managing and maintaining intrathecal baclofen pumps, which are utilized for delivering the spasticity management drug. Dr. Gul also serves as principal investigator in numerous clinical trials and is often among the first to know about new and promising treatments.

Program Goals

The goals of the fellowship program are to develop a strong foundational knowledge of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of spasticity and related sequelae. At the completion of the fellowship, it is expected that the fellow will be competent in the assessment of spasticity and related functional impairments, defining reasonable treatment goals with patients and setting appropriate expectations, communicating goals and treatment with patients, caregivers, and other members of the rehabilitation team. It is expected that the fellow will develop competence in the procedural skills related to advanced spasticity management including chemodenervation, chemoneurolysis, diagnostic selective motor nerve blocks, and intrathecal pump management. It is expected that the fellow will contribute meaningfully to a scholarly project in the area of spasticity.

Benefits

Benefit programs include medical, dental, vision, supplemental life, AD&D insurance, long-term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, and retirement. Details will be provided during the interview process. An educational stipend is available for the fellow to use for approved conferences, travel, courses, books, or board exam reimbursement.

Research

Spasticity fellows are given this opportunity to establish research interests and have protected time for research throughout the fellowship. Fellows have the opportunity to develop relationships with researchers from within the division and department.

Application Process

The following documents must be included in your application and sent to our Program Coordinator Valeria Rodela via Valeria.rodela@utsouthwerstern.edu:

• Curriculum vitae
• Letters of recommendations (3 minimum)
• USMLE/COMLEX transcripts (all steps/levels)
• Personal statement
• Photograph

Eligible candidates must have successfully completed an ACGME-accredited Physical Medicine and Rehabilitaiton Program. Candidates must be board-eligible or board-certified at the time of application.

Fellowship training dates: July 1 - June 30.