1.  Neurophysiology Fellowship

Piotr Olejniczak, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology
Director, Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship Program

The Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship is a one year ACGME approved residency program in clinical neurophysiology. Two main fellowship training tracks are generally offered:

1. Epilepsy and Sleep Disorders / EEG: noninvasive and invasive epilepsy monitoring, evoked potentials, and polsomnography, neuropsychological testing, Wada testing and neuroimaging (MRI, PET, EEGfMRI, and SPECT)
2. Neuromuscular Disorders / EMG: botulinum toxin injection

1. Epilepsy and Sleep Disorders / EEG Fellowship Track

The track accepts up to 3 fellows per year.

The Epilepsy and Sleep Disorders faculty include Drs. Olejniczak and Mader. Dr. Olejniczak is an Associate Professor of Neurology and diplomat of the American Boards of Psychiatry and Neurology as well as of Clinical Neurophysiology and the American Board of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Olejniczak holds the distinction of having conducted the only published research to date on the effects of vagus nerve stimulation on epileptiform activity recorded directly from the human cortex and hippocampus. His current research is on signal analysis methods for predicting seizure onset. Dr. Mader is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology and electroencephalographer whose current research involves developing improved methods of EEG computerized signal analysis. He instructs fellows in EEG and evoked potentials. Dr. Shannon McGuire is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology and the Director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Program. Dr. McGuire instructs fellows in pediatric aspects of epilepsy and pediatric EEG.

Participating facilities used during fellowship training include: LSU Baptist Epilepsy and Sleep Disorders Clinic, the Medical Center of Louisiana Epilepsy Clinic, the Medical Center of Louisiana Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratories at University Hospital and. A new epilepsy monitoring unit at West Jefferson Hospital will serve the epilepsy surgery program. Fellows learn to use a variety of recording systems including: Grass EEG Instruments (paper recording), Telefactor Digital EEG Instruments (paperless recording), XLTEK epilepsy monitoring equipment (digital EEG and digital video), Telefactor epilepsy monitoring equipment (digital EEG and digital video and videotape), Nicolet evoked potential equipment, and XLTEK evoked potential equipment.

In addition to daily reading sessions with the faculty, fellows attend a clinical neurophysiology conference, an epilepsy conference and departmental grand rounds each week. Our program philosophy is to help the fellow to develop analytical thinking in approaching problems in clinical neurophysiology. This is particularly helpful in reaching solutions in situations posing novel problems. For example, in EEG interpretation, pattern recognition is discouraged. Instead, principles of localization, the identification of information contained in co-existing signals, and retrospective signal processing are taught and applied.

Fellows who are interested are strongly encouraged to participate in research and publications. For those who desire more in-depth training a second year with further specialization is offered. Over half of our fellows have gone on to a second year of fellowship training.

Fellows interested in EMG and neuromuscular disorders are encouraged to devote a year of training to this discipline. However, fellows seeking an introduction to fellowship-level EMG typically spend the last 3 months of the year gaining part time experience. Fellows completing the Epilepsy and Sleep Disorders track who then complete the ABPN Neurology Boards are eligible to take the ABPN Added Qualification in Clinical Neurophysiology, the American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology, and the American Board of Sleep Medicine examinations.

For further information or to apply for the Epilepsy and Sleep Disorders Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship track please contact the program coordinator, Debbie Jackson at djacks2@lsuhsc.eduedu 504 568-4090. Applications require a CV and 3 letters of recommendation, preferably from your Neurology Department faculty.

2. Neuromuscular Disorders / EMG Fellowship Track

Austin J. Sumner, MD
Professor of Neurology
Director of the Neuromuscular/EMG Fellowship Program

The Neuromuscular/EMG fellowship offers one year ACGME approved clinical neurophysiology fellowship training in electromyography and neuromuscular disorders. The program is structured to provide Fellows with special expertise leading to certification by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology examination for special qualification in clinical neurophysiology. Besides being an excellent training in the field of neuromuscular disease the fellowship provides the added experience of living in the exotic city of New Orleans.

The fellowship is administered by (1) Dr. Austin J. Sumner, renowned Professor and current head of the Department of Neurology and (2) Dr. Amparo Gutierrez who is also the Residency Program Director. We are also very fortunate to be working hand in hand with Dr. David Kline, head of the Department of Neurosurgery, and Dr. Robert Tiel. Both are internationally acclaimed for their work with peripheral nerve injury.

Two competitive positions are offered each year. Special emphasis is placed on developing expertise in electromyography and nerve conduction studies. The fellows are highly trained in the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral neuropathies, neuromuscular junction disorders, myopathies and motor neuron diseases. Clinical responsibilities are limited to seeing patients with neuromuscular disorders in the Neuromuscular Clinic and the MDA Clinic two half days each week. The MDA clinic is headed by Dr. Amparo Gutierrez. This clinic offers the unique opportunity to work with the French-Canadian population here in New Orleans and Lafayette.

Laboratories where fellows actively participate include: the Electromyography laboratories of the LSU Healthcare Network (Lions Clinic) and University Hospital. Fellows directly perform EMGs and nerve conduction studies in patients of all ages each year. All equipment is state of the art and standard to ensure fellows. The most recent portable equipment was purchased in January1998 and includes the fellowship program includes weekly conferences in clinical neurophysiology that cover the essentials of EMG, EEG, evoked potentials and polysomnography. Fellows participate in a weekly clinic and have on-call responsibility for emergency EMGs. Fellows are also expected to provide daytime laboratory coverage for special studies or questions posed by the technologists.

Written examinations are given to help fellows prepare for board examination. Independent research or participation in ongoing research projects is encouraged. The fellowship faculty includes Austin Sumner, MD, Amparo Gutierrez, MD, and Leo Happel, PhD

We accept two fellows each year but may offer qualifying fellows a second year to gain further expertise in all the procedures available and, for those who are interested, to complete and publish clinical research studies. If interested, please be sure to have your letters of recommendation sent (FAX is acceptable - (504) 568-7130) as soon as possible. If you need any further specific information please call (504) 568-4081 or fax (504) 568-7130.