VA Fellowships for Multiple Sclerosis
The VA's fellowship programs develop leaders with the vision, knowledge, and commitment to health care, research, and education related to MS. VA facilities treat around 15,000 Veterans each year with this chronic inflammatory disease of the brain and spinal cord. Over 70% of these Veterans receive disability compensation for MS, making this an important neurological condition affecting Veterans.
Learn about our current and past fellows on our Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence Fellows page.
VA Office of Academic Affiliations Physician Fellowship
The physician fellowship program in MS provides two years (possible third year extension) of post-residency research, education, and clinical learning opportunities to eligible physicians. Fellows spend approximately 75% of their time in research and education and 25% in clinical care at participating VA sites. Mentors of national stature provide guidance to fellows in rich learning environments. Graduates are expected to be role models in leading, developing, conducting, and evaluating innovative research, education, and clinical care in the fields related to MS.
Eligible physicians must have graduated from an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Council on Osteopathic Postgraduate Training (COPT)-accredited residency; be board certified or board eligible in a discipline such as neurology, internal medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, or spinal cord medicine; and have an active, unrestricted U.S. medical license. They must desire to be health care leaders in MS related fields in the 21st century. International medical graduates must also have a current visa to participate in the program and an Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate that is valid indefinitely. The participant cannot be simultaneously enrolled in an ACGME or AOA COPT-accredited program while participating in the VA Advanced Fellowship. The stipend for participants will be based on the years of previously completed accredited residency training (PGY-level) and on index rates approved at the affiliated university and the respective MS Center of Excellence.
Interested physicians should contact the site of their choice, providing a resume and statement of interest. SFMatch is utilized for applications and recruitment.
Baltimore, MD
Fellowship Director: Daniel Harrison, MD
Fellowship Coordinator: Angela Young, MBA
VA Facility: VA Maryland HCS, Baltimore VA Medical Center
University Affiliate: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Research Focus: Clinical trials of disease modifying agents, neuroimaging, symptomatic therapies and rehabilitation, and laboratory research on neuroimmunology and neuroprotection.
Portland, OR
Fellowship Director: Vijayshree Yadav, MD, MCR, FANA, FAAN
Fellowship Coordinator: Jaimie Henry, MPA
VA Facility: VA Portland Health Care System, Portland VA Medical Center
University Affiliate: Oregon Health and Science University
Research Focus: MS wellness, rehabilitation and symptomatic therapies, and progressive MS.
Portland Fellowship Overview
Seattle, WA
Fellowship Director: Jodie Haselkorn, MD, MPH
Administrative Specialist: Lani Pitofsky
VA Facility: VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle Division
University Affiliate: University of Washington
Research Focus: Physical medicine and rehabilitation medicine, symptomatic treatment, and wellness.
Seattle Collaborative Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Rehabilitation Research
The Seattle Collaborative Fellowship, funded by the National MS Society, is a mentor-based postdoctoral fellowship program in MS rehabilitation research based upon a partnership of MSCoE-West and the University of Washington Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. The primary aim of the fellowship is to recruit new investigators and provide them with the knowledge and skills to serve as successful independent researchers in the field of MS rehabilitation research. Fellows are enrolled for a period of 1 to 3 years depending upon experience and interests. The fellowship is highly flexible and trainee based. Fellows may provide clinical care up to 1 day per week in multiple settings (UW Medicine MS Center, VA Puget Sound HCS) depending on their training goals.
Seattle, WA
Fellowship Director: Aaron Turner, PhD, ABPP (RP)
VA Facility: VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle Division
University Affiliate: University of Washington
