Description of Training
There are two major goals of our Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology / Dementia Fellowship Program to improve fellows’ skills in providing clinical care and performing research. The clinical program is designed to have our fellows enhance their clinical skills by seeing patients with neurocognitive deficits from diseases, such as degenerative dementia, with our attending physicians. Our fellows also attend conferences and courses that further enhance their clinical skills. The position is accredited by the UCNS.
In general, our research program is designed to train clinicians to perform research in preparation for a primarily academic career. We have already trained about 60 individuals, most of who now hold academic positions and several who are now leaders in their fields.
Our training is done by close personal mentoring, attending conferences and classes (when needed). Usually there are three phases of research training. Fellows join in ongoing research programs, help with the development of new research programs, and ultimately develop their own-independent research programs. After leaving here, many of our former fellows have been successful in obtaining NIH K awards and other similar types of funding.
We perform neurobehavioral research in almost all cognitive domains including: memory, language, attention, emotion, conation, and motor-procedural skills.
We use a variety of methods including the study of patients with degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, fronto-temporal lobar degenerations, and Parkinson’s disease, as well as patients with other neurological disorders that affect cognition. We do use functional imaging (primarily fMRI), structural imaging, transcranial magnetic stimulation and a variety of other techniques.
Our research, in general, is hypothesis driven, but we also take advantage of “experiments of nature.”
We have over 1500 square feet of laboratory space, and all fellows are provided with a desk and computer. Our laboratories contain both standardized and experimental neuropsychological tests. We also have equipment for psychophysiological measurement, including an eye and pupil monitor. Our institution has an MRI devoted to research, as well as the EEG equipment needed for evoked potentials and other physiological studies. We have the equipment and personnel to perform transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Application for fellowship training
The following documents are required:
- Fellowship Application
- Personal Statement
- Curriculum Vitae
- 3 letters of recommendation
Please mail these documents to April King at:
Department of Neurology
University of Florida College of Medicine
HSC Box 100236
Gainesville, FL 32610-0236
The application documents can also be sent electronically to Ms. King at april.king@neurology.ufl.edu.
Consideration for an interview will be given following the receipt of application and all required documents. If you would like to obtain more information on any of our programs, please contact April King (Behavioral Neurology Fellowship Coordinator) at april.king@neurology.ufl.edu.