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UF Health University of Florida
Department of Neurology College of Medicine
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Education Overview

Clinical Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Fellowship

Center Information

The UF Multiple Sclerosis Program is a unique interdisciplinary clinical-research organization based on the UF Campus in Gainesville, FL at the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases. Our MS Center was founded on the philosophy that integrated, interdisciplinary care is the most effective approach for patients with MS. The center was created with the purpose of filling a critical vacuum in patient care, research, outreach, and education in Multiple Sclerosis in Florida. The National MS Society (NMSS) estimates that over 20,000 persons with MS live in Florida. Our center offers highly coordinated, competent and accessible care to over 2,000 individuals with MS and is recognized as a Comprehensive Care Center by the NMSS. Due to our strategic location, our center is ideally located to address health disparities in the rural areas of North Florida. In addition to superb clinical care, our patients have access to the latest clinical/translational research studies, as well as the opportunity to contribute to future investigator-initiated research studies. We are currently conducting multiple MS clinical trials and also have basic and translational research collaborations within the medical school.

Meet the Team

Torge Rempe

Torge Rempe MD, PhD

Assistant Professor; William T. and Janice M. Neely Professor for Research in Multiple Sclerosis; Program Director, UF Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Fellowship; Director, UF Health Multiple Sclerosis Program
Phone: (352) 294-5400
Email: torgerempe@ufl.edu
Mailing Address:
Physical Address:
Accomplishments:
  • Kenneth M. Heilman Award for Excellence in Research
    2020 · UF Department of Neurology
  • Program Director’s Award for Academic Excellence
    2018-2020 · UF Department of Neurology
Certifications:
  • Neurology
    American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Publications:
Grants:
  • Sep 2025 ACTIVE
    Real-world experience with BRIUMVI? (ublituximab-xiiy) treated patients: a longitudinal registry study (ENABLE)
    TG THERAPEUTICS · Principal Investigator
  • Aug 2025 ACTIVE
    An Interventional, Phase 3 Extension Study to Investigate Long-Term Safety and Tolerability of Tolebrutinib in Participants with Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis, Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis or Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
    SANOFI · Principal Investigator
  • Jul 2025 ACTIVE
    An open-label, randomized, parallel group, non-inferiority study to investigate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety and tolerability of a new maintenance dosing regimen of ofatumumab, followed by extended treatment in participants with relapsing multiple sclerosis
    NOVARTIS US PHARMACEUTICALS · Principal Investigator
  • Feb 2025 ACTIVE
    Efficacy and safety of remibrutinib and participant satisfaction after switching from ocrelizumab in people living with relapsing multiple sclerosis
    NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORP · Principal Investigator
  • May 2024 ACTIVE
    A Randomized, Double-blind, Phase 3 Study Comparing Efficacy and Safety of Frexalimab (SAR441344) to Placebo in Adult Participants with Nonrelapsing Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
    SANOFI US SERVICES · Principal Investigator
  • Feb 2023 ACTIVE
    CTOA Rempe
    UNIV OF FLORIDA · Principal Investigator
  • Aug 2022 ACTIVE
    AGNOS: An 18-month, Open-label, Multi-Center Study to Assess the Effect of Ofatumumab 20mg SC Monthly in Treatment Na?ve, Very Early Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients Benchmarked Against Healthy Controls on Select Outcomes
    NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORP · Principal Investigator
  • Jun 2022 ACTIVE
    A Phase III, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo controlled, Multi center Study To Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Satralizumab as Monotherapy or in Addition to Baseline Therapy in Patients with Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease (MOGAD)
    GENENTECH INC · Principal Investigator
  • May 2022 ACTIVE
    A randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study, comparing the efficacy and safety of remibrutinib versus teriflunomide in participants with relapsing multiple sclerosis, followed by extended treatment with open-label remibrutinib
    NOVARTIS PHARMACEUTICALS CORP · Principal Investigator
  • Apr 2022 ACTIVE
    A Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, efficacy and safety study comparing SAR442168 to placebo in participants with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PERSEUS)
    SANOFI · Principal Investigator
  • Mar 2022 – Aug 2023
    A Phase 3, randomized, double-blind efficacy and safety study comparing SAR442168 to teriflunomide (Aubagio) in participants with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (GEMINI 2)
    SANOFI · Principal Investigator
  • Jan 2022 – Jun 2024
    A PHASE 3B, MULTICENTER, OPEN-LABEL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO, AND THE SAFETY OF, VACCINES IN PARTICIPANTS WITH RELAPSING FORMS OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS WHO RECEIVE ORAL OZANIMOD COMPARED TO NON-PEGYLATED INTERFERON-B OR NO DISEASE MODIFYING THERAPY
    PPD INVESTIGATOR SERVICES LLC · Principal Investigator
  • Apr 2019 ACTIVE
    TRADITIONAL VERSUS EARLY AGGRESSIVE THERAPY FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (TREAT-MS) TRIAL
    JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · Principal Investigator
  • Jul 2018 ACTIVE
    A pragmatic trial to evaluate the intermediate-term effects of early, aggressive versus escalation therapy in people with multiple sclerosis
    JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · Principal Investigator
  • Nov 2017 – Nov 2025
    CMSC has created the North American Registry for Care and Research in Multiple Sclerosis
    CONSORTIUM OF MS CENTERS · Principal Investigator
Education:
  • 2020-2021
    Fellowship, Neuroimmunology
    University of California San Diego
  • 2017-2020
    Residency, Neurology
    University of Florida
  • 2005-2012
    Medical Degree
    Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel
Full Profile
Mayra J Montalvo Perero

Mayra J Montalvo Perero MD

Assistant Professor; Associate Program Director, UF Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Fellowship; Associate Program Director, Neurology Residency Program
Phone: (352) 294-5400
Email: m.montalvoperero@ufl.edu
Mailing Address:
Physical Address:
Accomplishments:
  • Abstract merit of distinction
    2021 · American Academy of Neurology
Certifications:
  • Neurology
    American board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Publications:
Education:
  • 2020-2021
    Fellowship, Autoimmune Neurology
    Mayo Clinic
  • 2019-2020
    Fellowship, Clinical Neurophysiology
    Brown University
  • 2016-2019
    Residency, Neurology
    Brown University
  • 2010-2013
    Medical Degree
    Universidad San Francisco de Quito
  • 2006-2010
    Bachelor's of Science
    Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Full Profile
Allegra Shoulders

Allegra Shoulders

Residency/Fellowship Program Assistant
Phone: (352) 273-5550
Email: allegra.s@ufl.edu
Mailing Address:
Physical Address:
Full Profile
See the Full Team Here

Structure of the Fellowship

This is a clinical fellowship. Fellows meet with the Director individually for one-on-one evaluation and feedback once every 3-4 months. There is a formal confidential survey fellows must fill out, as well as a survey to be filled out by each of the faculty on the individual fellow. The surveys and feedback ensure that all areas are covered, fellows obtain a complete experience, and that all critical topics have been taught. Additionally, a major component of the fellowship is teaching how to build his/her own center post-graduation.

Fellows also meet with the Director every week to update clinical research projects, and receive direct mentorship on clinical skills, writing and publications. Fellows present all cases at the weekly MS meetings.

Fellowship Mentorship Committee (fellows meet with each member of the committee at least monthly for mentorship meetings)

Core Content

The Core Curriculum is broadly written, and may have applicability at several levels of training. Our fellowship program will provide access to both inpatient and outpatient experiences, within the setting of a dedicated MS clinic or rehabilitation facility, with the presence of a multidisciplinary health care team. This will provide education in the comprehensive management that is central to the care of persons with MS.

Christmas Painting 2024

Fellowship Overview

The fellowship curriculum is designed to develop expertise in the recognition, diagnosis, treatment, management, and rehabilitation of inpatients and outpatients with Multiple Sclerosis and related immune-mediated disorders of the central nervous system. The fellow will be trained in the clinical, multidisciplinary management of multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunological central nervous system disorders.

Team Variables

Program Goals

This one-year clinical Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Fellowship at the University of Florida provides advanced specialist training in the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with multiple sclerosis and related immune-mediated disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). 

ACTRIMS 2024

Multi-Disciplinary Training

During the fellowship, 20 percent of the total time will be dedicated for rotations with the different specialties involved in our center’s multidisciplinary MS treatment including neurorehabilitation, neuro ophthalmology neuropsychology, neuroradiology, rheumatology, and urology. The fellow will also receive training in botulinum toxin injections for MS-related headaches and spasticity.

CMSC 2024

Research

During the fellowship, the fellow will design and conduct a research project that can entail either retrospective chart review or a small prospective study. The fellow is expected to complete this project during the fellowship and to subsequently publish the results of this research at a national MS conference, the University of Florida College of Medicine Research Day, the Department of Neurology Grand Rounds, and a peer-reviewed journal.

ECTRIMS 2024

Health Inequities

A particular focus of the fellowship curriculum will be education in inequities in the field of MS including difficult access to healthcare and disease-modifying therapy for patients due to their socioeconomic status and ethnical background. In particular, UF’s patient population includes a large number of patients that due to their geographical location and socioeconomic status have only limited access to specialized healthcare.

Maximizing Impact for MS Community

Our fellowship is designed to lead to direct short- and long-term benefits for the MS community. Multiple sclerosis is best treated by fellowship-trained specialists experienced in the comprehensive multidisciplinary management of the disorder. Currently, there are large regions of the United States without access to specialized MS care.

Mobile Outreach Clinic

Outcomes and Evaluations

Fellows meet with the Program Director weekly to receive direct mentorship on clinical skills, writing and publications as well as to update on current projects. Furthermore, fellows will meet with program leadership individually every 3 months for a formal evaluation to discuss performance and provide constructive feedback. At that time, the fellow’s individual progress to reach the defined fellowship goals is evaluated and discussed with the fellow and documented in New Innovations.

Fellowship Locations

Outpatient:
UF Health Multiple Sclerosis Program at the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases 3009 SW Williston Road, Gainesville, FL 32608

Inpatient:
UF Health Neuromedicine Hospital 1505 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608

Length of Fellowship

One Year (July 1 – June 30)

Fellow’s Status with Accrediting or Approval Bodies

The fellowship is approved by the University of Florida Graduate Medical Education Office. The fellowship is recognized as a Non-Standard Training Program by the ACGME. Fellows will be at PGY-5 level. Prior residency training in Neurology is required to enter the fellowship, and the fellows must be board-eligible for the ABPN Neurology Board. Potential fellows may either have a permanent Florida Medical License or a temporary graduate medical education permit through the University of Florida.

Past Fellows of the Program

  • Misbah Azeem, MD – UF Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Fellow July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
  • Brinda Bhaskar, MD – UF Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Fellow July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
  • Freddy Escobar, MD – UF Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Fellow July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 – Current institution:  Orlando Health Neuroscience Institute
  • Elsa Rodriguez, MD – UF Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Fellow July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 – Current institution: Faculty, Cleveland Clinic Florida
  • Laura Snider, MD – UF Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Fellow July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 – Current institution: Faculty, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
  • Carlos Vervloet Sollero, MD – UF Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Fellow July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2020 – Current institution: Faculty, University of Rochester
  • Buse Sengul, MD – UF Multiple Sclerosis & Neuroimmunology Fellow July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019 – Current position: Neurology Residency Program Director, Memorial Neuroscience Institute

Fellowship Selection Process

The fellowship is advertised in the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) website fellowship directory, the ACTRIMS Directory of Neuroimmunology Fellowships, on our website http://mdc.mbi.ufl.edu, through emails to neurology residency program directors, by word of mouth, and announcement at national and international meetings. The fellowship is part of the Neuroimmunology & Multiple Sclerosis Fellowship SF Match Process sponsored by ACTRIMS. An online application through the SF Match Portal is required. There are additional UF GME requirements including a CV and 3 letters of recommendation. Applicants will be invited to a comprehensive interdisciplinary interview day with UF faculty and different team members of the UF Multiple Sclerosis Program. A final rank list will be created based on the ranks provided by the individual interviewers and entered for the match.

Fellowship Application

If you would like to obtain more information on any of our programs, please contact Allegra Shoulders (Neurology Fellowship Coordinator) at allegra.shoulders@neurology.ufl.edu.