Advanced Practice Provider (PA/NP) Fellowship

Kimberly Robeson

Robert Wildman, M.D.
Primary Supervising Physician

 

Anna Swanson

Anna Swanson, PA-C
Program Director

 

About

The Medical University of South Carolina’s Neurology Advanced Practice Fellowship Program offers a one-year program of advanced training. The mission is to provide specialty training to Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) seeking enhancement in knowledge and skills required for practice in the field of outpatient general adult neurology, while improving patient access to care and promoting effective utilization of APPs within the department.

Specific Objectives:

  • Prepare physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (APRNs) for a career in neurology as competent members of a healthcare team, capable of providing care to patients with a wide variety of neurological concerns
  • Provide APPs with further education, specialized clinical and professional experience that distinguishes them from non-specialty trained APPs
  • Develop a broad differential diagnosis and respective diagnostic and treatment plans based on a patient’s presenting symptoms in line with evidence based and cost-effective best practices
  • Advance competence in common procedures needed in outpatient neurology clinics
  • Improve critical thinking and communication skills

Curriculum:

  • Skills check off list (exam technique, procedures)
  • Comprehensive neurological exams
  • Assess new patients in the general neurology clinic under the direct supervision of a neurologist
  • Independently provide care in general neurology patients in follow-up clinics
  • Assist APPs in sub-specialty clinics within the stroke, epilepsy, movement disorder, and neuromuscular divisions
  • Perform procedures in a weekly clinic under the direct supervision of a neurologist: (e.g. lumbar punctures)
  • Observation of sub-specialty procedures: EEG, EMG, Wada, biopsy, neurostimulator management, administration of cognitive evaluations (e.g. MMSE)

List of diagnoses we anticipate the APP fellows will become competent in treating in a general neurology setting:

  • Headache & intracranial hypertension
  • Facial pain
  • Nerve palsies
  • Aphasia/dysphagia
  • Vertigo/dizziness
  • Paresthesia
  • Multiple Sclerosis/Demyelinating disorders
  • Cognitive impairment/dementia

List of diagnoses we anticipate the APP fellows will become competent in treating through hospital discharge clinic and assisting in sub specialty clinics:

  • Movement disorders
  • Epilepsy
  • Cerebrovascular disease
  • Neuromuscular disorders

APP Fellow Supervision:

APPs provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services under the supervision of physicians. This oversight is in the form of direct supervision in the new patient clinics and indirect supervision in follow-up clinics. The Advanced Practice Registered Nurse or Physician Assistant will be assigned a Primary Supervising/Collaborating Physician employed by MUSC and will report directly to this physician. The APP Fellowship Lead will oversee the program management, competencies, and evaluations. The APP Fellowship Lead will serve as a mentor throughout the one year APP Fellowship.

Application Requirements:

  • Graduation from an ARC-PA approved PA program or an accredited APRN program 
  • SC licensure (or eligibility)
  • Basic Life Support Certification (BLS)
  • DHEC and DEA license applications should be started prior to the first day

Appointment:

APP fellows will be appointed as a staff member of MUSC-P.   
The MUSC Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship in outpatient adult neurology for fiscal year 23 begins October 3rd, 2022 and ends September 29th, 2023. Applications are due by June 15th, 2022. Interviews will take place June 2022. Applications should include your CV and a letter detailing your interest in neurology and the fellowship program. New graduates should submit a letter of recommendation from one faculty member at your PA or APRN program, and one from a physician or APP preceptor, or a physician or APP you have worked closely with in the past. APPs who are already in practice should submit a letter of recommendation from a primary or alternate supervising physician. All application materials should be sent to Anna Swanson, PA-C, APP Fellowship Lead (schmidta@musc.edu). There is no application fee.