Merz Tone Related Impairment Fellowship Application
Description:
A 1-year fellowship post-FRCPC, open to Canadian trained physiatry and neurology residents, preferably in first 1-3 years post-FRCPC or who will obtain FRCPC in dates inserted.
Goals:
- To improve knowledge, skills and education in the treatment, assessment, evaluation, and teaching skills of tone-related impairment and spasticity;
- To gain experience in clinical research;
- To be exposed and participate into spasticity management in long-term care (LTC) clinical setting.
Purpose:
The purpose of the Merz fellowship is to improve the quality of medical education in tone related disorders in Canada. The fellowship makes it possible for “new graduates”, Canadians who have been or are being considered for appointment on the continuing staff of a Canadian medical school, to acquire knowledge, techniques, and experiences in a medical centre other than their own.
Offerings:
- Funded support in the amount of $65,000. CAD
- Support to participate into Merz clinical research or IIT programs*
- Facilitated access to LTC spasticity management practice**
Committee membership:
- Chair: Thomas Miller (Western U, PMR)
- Committee members: Sarah Morrow (Western U, Neurology), Chris Boulias, (U of T, PMR), Steven McNeil (U of C, PMR), Lalith Satkunam (U of A, PMR), Rajiv Reebye (UBC, PMR), Genevieve Sirois (Laval U, PMR) and Colleen O’Connell (Fredericton U, PMR)
- Merz Therapeutics Canada (observer): Denis Vezina
Submission deadline:
- Application packages should be submitted no later than June 15, 2023
The Fellowship will allow exposure and advance expertise in the following areas:
- Pathophysiology and anatomy;
- Clinical practice in the assessment and management of tone related impairment, spasticity to include outpatient Stroke, TBI, SCI, MS, CP, NMD, etc.;
- Exposure and expertise in pharmacology, chemodenervation (toxin), surgery, phenol, Intrathecal baclofen, EMG, Ultrasound, fluoroscopy;
- Neurosurgical management of tone and pain;
- Casting, bracing and splinting modalities and physical therapies;
- Dedicated 20-30 % of time will be spent on research with a focus on tone related impairment. For example: Long-term management of stroke, outcome measures, kinematics, etc. The Fellow must complete a research project at the end of the fellowship;
- The role of chemodenervation in movement disorders and pain
- Long-term management of brain injury (Stroke, TBI, MS, CP, etc.) with emphasis on research and building a base to start their career in an academic position;
- An opportunity for approximately 1 day per week for clinical activity outside of spasticity; For example, Clinical research and/or Clinical exposure to EMG, Peripheral Nerve Injury or similar clinical exposure to enhance clinical skills as an academic Physiatrist/Neurologist;
- Exposition and participation into spasticity management in long-term care clinical setting.
Proposal:
- To begin August 1, 2023
Fellowship requirements:
- Candidates awarded the Merz Therapeutics Canadian Fellowship in Spasticity and Tone-Related Impairment will be required to submit a progress report after 6 months to the Chair and a final report (5,000 words maximum) within three months completion of the Fellowship, detailing objectives, accomplishments, papers proposed or submitted and future steps.
Inquiries:
- Any questions about the Merz Therapeutics Canadian Fellowship in Spasticity and Tone-Related Impairment should be addressed to: Committee Chair: Dr. Thomas A Miller, Western University Telephone: (519) 646-6100 #65364 eMail: tom.miller@sjhc.london.on.ca
* Pending on active clinical research program at that time and on IIT internal Merz approval
** Pending where the recipient will decide to spend their one-year stage fellowship