APPLICATION CYCLE FOR AY27 (07/2026 - 06/2027) IS NOW CLOSED.
We look forward to opening the AY28 application cycle in summer 2025. Please check back for additional details.
Program Leadership:
- Dr. Tanuja Chitnis, Director
- Dr. Eric Klawiter, Site Director (MGH)
The BWH/MGH MS and Neuroimmunology (MSNI) Fellowship Program (formerly known as the Partners MS Fellowship Program) is one of the most sought-after training programs in its field and has trained 16 clinical fellows since 2011 to meet the growing needs of MS and neuroimmunology patients. The MSNI Program is a hybrid program comprised of clinical and clinical research tracks offered through the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), academically affiliated with Harvard Medical School (HMS). The program has had an excellent track record of doing so, with 100% of recent graduates remaining as MS specialists. More than 80% hold academic positions in MS Centers and are currently training their own fellows. In addition, these Fellows participate in ongoing clinical research studies, both within the clinical setting and in conjunction with our affiliated research center, the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases (ARCND). Fellows are also academically credentialed through Harvard Medical School (HMS).Training is comprised of directly supervised MS patient care, exposure to multidisciplinary care, and inpatient management. To complement the in-clinic training, we have developed a comprehensive educational curriculum led by our expert faculty consisting of MS clinical case conferences, MRI review, MS seminars and clinical and research seminars focused on neuroimmunology more broadly. The infrastructure of the Program is consistent for both the clinical and clinical research tracks. Fellows completing the MSNI Fellowship Program will develop a strong knowledge base in MS pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management as well as subspecialty topics including women’s health and progressive MS. In addition, the Fellow will develop expertise in the management of NMOSD, MOGAD, and autoimmune encephalitis. Accordingly, they will understand differential diagnostic considerations and how to apply them to a particular clinical situation. The overall goal is to achieve excellence and independence in the comprehensive care of people with MS.
Clinical Fellows:
- Rotate through the Brigham MS Center at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital for 1-2 years in preparation for a career as a MS specialist.
- Training is comprised of direct supervised MS patient care, exposure to multidisciplinary care, and didactic activities.
- The clinical fellowship involves 5 supervised clinics each week and exposure to ongoing research activities at the Brigham MS Center.
- Applications for this track are managed through a match, please visit https://sfmatch.org/ for more information.
Clinical Research Fellows:
- This track involves supervised clinics in MS, NMO, and Neuroimmunology (across multiple institutions) and a focused research trajectory.
- CLIMB: Conduct research in biomarker clinical correlates and predictors of MS disease course (www.climbstudy.org). PI: Tanuja Chitnis, MD (BWH)
- Autoimmune Neurology/Neuro-Rheumatology: Clinical translational fellowship focusing on primary autoimmune neurological disorders, overlap of cancer and immunity, neurologic manifestations of systemic autoimmune disorders, and use of immunotherapy. Fellows will gain varied clinical exposure and will be expected to develop a substantive research project during the fellowship. PI: Shamik Bhattacharyya, MD (BWH)
- Neuroimmunology: NMO mouse models of toleration, MOG T-cell activation studies, TM-familial genetics, and clinical trials – acute and preventative. PI: Michael Levy, MD (MGH)
- MS Neuroimaging and Clinical Trials: Training in therapeutic clinical trial design and implementation and/or applying connectivity imaging (diffusion, resting state), tissue microstructure (myelin, axonal markers) and other novel neuroimaging techniques to MS. PI: Eric Klawiter, MD (MGH) This track is not being offered for AY27.
The program is funded by the National MS Society, Novartis, and Tiziana Life Sciences; individual fellowship funding opportunities may be applied for. This program is internally reviewed by the Mass General Brigham (MGB) Education Committee and administered by MGB Graduate Medical Education (GME). Eligible applicants will have successfully completed a residency training program in the US or Canada. Please reference the institutional policy surrounding USMLE completion for clinical trainees.
