Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellowship Launches at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
A new fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is offering child neurologists a rare opportunity for advanced subspecialty training in neurodevelopmental disabilities.
The Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD) Fellowship at CHLA is one of just two newly launched programs in the nation. The 12-month program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
CHLA’s inaugural NDD fellow started in July 2024. The program is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 year.
“Approximately 17% of children have neurodevelopmental disabilities, but child neurology training programs don’t focus on interdisciplinary clinical management of these disabilities across developmental stages,” says Shafali Spurling Jeste, MD, Chief of Neurology and Program Director of the Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “This program helps to fill that gap, with a specific focus on longitudinal clinical management, advocacy, and research.”
Expanding specialty training
ACGME began offering one-year NDD fellowships in 2024. Previously, there were no such fellowships anywhere in the country.
That meant the only opportunity for advanced training in this area was to complete a six-year NDD residency program, which combines pediatrics, child neurology, and neurodevelopmental disabilities training.
But that residency takes place right after medical school—requiring new graduates to choose this subspecialty before even becoming a child neurologist. And there are only eight of those residency programs in the U.S. None are in California.
“There have been very limited opportunities to subspecialize in neurodevelopmental disabilities,” says Taryn Liu, DO, MPH, MS, a pediatric neurologist at CHLA and this year’s inaugural NDD fellow. “That has led to a real lack of child neurologists who have these skills.”
Interdisciplinary training
The Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellowship at CHLA will select one fellow per year. Candidates must be Board-certified or Board-eligible in child neurology and have completed 24 months of pediatric residency training and 36 months of child neurology training.
Fellows will learn to evaluate, diagnose, and manage complex neurodevelopmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, and ADHD. The program includes:
- Interdisciplinary collaborations with various subspecialties at CHLA
- Fellow-driven clinical projects, research, and disability advocacy
- Protected time for independent research
- Opportunities to rotate through Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Neurogenetics, Neuroradiology, Neurosurgery, and more
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is an ideal place for this NDD training. Ranked in the top 10 in the nation on the U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll for Best Children’s Hospitals, CHLA is home to the premier pediatric neurological program on the West Coast.
Dr. Jeste, who is also Co-Director of the Neurological Institute at CHLA, is a prolific researcher whose lab—Kids with Neurogenetic and Developmental Disabilities (KiNDD)—has defined early predictors of autism in at-risk infants, as well as biomarkers and clinical endpoints for trials in genetic neurodevelopmental disorders.
In addition, CHLA houses multidisciplinary clinics and research studies in Rett syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Dup 15q syndrome, neurofibromatosis, and tuberous sclerosis complex.
“Through this fellowship, we hope to expand the number of child neurologists who are experienced in caring for children with these complex disabilities,” says Dr. Jeste. “Our goal is to be able to help more children and families meet their potential and live their best possible lives.”
How to apply
To apply for the 2026-2027 NDD Fellowship at CHLA, send your CV, personal statement, and at least three letters of recommendation to NDDFellowship@chla.usc.edu.
