UCI-CHOC Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellowship Program
Contact Us
Kathryn Walton-Turner
Fellowship Program Coordinator
[email protected]
Program Leadership
Sailaja Golla, MD, FCNS
Program Director, Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellowship
Clinical Associate Professor, UCI School of Medicine
Welcome, and thank you for your interest in the University of California Irvine-CHOC Hospital (UCI-CHOC) Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellowship Program.
We’re proud to train the next generation of leaders in Neurodevelopmental Medicine in a collaborative and supportive environment.
Please click below to learn more about our fellowship, our team, and training at UCI-CHOC.
Message From the Director
Welcome to the Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellowship Program. The Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellowship at the University of California, Irvine, in partnership with Rady Children’s Health in Orange County (formerly CHOC), provides rigorous, multidisciplinary training for child neurologists dedicated to advancing their expertise in neurodevelopmental disorders. The program offers comprehensive clinical experience across pediatric neurology, developmental-behavioral pediatrics, psychology, and educational assessment, equipping fellows with an evidence-based, integrated approach to evaluating and managing neurodevelopmental conditions.
As Director, I am proud that our fellowship provides fellows with structured training in psychological testing, cognitive and behavioral assessment, and the interpretation of educational evaluations. Through this experience, fellows develop the skills needed to understand complex developmental profiles and provide thoughtful, comprehensive care. The program also offers opportunities for scholarly activity and clinical research, supporting fellows as they contribute to advancing care for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Sailaja Golla, MD, FCNS
Program Overview
The Mission of the Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellowship Program is to provide dedicated comprehensive clinical training and scholarly mentorship in neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) to graduates of a child neurology residency program, whose goal is to work with patients with NDDs across the lifespan and contribute to our continued advancement in the field.
Core Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellowship Goals:
- To be able to diagnose and manage neurodevelopmental disorders.
- To be able to provide competent transitional and longitudinal care to subjects with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
- To become familiar with other services that may be needed by patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, make referrals when appropriate, and participate in collaborative care models.
- To further knowledge of specific aspects of neurodevelopmental disorders by completing a scholarly project.
The specific goals of the training program are derived from the mission statement and are aligned with the ACGME core competencies.
Rady Children’s Health in Orange County
Rady Children’s Health in Orange County (formerly CHOC) is part of a pediatric health care system that includes two hospitals in Orange County, a hospital in San Diego, and a growing network of primary and specialty care centers spanning six counties. Uniting the trusted expertise of CHOC and Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, Rady Children’s Health builds on a combined legacy of more than a century of clinical excellence and is dedicated to advancing children’s health through leading-edge research, innovative treatments and compassionate care.
Rady Children’s Hospital in Orange is an academic, community-based hospital that serves as the main training site for the fellowship. It has 386 beds, a Level I Trauma Center, Level 4 NICU and Level 4 Pediatric Epilepsy Center. Rady Children’s Health delivers care through more than 825,000 healthcare visits annually.
For virtual tours of Rady Children’s Hospital in Orange: choc.org/about/virtual-tour
University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine and the UCI Medical Center (UCIMC)
UCI School of Medicine is ranked among the top 50 medical schools in the nation for research by U.S. News & World Report. UCI School of Medicine has 24 departments, ranging from basic science research to clinical, medical and surgical specialties, and research, clinical, and teaching. UCI School of Medicine is the sponsoring institution and serves as a primary site for basic science and translational bench research opportunities. The UCI Medical Center in Orange serves as the main clinical site for the UC Irvine School of Medicine, integrating teaching, research, and patient care.
UCI Medical Center is a 459-bed acute care hospital providing tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical, behavioral health and rehabilitation services. It is the primary teaching location for the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
Program Fast Facts
- ACGME Accredited: Yes
- Fellows per Year: 1
- Eligible Specialties: Child Neurology
- Duration: 1 year
- Required Prior Training: Child Neurology Residency
- Applicant Eligibility: U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and J‑1 visa holders
- Participates in ERAS ERAS 2026 Participating Specialties & Programs
- Does not participate in NRMP
Educational Program Information
- Train future leaders in the care of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, ADHD, motor disorders, and complex neurogenetic conditions.
- Provide interdisciplinary education across child neurology, developmental-behavioral pediatrics, psychology, psychiatry, rehabilitation, speech-language pathology, audiology, social work, and special education.
- Develop clinical expertise in both common and rare NDDs, including Fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, Rett syndrome, and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), with dedicated specialty clinic exposure.
- Strengthen foundational knowledge in neurobiology and research while supporting fellows’ participation in clinical and translational scholarship.
- Offer specialized training through the Co-Occurring Conditions Clinic, emphasizing integrated care for children with complex behavioral, psychiatric, medical, and neurologic comorbidities.
- Promote an inclusive, supportive learning environment that fosters professional growth and long-term career fulfillment.
Learn More About the Training Program
The Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center, in collaboration with UCI-RCH, supports multidisciplinary clinical and research programs dedicated to Rett syndrome, Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, and leukodystrophies. These specialty clinics provide exceptional opportunities for fellows to participate in clinical and translational research, develop fellow-driven clinical initiatives, engage in medical education, and build expertise in disability-focused care.
Fellows also receive protected time for independent scholarly and research activities, supporting meaningful contributions to the fields of neurodevelopmental biology and neurodevelopmental disorders, including Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome, and autism spectrum disorder.
Learn more about the center at Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center at CHOC.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must have:
- Completion of residency training in Child Neurology
(ACGME-, AOA-, ACGME‑I, RCPSC-, or CFPC-accredited programs preferred) - A current, unrestricted U.S. medical license
- Board certification or board eligibility through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or an equivalent board
Application Timeline
- Applications are open for the 2026–2027 fellowship year
- Interviews are conducted on a rolling, first‑come, first‑served basis once all required materials are received
How to Apply
Submit the following documents to [email protected]:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Personal Statement
- Three letters of recommendation, including one from your Neurology Residency Program Director
Please contact the Office of Graduate Medical Education
Phone: 714-456-3526
Fax: 714-456-3532
Email: [email protected]
For more information, please visit: GME Residents & Fellows Resources | UC Irvine School of Medicine
Sailaja Golla, MD, FCNS
Fellowship Program Director, Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics, Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UC Irvine School of Medicine-CHOC
Jonathan Megerian, MD, Phd
Director and Division Chief, Neurodevelopmental Medicine at Thompson Autism Center, Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Hitha Amin, MD
Rady Children’s Health, CHOC Specialists, Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
Mary Jane Pionk, MD
Rady Children’s Health, Developmental behavior Pediatrics
Aram Kim, MD
Rady Children’s Health, Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
Peter J Chung, MD
Medical director of the Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders, UCI