DBS Fellowship Program
A comprehensive clinical training program for neurosurgeons seeking to specialize in Deep Brain Stimulation surgery, covering operative practice, patient selection, and device programming.
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a popular field in clinical neuroscience. It is preferred as a treatment option in patients with neurological and psychiatric indications. In the field of neurology, DBS is commonly used in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), essential tremor, epilepsy and dystonia, while in psychiatry it can be applied to individuals with conditions such as refractory obsessive compulsive disorders, treatment-resistant depression and Tourette syndrome. This program offers a great opportunity to gain experience by participating in the DBS programs of Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+) in the Netherlands and Atlas University Hospital in Istanbul.
Maastricht and Istanbul
MUMC+ has been performing DBS surgeries since 1999 and stands out as a center that pioneered the clinical applications of this treatment (e.g., 7T imaging in DBS for PD, DBS in Tourette syndrome and DBS in Tinnitus). In addition, MUMC+ has contributed significantly to understanding the underlying mechanisms of DBS through basic and clinical research.
Atlas University Hospital Neuromodulation Center is recognized for its academic quality and scientific research. The hospital's DBS team is one of Turkey's leading DBS teams. The team has more than 15 years of experience in DBS surgery and has published many scientific articles in this field.
Fellowship Program Content
The fellowship duration is 6 months. The program will take place three months in Maastricht and three months in Istanbul. The fellowship program includes:
- Participation in outpatient movement disorders/DBS clinics,
- Participation in the perioperative DBS program and follow-up of patients,
- One or two days per week involvement in DBS-related research.
This program will provide you with knowledge about patient selection, expectation management, perioperative process and surgical details, neurophysiological and anatomical aspects of DBS surgeries (including 7Tesla MRI images), electrical activity of basal ganglia structures, patient programming and adaptive DBS.
Applications
Applications to the fellowship program are open throughout the year. In addition to neurology and neurosurgery residents, early-career neurologists and neurosurgeons can also apply to the program. Applications will be sent by e-mail to y.temel@maastrichtuniversity.nl. The application letter to be submitted must also include a curriculum vitae.
DBS in Rare Diseases
Advanced training and case discussions on deep brain stimulation applications in Tourette syndrome, dystonia, OCD, and other rare neurological conditions.
DBS for epilepsy, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, treatment-resistant depression, and refractory tinnitus.
- Severe Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Tourette Syndrome (TS)
- Refractory Epilepsy Requiring Neuromodulation
- Treatment-Resistant Depression
- Severe Refractory Tinnitus
At our Neuromodulation Center, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is applied to patients with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Tourette syndrome (TS), refractory epilepsy requiring neuromodulation treatment, treatment-resistant depression, and severe refractory tinnitus.
Patient selection, surgical application, and postoperative programming/management processes are carried out by our multidisciplinary team consisting of neurologists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, and healthcare personnel.
Data collected from patients may be used for academic purposes in accordance with medical ethics board-approved protocols, provided patients give informed consent.
Basic and clinical studies provide evidence that DBS can provide symptom relief in selected patients with the aforementioned neurological, psychiatric, and sensory disorders. This may lead to an improvement in patients' quality of life.
The academic program for experimental indications is supported by Prof. Y. Temel (Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands).
Prof. Y. Temel – MUMC+ →Ready to discuss your case?
Send your reports before travelling to Istanbul
Share your MRI, medical reports and symptom videos on WhatsApp. Our team will review your information and guide you on whether an in-person DBS evaluation may be appropriate.
Start with a remote case review.