NMD4C: The Neuromuscular Disease Network for Canada

In 2025, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada granted approval for the National Training Standards for the Area of Focused Competence (AFC) in Neuromuscular Medicine thanks to the work by Drs. Erin O’Ferrall and Hernan Gonorazky. The AFC recognition builds upon a physician’s certification in a primary specialty through supplemental or advanced training/practice and offers the opportunity to recognize one’s enhanced competence (i.e. what we commonly refer to as subspecialty fellowship training) with an additional Royal College credential:  DRCPSC.

This designation will help establish a national standard for training and specialist competence in Neuromuscular Medicine, support physicians in obtaining credentials that are recognized across Canada and internationally, and reduce fragmentation in training, care, and practice. By formalizing expertise in this focused area, it will also strengthen clinical capacity across the country.

With this approval, PGME offices can now apply for Royal College accreditation to offer AFC training programs in Neuromuscular Medicine that will be open to residents who have graduated from Neurology (adult or pediatric) or Physiatry residencies.

Our upcoming goal is to have 5 accredited AFC programs in Neuromuscular Medicine submit applications for accreditation to the Royal College by the end of 2026. To facilitate this goal, we will be hosting an AFC workshop at the upcoming annual NMD4C Investigator Meeting on September 25th, 2026.

If you are a neuromuscular or physiatry program director and would like to learn more or apply for accreditation, we’d like to hear from you!

Please consider attending September 25, 2026.

Register on the Event Page

• Read the Standards of Accreditation for Neuromuscular Medicine to see the program and site structural requirements.
• Review the Competency Portfolio Framework to view the clinical logs, de-identification guidelines, and milestone markers that fellows must complete.