Headache Assistant Editor and Leadership Program
Training the next generation of leaders in headache medicine
HALO is a two-year editorial and leadership program designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in headache medicine. Participants receive structured training in the peer-review and editorial process while actively contributing to the work of the journal Headache. Our program emphasizes leadership development through longitudinal projects that expand the impact and mission of both the Headache Journal and the American Headache Society.
We begin with introductory didactic sessions outlining the HALO program, Peer-Review, and the Editorial Process. Participants are matched with mentors on the editorial board throughout the first year for monthly meetings to guide the peer-review and editorial process as well as the development of the longitudinal project. Mentorship also includes discussion of leadership skills and career development. Starting July 1, 2026, a new cohort will join the editorial team for a two-year term, ending June 30, 2028.
How to Participate
Eligibility
Applications are open to members of the American Headache Society (AHS) who are currently enrolled in a training program. Eligible applicants include adult or pediatric residents, fellows, or postdoctoral researchers with a focus in headache research.
Expectations
Time commitment is 5-8 hours per month. Participants will be expected to attend monthly didactic lectures, manage manuscripts submitted for peer review, and to participate in a longitudinal project with their HALO cohort.
How to Apply
Applications open on Feb 1st, 2026, with the last date of submission on April 1st, 2026. Email application materials to Headache_EditorialOffice@yahoo.com.
Applicants who are accepted into the HALO program will be notified by June 1, 2026.
Required Application Materials
- Proof of AHS Trainee membership
- Your updated Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- A brief personal statement (maximum 500 words) outlining your interest in participating in the HALO program, your qualifications, and how you will manage the expected time commitment
- At least one peer-reviewed publication
- A letter of recommendation
Must Commit To
- Attend and actively participate in sessions in-person at Scottsdale Headache Symposium (December 3, 2025) and Annual Scientific Meeting (June 3, 2026).
- Attend and actively participate in virtual check-ins.
Program Support
To support participant participation, AHS will cover registration fees for both the Scottsdale Headache Symposium and the Annual Scientific Meeting. In addition, AHS will provide one night of hotel accommodation for each of these in-person meetings. Participants will be responsible for any additional travel or lodging expenses not covered by the program.
Program Committee Chairs
Amy Gelfand, MD
Editor-in-Chief
Professor of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Rashmi Halker, MD
Deputy Editor
Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona
Jenn Vallimont, MS
Executive Editor
Weedville, Pennsylvania
Patricia Arlene Olson, MD, PhD
Program Director
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
Nan Cheng, MD
Assistant Program Director
Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
Program Committee
Sarah Bobker, MD
Clinical Associate Professor, New York University Grossman School of Medicine