The teaching and clinical program is structured and comprehensive. Our philosophy is to have about 50% elective time through all 3 years of neurology training so that each resident can choose a path that best meets their individual goals.
Neurology residency will begin with 3 weeks of didactic sessions to prepare you for your role as a specialist, 9 months doing various rotations and electives in adult neurology and 2 months fully dedicated to research. The nervous system is more clearly defined in the mature organism, and this year of experience will teach you to recognize the modular elements of the nervous system as they function and malfunction in adult humans. The next two years will consist of approximately 11 months leading the inpatient child neurology team, inpatient consult service, outpatient and emergency room service, neonatal service or on-call service. There will be approximately 13 months of elective and vacation time. You will see the nervous system as it matures from fetal to adult life. Metamorphosis will unfold in front of your trained eyes. Trust the process. By the second half of your final year, you will be a great child neurologist eager and ready to function independently.
Electives are available in most neurological subspecialties and are exceptionally strong: neuroradiology, EEG, EMG, epilepsy, muscle and peripheral nerve, movement disorders, stroke, neurosurgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, psychiatry, neuro-ophthalmology, neuro-otology, neuropathology, neuro-oncology, sleep medicine, genetics and developmental medicine. The Division of Neurology has specialized programs in epilepsy, headache, pseudotumor cerebri, ketogenic diet, metabolic and mitochondrial disease, tuberous sclerosis, neurofibromatosis, Fragile X syndrome, neuro-genetics, Tourette’s syndrome and movement disorders, autoimmune CNS disease, stroke, neonatal neurology, muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular disease. We are one of seven national centers with a program in neurodevelopmental disabilities and have a specialized center for autism. Accredited post-residency fellowships include Electrophysiology with emphasis in either EEG or EMG, Epilepsy, Headache, Sleep, Stroke and Neuro-Critical Care.
There are scheduled educational sessions each day of the week and one day featuring the clinical conference in child neurology. This conference presents a current patient with a difficult problem to the entire faculty for analysis and is a superb teaching opportunity. The program is large, with many faculty members eager to teach and four residents per year with whom to share experiences and call. We believe in shared governance among the faculty and the residents. All educational and resident decisions are made by the education committee which consists of several faculty members and a resident elected by the resident group. Education Committee meetings are open to all faculty and residents. Everyone has an equal voice and participates in all decisions which are generally made by consensus. The growth and well-being of our residents is one of our core missions.