Curriculum

The primary educational goal of the Neurology Residency is to ensure upon graduation that the resident is competent to enter the unsupervised practice of general neurology, as well as to pursue fellowship training for further clinical or academic advancement. The term “competent” here refers to the satisfactory achievement of all six core competencies required of a neurologist at the end of residency training: Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, Professionalism, and Systems-Based Practice. The success of the program is measured in the clinical and academic accomplishments of its graduates. Performance on the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology is one benchmark of this success.

The success of the program is measured in the clinical and academic accomplishments of its graduates. Performance on the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology is one benchmark of this success. Each year, the overall quality and effectiveness of the residency program is assessed, which can result in changes to the structure of the rotations, conferences and overall academic program. Resident feedback and performance is heavily weighted in the decision-making process to enrich the program.

Neurology Resident Conferences

Neurology Residents Didactic Course
The residents’ didactic course is held every other Wednesday. In addition to topics such as neuroanatomy and neuroradiology, most of the course is disease-based, with lecture modules on the basic sciences of cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy, dementia, demyelinating disease, movement disorders, neuromuscular disease, pediatric neurology, and neuro-oncology. The emphasis is on the basic sciences that underlie clinical neurology, including the genetics, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and anatomy of disease.

Continuum Reading Series
The American Academy of Neurology publishes the Continuum, a self-study continuing education publication. The Continuum Reading Series was developed to foster life-long learning and continued professional development. For each of the sixteen sessions, the chairman and residents read articles and come prepared for discussion. Over the course of the 3 year program, residents will have reviewed 12 core topics in neurology.

Chairman’s Rounds
Neurology Chairman’s Rounds are held every Thursday at noon. The general neurology service senior is responsible for making sure a case is available.

Grand Rounds
Held every Tuesday morning from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., the conference features guest speakers from various neurology disciplines.

Neuroradiology Conference
Held twice a month, group discussion focuses on presenting interesting patients from the inpatient services.

Neuropathology Conference
Held once a month, a PGY 3 resident presents pathology cases in collaboration with the director.

Residents’ Ambulatory Conference
The goal of this conference is to broaden the residents’ exposure to the case material seen in the residents’ continuity clinic, and to increase the residents’ knowledge base about syndromes that usually present in the outpatient setting. This is accomplished by having a resident present a (common or unusual) case that they saw in the clinic, followed by a presentation about the topic, including the diagnosis, work up and management of these syndromes. Each resident is expected to present at least two times a year. The conference is held every Tuesday at noon.

Pediatric Neurology Conference
Cases are presented by residents on the pediatric neurology service. During the 3-month rotation, PGY 3 residents are expected to give three case presentations.

Journal Club
Each year, residents are assigned to direct one journal club, select the article and lead the discussion. The article should be chosen from the neurologic literature from within the past six months.

Morbidity and Mortality Conference
Cases are presented and discussed quarterly.

Cerebrovascular Conference
Each Friday at noon, active cases from Rush and Cook County are reviewed. Attendance is required of residents on the stroke service.

Neurorehabilitation Conference
The Neurorehabilitation conference is held on Mondays at 3:30 pm in the 8-Kellogg conference room. The purpose of this conference is to coordinate care of inpatients with multi-disciplinary rehabilitation services and serve as an opportunity for teaching between the involved specialists. Only residents on the General, Stroke, and NSICU teams are required to attend.

Neurology Resident Sample Rotation Schedule

PGY 2
General Neurology Service: 1-2 months
Epilepsy/MS Service: 1-2 months
Stroke Service: 1-2 months
Stroger Hospital of Cook County: 1-2 months
Neurocritical Care Service: 2 months
Movement/Vac: 1 month
Nightfloat: 2 months (2-wk blocks)
Outpatient Subspecialty Clinic: 1 month
Continuity Clinic – ½ day each week

PGY 3
EEG: 1 month
EMG: 1 month
Elective: 1-2 months
Neuropathology: 2 weeks
Neuroradiology: 2 weeks
Pediatric Neurology: 3 months
General Neurology Service: 1 month
Epilepsy/MS Service: 1 month
Stroke Service: 1 month
Neurocritical Care Service: 1 month
Stroger Hospital of Cook County: 1 month
Continuity Clinic – ½ day each week

PGY 4
Elective: 5 months
Movement Disorders: 1 month
Neuromuscular/EMG: 1 month
Psychiatry: 1 month
General Neurology Service: 1 month
Epilepsy/MS Service: 1 month
Stroke Service: 1 month
Stroger Hospital of Cook County: 1 month
Continuity Clinic – ½ day each week