Training Experience

During the first few months of the PGY2 year, all incoming residents attend Boot Camp lectures led by Faculty and senior residents that are aimed to acclimate them to neurological conditions and emergencies that they may encounter in the hospital. Furthermore, junior residents take all calls with senior residents as part of a “Buddy Call” system for the first block.

We have all-encompassing noon lectures that span every subspecialty of neurology. Our lectures often times incorporate interactive neuroanatomy sessions and introductions to complex aspects of the neurological exam, stroke code management and tenecteplase administration with mock cases, and focused neuroimaging pearls. Beyond neurology, we offer formal didactics on social determinants of health, health equity, medical economics, and working with a multidisciplinary team. Our noon didactics are split into a mix of lectures led by faculty members, and board questions review sessions led by one of our senior residents. Daily lunch is provided!

Procedures: Simulation training for lumbar punctures, trigger point injections, and botox injections are part of the curriculum.

Variety is key! Our block curriculum has been meticulously designed to provide a balanced and varied exposure to both inpatient as well as outpatient neurology. For each residency year, dedicated selective rotations have been developed in various subspecialties, and those experiences are coupled with formal readings. Beyond that, there is ample elective time during each year to explore a myriad of other neurological subspecialties. Below is a typical schedule for each of the three classes.

PGY2:

8 weeks: NSUH General Neurology Consult Service
8 weeks: LIJ General Neurology Consult/Stroke Service
6 weeks: NSUH Primary General Neurology/ Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU)
8 weeks: NSUH Primary Stroke Service
4 weeks: NSUH Night Float
1 week: LIJ Night Float
2 weeks: Dedicated Neuroradiology Selective
2 weeks: Dedicated EEG reading Selective
1 week: Dedicated EMG Selective
8 weeks: Other Electives (Resident’s Choice)
4 weeks: Vacation (typically taken in
2 week blocks)

PGY3:

6 weeks: NSUH General Neurology Consult Service
6 weeks: LIJ General Neurology Consult/Stroke Service
6 weeks: NSUH Primary General Neurology/ Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU)
5 weeks: NSUH Primary Stroke Service
2 weeks: NSUH Night Float
3 weeks: LIJ Night Float
4 weeks: Pediatric Neurology
2 weeks: NSUH Neurocritical Care
2 weeks: Dedicated Headache/Pain Medicine selective
2 weeks: Dedicated Movement Disorders selective
1 week: Dedicated Neuro-IR Selective
9 weeks: Other Electives (Resident’s Choice)
4 weeks: Vacation (typically taken in 2-week blocks)

PGY4:

4 weeks: NSUH General Neurology Consult Service
4 weeks: LIJ General Neurology Consult/Stroke Service
4 weeks: NSUH Primary Stroke Service
2 weeks: LIJ Night Float
8 weeks: Pediatric Neurology
4 weeks: Psychiatry
2 weeks: NSUH Neurocritical Care
1 week: Dedicated Neuro-oncology Selective
1 week: Dedicated Neuro-rehab selective
1 week: Dedicated Outpatient Epilepsy selective
17 weeks: Other Electives (Resident’s Choice)
4 weeks: Vacation (typically taken in 2-week blocks)