Resident Education

The resident didactic sessions are an area of continuous revision and improvement with direct contributions from our residents as well as with dedicated work from our two Education Chief Residents. . All major topics in neurology are covered in these conferences, including subspeciality “blocks” through the year, and longitudinal sessions throughout the year in neuro-radiology, neuro-pathology, anatomy and in other areas.

Neurology Basics: Every Thursday at noon, the PGY2 residents are provided with dedicated teaching on introductory topics in neurology. The focus is on the fundamentals, and the intent is to build a foundation on which more advanced knowledge can be built. Faculty lead these sessions, and the experience is capped with a review of a selection of board-style multiple choice questions.

Advanced Neurology Topics: Every Tuesday at noon, advanced topics are presented by faculty, and the intended audience are members of the PGY-3 and PGY-4 classes. These topics include advanced subspecialty topics and controversies in treatment. Again, each session is capped with a review of a selection of board-style multiple choice questions.

Neurophysiology: Residents have interactive conferences in neurophysiology at least twice a month throughout the year. Topics include basic and advanced EEG, continuous and quantitative EEG, nerve conduction studies, EMG, repetitive nerve stimulation, and evoked potentials. Residents are led by subspecialty faculty members and fellows, and are based on clinical cases.

Selected Topics: Other topics during noon conference include:

• Neuropathology
• Neuroradiology
• Neuroanatomy
• Chief Rounds: Case-based discussions led by residents and discussed with the service chiefs of each division.
• Journal Club (resident led)
• Fundamentals of teaching
• Neuro-Ophthalmology
• RITE Review Sessions

Morning Report: Each session focuses on a single clinical case, presented by a member of the consultation team. The focus is on clinical reasoning, and these sessions are led by senior clinicians in the department on a rotating schedule.

Wellness Sessions: Once monthly, the junior classes (PGY2 and PGY3) meet individually with a facilitator for a discussion about the shared challenges of residency and patient care. The focus is on maintaining wellness and enhancing a sense of community and support.

Health Disparities Clinical Grand Rounds: There are four sessions a year in which cases are reviewed with a focus on disparities in neurological care. These discussions are led by residents, fellows, and faculty, and current literature on disparities in neurological care is reviewed.

Departmental Grand Rounds: Every Friday at 1 pm, the entire department meets for Grand Rounds, where world-renowned physicians and scientists present the latest advances in our field.

Clinical Grand Rounds: These sessions are presented by residents, fellows, orfaculty members to the entire department. The focus is on rare cases, and cases in which there are diagnostic and treatment controversies. Actual patient cases are presented, and prior to COVID-19 restrictions, patients were often present to provide a first-hand perspective on the history and to demonstrate physical findings.

Morbidity & Mortality Conference: The entire department participates in this. Senior residents present representative cases from their time on service, and this is seen as a key mechanism to identify opportunities for quality improvement in neurologic care.

Neurophysiology Sessions: Residents complete a one-on-one standardized session with both epilepsy and neuromuscular faculty yearly. These sessions are focused on the interpretation of neurophysiologic findings of both EEG and EMG/NCS with directed feedback provided at the end of each session.

Movement Disorders Sessions and Asynchronous Learning: In order to enhance our self-reported confidence in movement disorders PGY-2 trainees are required to complete a self-directed movement disorder modules. In the PGY-3 and PGY-4 years individualized one-on-one "check-ins" with a movement faculty member yearly, in which they will discuss a standardized set of cases (with video examples) and receive individualized feedback.

Lumbar Puncture Simulations: All PGY-2 trainees participate in a lumbar puncture simulation during both orientation and later in the course of their first year of neurology residency. These sessions are one-on-one with a faculty member providing direct feedback.

Clinical Simulations and Skills Workshops: Residents complete several simulations and skills workshops over the course of their neurologic training:

• Early during the PGY-2 year, simulation sessions of neurologic emergencies are completed, both in person and virtually.
• During the PGY-3 and PGY-4 years, simulations focus on the assessment and diagnosis of brain death.
• A program of interactive workshops focusing on Professional, Interpersonal and Communication skills (e.g., giving feedback, disclosing medical errors, discussing a poor prognosis, etc.)
• Botulinum toxin skills training, focusing on treatment of migraine, dystonia and spasticity