The first block of this year is dedicated to An Introduction to Neurology and Management of Acute Neurologic Emergencies. This focused review of neuroscience, neuroanatomy, neuropathology, and neuroradiology occurs without the burden of primary clinical responsibilities. The neurologic exam in both pediatrics and adults is also taught and demonstrated.

Residents complete six months of adult inpatient neurology with the focus on direct care of patients with acute neurologic disease on the neurology inpatient and consult services, including the Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit and Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, while under the direct supervision of adult neurology senior residents and attending faculty. They also complete one block of adult outpatient specialty clinics and one block of adult neurology elective. Neuropathology is also completed this year.

Integrated throughout training is a weekly Child Neurology Continuity Clinic where residents follow patients longitudinally and assess disease progression and management, especially as it pertains to a developing child. Residents will be exposed to common and uncommon neurologic disorders, with the opportunity to follow patients over the duration of their training.

Rotations

During their fourth year, residents will complete their adult neurology training requirements including adult outpatient specialty clinics (one block) and adult neurology elective (two blocks). Residents spend more time developing and mastering their skills in child neurology. They develop diagnostic skills and become familiar with the management of acute and chronic child neurologic disorders under direct supervision of senior residents and attendings in a variety of settings. These settings include the Pediatric ICUs, the neuroscience floor, the Cardiac ICU, the Neonatal ICU, several general and subspecialty pediatrics floors, the Emergency Room, and outpatient clinic rotations. Residents can also complete a rotation in the Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at Children’s Medical Center.

Rotations

*These electives can be tailored to each resident’s particular interests, including clinical or basic neuroscience research.

Year 5 completes the core pediatric neurology training, and the neurodevelopmental training begins in earnest. The resident will spend 9 blocks at either Children's Medical Center or Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and will spend one block in child psychiatry. The remaining three blocks are for electives in neurologic-related fields. The NDD resident is expected to begin leading multidisciplinary teams in clinical and educational settings.

The NDD resident will spend most of the last year in electives and research. The resident will participate in electives, specifically neuro-ophthalmology, neurogenetics/metabolic disease, neuromuscular disorders, neuro-oncology, and neurologic rehabilitation. Additionally, residents will be encouraged to complete the research projects they started at the beginning of the four-year Child Neurology phase.