Child Neurology

UT Southwestern offers a five-year categorical residency program, composed of two years of ACGME-accredited residency training in Pediatrics at Children's Medical Center, followed by three years of pediatric neurology training. During the two-year pediatrics training, residents fulfill the American Board of Pediatrics’ specialty pathway; this makes residents eligible to sit for the American Board of Pediatrics after completing the full five-year residency. After completing these two years, our residents start their three years of child neurology training.

We also offer a three-year reserved pediatric neurology residency for candidates who have completed preliminary training in pediatrics elsewhere.

A pediatric neurology graduate is eligible to sit for board certification in Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

While there can be variation in the exact schedule for a child neurology trainee, the following represents a typical five-year program (comprising 13 blocks of four weeks each):

Years 1-2: Pediatric Training

Year 3: Adult Neurology & Intro to Child Neurology

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

Year 3 (1st Year of Child Neurology Phase)	# Blocks
Inpatient Adult Neurology Rotations with Call
Parkland Hospital Stroke Service	2
Parkland Hospital / CUH General Neurology Service	2
Adult Epilepsy Monitoring Unit/EEG	1
Parkland Neurocritical Care	0.5
Intro to Stroke and General Neurology	0.5
Adult Neurology Elective/Outpatient Clinics
Intro to Neurology Subspecialty clinics	0.5
Adult Movement Disorders Outpatient clinic	1
Basic Sciences - Neuropathology	1
Adult Elective	0.5
Child Neurology Rotations
Child Neurology Wards – Children’s Medical Center℠	2
Child Neurology Outpatient Clinics	2
Vacation/Conference/Board Preparation	3 weeks

Year 4: Mastering Skills in Child Neurology

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

Year 4 (2nd Year of Child Neurology Phase)	# Blocks
Inpatient Adult Neurology Rotations with Call
Clements UH Neurology Consults	1
Adult Neurology Elective/Outpatient Clinics
Adult Elective	2
Adult Outpatient - Headache/Neuro-ophthalmology	1
Child Neurology Rotations
Child Neurology Wards	6
Child Neurology Epilepsy Monitoring Unit	1
Child Neurology Outpatient – Children’s Medical Center℠	1
Electives	1
Vacation/Conference/Board preparation	3 weeks

Year 5: Becoming a Child Neurologist

Senior residents spend Year 5 in a more supervisory role. Senior residents assume the major teaching duties and lead teams consisting of medical students, junior child-neurology residents, and rotating residents from other services. Inpatient teams consist of the Supratentorial Team, providing consultation services to the PICUs and Neuroscience floor, and the Basal Ganglia Team, which provides consultation services to the rest of the primary teaching hospital - Neonatal ICUs, ER, pediatrics beds, Cardiac ICU. Residents also complete scheduled rotations within general and subspecialty pediatric neurology clinics including stroke, epilepsy, neurodevelopmental disabilities, neuromuscular, headache medicine, concussion, neurogenetics, rare disorders, neuroimmunology, neuro-oncology, and more.

Child Psychiatry rotation is also completed during this year. In addition, residents have electives, which are designed to be flexible to their needs in preparation for fellowship or a career in practice. In the fall, residents will also present at the Clinicopathologic Case Conference, an educational milestone of the training program. In the spring of their final year, they present a topic of their particular research or clinical interest on Research Day. This is attended by the entire Division of Child Neurology and the Department of Neurology, with a keynote address by a prominent alumnus/a involved in research. The Division of Child Neurology has also initiated an independent research day—Dr. Susan Iannaccone Research Day—in which all child neurology residents are expected to present annually.

Rotations

Year 5 (3rd Year of Child Neurology Phase)	# Blocks
Child Neurology Wards	4
Child Neurology Outpatient – Children’s Medical Center℠	2
Child Neurology Outpatient – Scottish Rite for Children	1
Basic Sciences: Neuroradiology	1
Child Psychiatry	1
Electives	4
Vacation/Conference/Board preparation	3 weeks