Residency Curriculum

Our residency curriculum provides a comprehensive, transformative educational experience that equips physicians with essential skills, knowledge, and professional attributes. The program combines:

1. Hands-on clinical training with progressive independence
2. Robust didactic education through lectures, seminars, and grand rounds
3. Close mentorship and supervision
4. Research and quality improvement opportunities
5. Professional development focusing on leadership, communication, ethics, and advocacy
6. Structured evaluation with continuous feedback
7. Emphasis on resident wellness through regulated duty hours and wellness programs

This balanced approach fosters professional and personal growth, preparing residents to succeed in their careers.

Medical Internship (PGY-1)

We offer a four-year program with a joint agreement with Baptist Desoto Hospital for PGY 1 transitional residency followed by three years of neurology. Our program does not require a separate application to the NRMP for the transitional PGY1 year.

PGY 1 transitional year consists of nine months in internal medicine with primary responsibility in patient care;

• Comprising one month of critical care or emergency medicine
• Eight months of internal medicine and its subspecialties plus electives

Two to Three months in neurology (consult, general neurology inpatient, EMU, etc)

First Year of Residency (PGY-2)

The transition from PGY 1 to Neurology could be challenging. In order to provide our new PGY2 a smooth transition to Neurology our program offers a two-weeks neuroscience bootcamp, and buddy calls to shadow PGY3 and PGY4 and learn the dynamics of the rotations. The bootcamp includes sessions in the Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Simulation to train to train them in performing procedures, managing the most common neurology emergencies and to develop interprofessional education.          

Second and Third Years of Residency (PGY-3 and PGY-4)

• During their second year of neurology, residents refine the skills and consolidate the knowledge gained during their first year. The Resident's intellectual growth and maturity are strengthened by handling cases of increasing diagnostic and therapeutic complexity while working closely with a Staff Neurologist.
• One to two months each year are devoted to Neurophysiology (EEG) so that residents become familiar with the epilepsy classification, interpretation of common EEGs, the diagnosis of status epilepticus and brain death, the indications and usefulness of EEG video monitoring and epilepsy surgery.
• The Residents further expand their clinical experience by rotating through Pediatric Neurology (three months), and Psychiatry (one month).
• One to two months of Night Float during PGY-3 year. When not on Night Float, residents take night and weekend call on average of once or twice per month during PGY-3 year.
• One to two months across PGY-3 and PGY-4 years are dedicated to Electromyography/Nerve Conduction Studies (EMG/NCS) with our neuromuscular subspecialists.
• Residents also begin to serve in teaching and leadership capacity as senior residents and ward chiefs.  The senior residents help in the planning, structure and scheduling of teaching conferences and the educational program for students.
• Across PGY-3 and PGY-4 years, residents have approximately 6-7 months of elective time to pursue specific subspecialty and research interests. Subspecialty electives are available for Neuro-ophthalmology, Neuro-otology, Neuro-rehab, Neuromuscular/EMG, EEG/Evoked Potentials, Sleep Disorders, Neuroradiology, Neurosurgery, Movement Disorders, Neuro-oncology, Interventional Neurology, and other personalized possibilities.

Weekly Didactics

Day	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Event/ location	Continuity Clinic Veterans Affair Hospital	Continuity Clinic Veterans Affair Hospital	Neuro Radiology Rounds/ Journal Club	Academic Half Day (Protected Time) 12:30 to 17:00	Morning Report, Neuro-ophthalmology course and Grand Rounds Continuity Clinic Veterans Affair Hospital

Academic Half Day at a Glance

Time	12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	1:30 pm - 2:30 pm	2:30 pm - 3:30 pm	3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Event	Neuroanatomy lecture (may also be EEG or EMG lecture)	Sub-Specialty Lecture	Board review questions/Continuum Article Discussion	Sub-Specialty Lecture

Residency in Training Exam (RITE) Preparation Course

During December and January, we conduct a RITE Preparation course with weekly review of the main topics of the RITE exam and neuroanatomy quizzes. Starting in January, we have daily board review questions and answers with Associate Program Director of Education, Dr. Cheran Elangovan.

Mentorship Program 

Many of our residents plan to pursue a career in academics and participate in the Resident-Student Mentorship Program. We are very proud to work with the SIGN (Students interested Group in Neurology) in this project.  We pair a neurology resident with a medical student who is interested or has decided to become a Neurologist, our aim is to help them build a professional and educational support system.  In monthly to bimonthly sessions, we explain to them about the exciting and fast-growing field of Neurology, what do we treat and how we can make an impact in health care. We also aim to strengthen their professional relationship and network with residents, fellows and attendings, and give them advice on how to boost their career by engaging in teaching, research, and leadership activities.