Neurology

Accreditation

We are accredited by the ACGME for five adult neurology residents per year (20 residents total). We are accredited through 2012 (no citations or deficiencies) with commendations from the ACGME for our program and director.

Educational Model

We are very proud of the success of our former residents in academic and private practice careers. Our educational model allows for a great deal of flexibility in training so that residents and their mentors can tailor training to meet individual educational goals.

We believe that the foundation of neurology training should be an excellent background in internal medicine, which we provide in PGY-1. The intern year consists of 9 months of internal medicine and specialties, 1 month of psychiatry, and 2 months of neurology. During PGY-2, our residents are immersed in clinical neurology with rotations at the VAMC, the UK Chandler Medical Center/Kentucky Clinic, and the Children’s Hospital. In PGY-3, our residents have substantial time for electives and core requirements such as neuropathology. PGY-4 is a time for our residents to hone their leadership skills as chief residents, and/or to focus on rotations that will enhance their future careers as academic or private-practice neurologists.

Being on-call is an important and valuable part of training, especially early on. We want our residents to become comfortable dealing with any neurological emergency that they may face. There are less on-call responsibilities as the resident progresses through training.

Rotations

In addition to ward rotations and clinic, our residents spend time on rotations in electromyography, electroencephalography, psychiatry, and neuropathology. Residents may choose additional elective time in these fields or may add rotations such as research in neurology, neuro-rehabilitation, neuro-ophthalmology, stroke, neuro-sonology, neuro-radiology, neurotoxicology and neurosurgery. Our residents also work in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit - an inpatient facility in which 24-hour electroencephalographic monitoring is available to assist in the diagnosis and classification of seizures. The unit also provides presurgical monitoring for localization of epileptic foci. Our impressive comprehensive stroke program includes a dedicated inpatient stroke service where residents learn cutting edge stroke care under the direct supervision of our attending stroke neurologists.

Our residents also work in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit - an inpatient facility in which 24-hour electroencephalographic monitoring is available to assist in the diagnosis and classification of seizures. The unit also provides presurgical monitoring for localization of epileptic foci. Our impressive comprehensive stroke program includes a dedicated inpatient stroke service where residents learn cutting edge stroke care under the direct supervision of our attending stroke neurologists.

Sample Schedules

Conferences and Didactics

Regularly scheduled teaching conferences allow the resident to participate in the process of assessing and diagnosing neurological illnesses. Conferences occurring weekly include neuro-radiology, chairman's teaching rounds, basic neuroscience, and Grand Rounds (where neuroscientists and neurologists of national and international stature present the latest information on research and treatment of neurological disorders). Monthly conferences discuss topics in epilepsy, cerebrovascular disease and neuromuscular disease. Resident didactic classes provide the background information needed for successful neurology practice as well as succeeding on the yearly in-service examinations and the ABPN board examination in neurology.

Sample Weekly Conference Schedule