Welcome to the Neurology Residency Training Program at The University of Chicago. Residents will find our three year training program enriching, rewarding and a world-class institution with top of the line resources and teaching faculty. Our overall goal for the training program is to produce leaders in the field of neurology who will be able to apply their medical knowledge to patient care - whether they opt to work in academia, clinical practice or beyond. Throughout the training, residents will have hands-on contact with patients of varied backgrounds and at times challenging diagnoses and continuously be called upon to develop the skills of well-honed neurologic examinations, localization and management decisions.
During the PGY2 year the majority of the time will be spent on the in-patient ward service; residents will see disparate cases and examine hundreds of patients. Our night-float system is staffed by multiple residents to ensure the utmost of patient care. Utilizing a built-in weekly rotation schedule (X+Y), our continuity clinic has our residents see patients longitudinally over the course of their residency. Residents will also rotate on the pediatric neurology service, in the neuro-ICU, stroke service, our epilepsy service as well as elective time spent in neuro-radiology or the choice of the resident. Our partnership also with Endeavor/Northshore Evanston allows for approximately 1.5 months of outpatient elective rotations at their institution. .
During the PGY3 year residents further develop their skills within the EEG and EMG rotations, lead the Consult service both within UCMC and Endeavor/Northshore, acts as stroke senior, and complete the Neuro-ICU rotation. PGY3s have six weeks of elective time. During the EMG rotation residents work in the Neuromuscular Clinic and during the EEG rotation residents will participate in the Epilepsy clinic, EMU rotations to understand EEG interpretation. These subspecialty clinics are in addition to the Continuity Clinic. The inpatient and outpatient experiences will include interaction with faculty, peers, ancillary and support staff, patients and their families. During the PGY3 year the knowledge gathered during the previous year will begin to crystallize into a coherent picture.
During the last year (PGY4), residents function as Senior Resident on the floor and stroke service, rotates on the psychiatry Consult-Liaison service, and participates in a Neuropathology rotation focusing on micropathology as well as gross brain dissections. These are complemented by electives and selectives at North Shore.
Didactic lectures (lunch provided 2x/week!) in our academic half day on Fridays will sharpen your focus on the various disorders that residents have been exposed to and will further the understanding of the basic neurosciences. These are further supplemented by various lectures throughout the week.
Throughout the PGY3 and PGY4 years of training residents notice an increase in the amount of time available in which to read and deepen your knowledge in neurology. Residents have supplementary time during these last two years to pursue special interests. Residents will see their confidence level strengthen through these training years as they assume an ever-increasing responsibility for both patient management and the supervision of junior residents and medical students.
Finally, residents will master the art and science of the neurological history and physical examination. This is of paramount importance, even with the powerful diagnostic tools available today. Without an excellent history and physical, it is impossible to determine which diagnostic tool to use.
Welcome to our program!
Kenneth Lee, MD
Program Director
Daniel Kurz MD
Serena Yin, MD
Associate Program Directors