Pediatric Neurology Residency Program

Program Outline

The Pediatric Neurology Residency Program is a three-year program which includes integrated training and educational experiences through the Core Neurology Residency Program at the University of Washington, as well as an extended period of intensive training in Pediatric Neurology at the Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle. Over the three years, trainees will spend 12 months in general (adult) neurology, and 12 months in pediatric neurology. The remaining 12 months are flexible and are reserved for a variety of clinical and neuroscience electives which includes one required month of child psychiatry.

The Program is designed to:

1. Train physicians to become competent, skilled clinical pediatric neurologists by providing over three years progressive experience and responsibility in the care of both adult and pediatric patients with neurological conditions.
2. Provide exposure to a number of ancillary disciplines including but not limited to neuropathology, electroencephalography, electromyography, neuroradiology, neuro-ophthalmology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, neurodevelopmental disorders and rehabilitation medicine.
3. Provide a broad educational experience in the basic neurosciences to form the foundation for understanding and applying the principles of clinical neurology, and to prepare physicians for academic careers.

First year of Pediatric Neurology Training (PN1)

The first year of training is spent primarily as a neurology junior ward resident rotating through the primary hospitals of the Neurology Residency Program of the University of Washington, including the University of Washington Medical Center, Veterans' Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, and Harborview Medical Center. Prior to starting this concentrated adult neurology training, the resident will spend one month at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center as a neurology junior ward resident. This initial clinical experience will allow the trainee to learn some of the essential skills of obtaining a neurologic history, performing a neurologic exam and developing a differential diagnosis in a more familiar pediatric setting, prior to joining the adult neurology clinical services. The primary goal of this year is to become competent in general adult neurology, including care of acute and chronic neurologic problems and to become adept at exam-based localization of neurological lesions. Residents begin participating in program-wide educational programs including weekly grand rounds, core lecture series, and a twice-monthly basic neuroscience course. In addition to patient care responsibilities on the ward and in outpatient adult neurology clinics, residents participate in the teaching of medical students during their required neurology clinical clerkship. While being immersed in adult neurology, during this year the resident also begins seeing pediatric neurology outpatients in his or her own weekly continuity clinic.

Second year of Pediatric Neurology Training (PN2)

At this time the curriculum of the pediatric neurology program diverges from the standard curriculum of the general neurology program. During the second year, the pediatric neurology residents complete six of the required 12 months of clinical pediatric neurology training. During these months, the residents rotate through various pediatric neurology clinics and serve as Chief Resident of the Pediatric Neurology service at Children's Hospital. The remaining six months are used in flexible elective time, completing half of the required 12 months. During the elective months, residents can choose from a wide range of opportunities including neuropathology, EEG/epilepsy, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, and EMG. During one of these flexible months, the resident will rotate on the child psychiatry service. Each resident's program is individually tailored to meet core educational needs and the interests and career goals of the resident. The Chief Resident months provide outstanding clinical training as Children's is the tertiary referral center for several states. This provides opportunities to see the complete range of neurological illness encountered from pre-term infants to late adolescents. In addition to a busy ward and consult service, residents also benefit from experience on the EEG telemetry unit. Residents also work in a variety of general and subspecialty pediatric neurology clinics (including refractory epilepsy, neuromuscular, neurooncology, genetics, and developmental pediatrics clinics), where cases are staffed by members of the full-time faculty. The residents are also responsible for organizing and presenting at weekly case conferences and several times a year at Neurology Grand Rounds. In addition, the resident supervises and assists in the teaching of junior residents and medical students. Throughout the year, the resident continues to see patients in a weekly continuity clinic.

Third year of Pediatric Neurology Training (PN3)

In the final year of the program, the resident again has six months of clinical pediatric neurology training and six months of flexible elective time. The resident refines skills in clinical pediatric neurology and is expected to develop a more prominent role in teaching of residents and medical students. The resident again sees patients of his or her own in a weekly continuity clinic.

Pediatric Neurology Residency Program Applications

The University of Washington Pediatric Neurology Residency Program has two training slots per year (six total). Residents in pediatric neurology are required to have two or three years of ACGME approved training in general pediatrics prior to starting their neurological training. Generally, individuals apply to our program during their final year of medical school (at the same time that they are applying for a pediatrics residency) or later (while they are completing their course of general pediatrics residency training). Applications to our program are made through the Central Application Service (CAS) of the Child Neurology Matching Program (415-447-0350). Please go to the SF Match web site at: http://www.sfmatch.org to obtain application instructions and details about the matching program.

The University of Washington also offers an integrated five-year program in general pediatrics and pediatric neurology. Senior medical students who are interested in this integrated program must apply to our pediatric neurology program via the CAS and directly to the University of Washington Pediatrics Residency Training Program. For information about the Pediatrics Residency Training Program, please go to their web site at http://uwpeds.washington.edu

Current University of Washington Pediatric Neurology Residents

Recent Graduates of the University of Washington Pediatric Neurology Program