About Neurology Residency
History
The University of Iowa Department of Neurology is one of the three oldest in the country and its residency program one of the first to be accredited in the 1920s. Established in 1919 as the first academic Department of Neurology west of the Mississippi River, the department has been fortunate to be led by renowned neurologists in each era of its existence, including such luminaries as Clarence Van Epps, Adolph Sahs (a founder of the American Academy of Neurology), Maurice Van Allen, Antonio Damasio and Robert Rodnitzky.
On July 1, 2010 George Richerson, MD, PhD, was appointed the department's sixth chair, and he leads a department rich in continuity and undergoing exciting growth. Dr. Richerson shares his vision for the department here.
Thirteen former faculty and/or trainees of the department have gone on to chair academic neurology departments and an additional eight have become neurology residency directors.
Mission Statement
The Iowa Neurology Residency Program is designed to provide its graduates with the knowledge, skills and habits that will lead to life-long learning and self-improvement, with the goal of attaining expertise in the clinical practice of Neurology. In addition, the program introduces residents to the principles of neuroscience investigation with the option of developing excellence in an academic career. The residency program was noted in a recent publication for its success at producing highly productive academic neurologists.
Residents learn--and teach--in a collaborative environment that integrates students, trainees and faculty. The program is built upon the principles of supervision and graded responsibility, which leads to independence. Iowa residency graduates serve the field as outstanding leaders in patient care, research and education.
Core Values
The practice of medicine in general, and the performance of residency in particular, is promoted by service to three constituencies:
- The patient.The primary relationship in the practice of medicine is between the patient and the physician. Deliberately at first, and more intuitively as one gains experience, the resident will promote the best interests of the patient.
- Your colleagues. The effective practice of medicine is founded on teamwork. Treat your colleagues with the respect you would want them to afford to you. Colleagues include not only physicians but all members of the health care team, at our institution and outside.
- You. The residency provides structure, mentorship, support and direction. The resident is responsible for using this framework to maximize professional and personal development. The successful resident will set learning goals, design objectives to meet these goals, and monitor progress. Tools for life-long learning will be developed. Attention to personal well being is vital to the practice of medicine.
Structure
Our residency program produces outstanding graduates through:
- A balance of clinical and didactic experiences, augmented by self-reflection and study.
- Graded responsibility, where junior residents receive a greater degree of supervision and senior residents in turn gain more responsibility for the care of patients and mentorship of junior residents.
- A culture of collegiality and cooperation; we work best as a team.
- A program that is sufficiently structured, yet flexible enough to allow the resident to explore areas of individual interest.
- Emphasis on tools of life-long learning.
The CNS-TP
Recognizing the important role academic departments of Neurology play in training the next generation of physician-scientists, we created the Clinical Neuroscientist Training Program in 2010-11, and the first trainee matriculated in 2011. Learn more about the CNS-TP here.
Residents as teachers
Junior and senior medical students perform a required 4-week Neurology clinical clerkship, serving on the Neurology inpatient units and in the UIHC and VA outpatient clinics throughout the year. Teaching of students is a high priority in our department and residents and faculty take pride in their teaching accomplishments. In addition to regular bedside teaching and attending rounds, both faculty and residents provide formal lectures to medical students. From among the 600 full-time faculty and 650 medical specialty residents at University Hospitals, several Neurology residents and faculty have received teacher of the year awards by the junior or senior medical school class.
Additional Allowances
- The parent institution, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, provides comprehensive health care coverage for all residents and their families.
- Travel expenses and leave to attend one-half of the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in both the PG-3 and PG-4 years.
- A total educational allowance of $1500 accrues through the residency with successful completion of each year. This can be applied to print and electronic media, subscriptions, devices and travel to additional educational meetings.
- Additional educational stipend connected to successful completion of the senior project [LINK].
- Resident's office with personal locking cabinet, and ample computers and workspace.
- Full access to department and university library resources, including an extensive array of online journals and books.
Quick Facts
- Six Adult Neurology residents per year.
- PG-1 transitional Neurology residency position guaranteed to all candidates who match in the categorical (PG-2) residency through NRMP.
- Continuous ACGME accreditation, with full 5-year renewal at last RRC review (March 2009).
- Junior residents take night float duty 6 weeks in the PG-2 year and 2 weeks at the start of the PG-3 year.
- Senior residents (PG-3 and 4) take in-house supervisory call on average one night in 11.
- Training conducted at two neighboring medical centers (University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City Veteran Affairs Medical Center).
Harold P. Adams, Jr., MD, professor and director of the Division of Cerebrovascular Disorders, and students visit with a patient.
Natalie Denburg, PhD, assistant professor (left), consults in the Benton Neuropsychology laboratory.
Pedro Gonzalez-Alegre, MD, assistant professor of movement disorders, visits over results in his research laboratory.
E. Torage Shivapour, MD, professor and director of Clinical Services reviewing a patient case with a resident and student.