Clinical Curriculum
The residency emphasizes a broad experience in clinical neurology with appropriate time spent in direct patient care. Full-time faculty members conduct teaching ward rounds on a daily basis, integrating clinical care, supervision, role-modeling and bedside teaching. The program is based on inpatient, outpatient and consultation rotations within the department, and in other departments whose specialties are required for board eligibility. The residency curriculum is built on the principles of mentorship and teamwork. Elective time promotes individual flexibility in meeting career goals.
Rotations
PG-1. The PG-1 year serves as the mandatory transitional internship prior to starting the categorical Neurology residency program. All candidates matching into the categorical (PG-2) Neurology residency are guaranteed a PG-1 position at Iowa. The PG-1 year provides the resident with training in Internal Medicine disciplines relevant to the practice of Neurology, as well as critical care and Rehabilitation Medicine. The PG-1 resident is made to feel a full member of the Neurology department through two rotations (outpatient, inpatient general neurology), use of the resident's office, encouraged attendance at Neurology conferences and inclusion in extra-curricular activities.
PG-1 Rotations |
Location |
Months |
Inpatient Internal Medicine |
UIHC,VA |
6 |
Consultation Internal Medicine |
UIHC |
2 |
Rehabilitation |
UIHC |
1 |
Surgical Intensive Care Unit |
UIHC |
1 |
Neurology General Inpatient |
UIHC |
1 |
Neurology Outpatient |
UIHC |
1 |
PG-2. The categorical portion of Neurology residency begins in the PG-2 year, and is designed to provide the resident with comprehensive exposure to inpatient, outpatient and consultative Neurology through direct patient care, supervised by senior residents, fellows and faculty physicians. Inpatient and consultation rotations are conducted by teams working closely together, modeling the collaborative nature of medical practice. General and subspecialty Neurology clinics are directed by all clinical faculty of the department. Completion of the PG-2 year serves as the foundation of the resident's evolution into independent practice.
PG-2 Rotations |
Location |
4 week Blocks |
Inpatient Stroke Neurology |
UIHC |
4 |
Inpatient General Neurology/Consults |
UIHC |
2 |
VA Neurology consultation |
VA |
2 |
Night Float (2 week intervals) |
UIHC,VA |
1.5 |
Clinic |
UIHC |
2 |
Neuroradiolog*y |
UIHC |
1 |
Pathology* |
UIHC |
0.5 |
* Alternates with 2-week blocks of Night Float. |
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PG-3. The transition to greater independence continues in the PG-3 year, when the resident performs rotations that emphasize supervision of junior residents and students. Skills acquired in the two previous years are applied in the outpatient, inpatient and consultative arenas, and the senior resident oversees the junior residents on call. Two months of elective time allow the resident to begin tailoring their educational experience.
PG-3 Rotations |
Location |
4 week Blocks |
Neurology Clinic |
UIHC |
2 |
Inpatient Stroke senior resident |
UIHC |
2 |
EMU/video-EEG senior resident |
UIHC |
2 |
Neurology Consult senior resident |
UIHC |
4 |
Elective |
UIHC, VA |
3 |
*Note: Psychiatry is being transitioned from the PG-3 to the PG-4 year after 2011-12 |
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PG-4. The transition to independent practice is completed in the PG-4 year, when the resident pursues additional elective time and completes rotations in Pediatric Neurology, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Neuro-Pathology and Clinical Neurophysiology.
PG-4 Rotations |
Location |
4 week Blocks |
Elective |
UIHC, VA |
3 |
Pediatric Neurology* |
UIHC |
3 |
EEG/EMG |
UIHC |
3 |
Neurology Consult service |
UIHC |
2 |
Neuro-Ophthalmology |
UIHC |
1 |
Neuropathology |
UIHC |
1 |
* In 2012-13, it is planned to move one month of Pediatric Neurology to the PG-3 year, trading it with a month of adult Neurology Clinic, in order to provide an earlier exposure to Pediatric Neurology. PG-4 residents will perform one rotation of Psychiatry in their senior year of residency.
Longitudinal experiences
Each resident conducts a continuity of care (COC) clinic two weeks out of three at UIHC and every other week at the VA, for a total COC experience of just over one clinic a week. The two venues complement each other, exposing the resident to different patient populations, electronic medical records and health care delivery systems. COC clinics are staffed by full-time faculty of the department of Neurology. At UIHC COC, a resident-to-staff ration of 2:1 provides for efficient patient care and effective teaching. A select cohort of COC faculty are chosen by the chairman for their dedication to resident education, and are reappointed to their assignment on an annual basis.