The overall structure of our program is designed to develop, nurture and monitor the development of the residents from juniors in need of extensive supervision, to graduating chiefs capable of practicing independently. As such, the levels of responsibility across training years are clearly delineated and progressive.
In addition to inpatient responsibilities, there are continuity clinics at Jacobi Medical Center (JMC) and the Moses Division for all three years of the residency program .
The academic calendar is broken down into 13 – 4 week blocks .
Neurology 1 (PGY3 year):
For the first 10 months of training year 1, the pediatric neurology residents largely rotate on the inpatient adult neurology service, with some lesser exposure to adult neurology consultative services, stroke services and the epilepsy management unit. Juniors are expected to become certified in lumbar puncture and the NIH stroke scale by the conclusion of the year.
For the last 2 months of the academic year, the residents are assigned to the pediatric neurology inpatient service.
The PG-3 year breaks down as follows:
2 blocks consult Neurology at Jacobi
1 -2 blocks inpatient Neurology at Weiler Division (Einstein)
1 block inpatient Neurology at Moses Division
1-2 block inpatient Stroke Service at Moses
1 blocks inpatient Epilepsy Service at Moses
1 block consult Neurology at Weiler
½ block Stroke Service at Jacobi
½ block consult Neurology at Moses
1.5 blocks Night Float (split between Moses and Weiler)
1 block vacation
2 blocks Child Neurology service
Neurology 2 (PGY4 year):
During their second year of training, residents spend an additional 7 blocks on the pediatric neurology service. This year is largely a consultative year, with senior residents taking primary responsibility for running either and/or both the MMC-CHAM and Jacobi Pediatric Neurology services, under the direction of supervising attendings. Senior residents develop team-building skills by running the pediatric neurology consultant team and organizing simultaneous delivery of patient care and teaching. Senior neurology consult residents evaluate a large volume of pediatric neurological patients and problems over a short time. Senior residents also rotate to general and subspecialty pediatric neurology outpatient clinics that increase the breadth and depth of their clinical knowledge. During the remaining 5 months, residents rotate through a variety of electives. The range of electives includes: neuroradiology, neuro-oncology, genetics-metabolic, neuropathology, EEG, neuroopthamology, developmental pediatrics, neuropsychology, neurorehabilitation, EMG, headache, multiple sclerosis and movement disorders.
During their 7 months on-service, residents are on first call from home, an average of every fourth or fifth night, and are on second call from home on average every other night. Weekend call is on average 1 weekend per month as first call (from home) and 1 weekend per month as second call (from home). During the elective months, residents have no call responsibilities.
Neurology 3 (PGY5 year):
During their third year of training , residents complete their required pediatric neurology service with an additional 4 blocks on the child neurology service. In addition, they fulfill their adult neurology requirements by spending an additional 2 blocks on the adult neurology consultation service. There is also a 1 month required rotation on the child psychiatry liaison service. The remaining 6 blocks are once again devoted to the electives described above or to research. During this year, the only call responsibilities are during the 3 months of child neurology service, with the same schedule as previously described.
