PGY-5

In your final year, as you prepare to enter independent practice, you will gain an advanced understanding of neurologic diseases affecting children and take on substantial responsibility for patient care.

Clinical Program

Name of Rotation Length of Rotation
Child Neurology 6 modules
Child Psychiatry
 1 module
Electives 4 modules
Night Float 1 module

1 module = 4 weeks

Culminating your child neurology training, you will begin to independently care for patients, with our expert child neurologist always available for guidance.

You will take the lead role in formulating diagnostic and treatment plans — including age-specific differential diagnoses — and explaining them to patients and their families.

Develop Sophisticated Clinical Skills

You will further refine your skills and knowledge, gaining a professional level of competence in:

  • developing comprehensive differential diagnoses of complex neurological problems and applying them to children of different ages
  • effectively using neurological investigations, including electromyography, nerve conduction velocity, electroencephalography and neuroimaging
  • localizing neurological lesions and teaching this technique to less experienced members of your team

You will have ample opportunity to explore your interests, including potential fellowship areas, through several career-enhancing elective options.

During our essential child psychiatry rotation, you will build communication skills and develop a crucial awareness of childhood development as well as common psychiatric disorders of childhood.

You also will take on greater independence in your continuity outpatient clinic as you continue seeing patients twice per week.

By the end of the year, you will be well prepared for certification and be able to demonstrate competency on your final oral mock board examination and Resident In-Service Training Examination.

Comprehensive, Career-Focused Learning

Again this year, you will take an active role in our robust didactic training, increasingly sharing your growing expertise with others.

You will plan and present a Neurology Grand Rounds lecture for medical trainees and faculty members.

In addition, you will have more opportunities to learn from nationally known speakers during in-depth, department-sponsored conferences.

You also will continue to participate in our diverse lecture training, enhancing your child neurology-based scientific knowledge.

Topics include:

  • neuro-oncology – genetics, molecular biology, development, epidemiology, neuropharmacology, clinical aspects
  • vascular problems – neurochemistry, development, molecular biology, genetics, epidemiology, neuropharmacology, clinical aspects
  • neurocutaneous syndromes – molecular biology, genetics, epidemiology
  • movement disorders – genetic, molecular biology, epidemiology, neuropsychology
  • Conferences and Rounds
    2/7/19
    Learn, teach, share and challenge yourself through our engaging forums, personalized and group discussions and specialized research presentations.

Original Research Results

You also will finish and compile the results of your guided research project (either a second shorter project or a continuous project begun in your PGY-4 year). You will once again present your findings at the neurology department’s annual Dr. Michael E. Cohen Resident Research Day.

You will be encouraged to publish your study in a respected neurology journal.

Supervision and Management

You will further hone your skills as a manager and supervisor, functioning one step below the attending child neurologist.

As you oversee and teach medical students and pediatric and adult neurology residents, you will:

  • assign patients
  • review patient histories and examination/evaluation findings
  • discuss diagnoses and management plans