About the Program

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 graduated responsibility, teamwork and individual flexibility.

Rotations

PG-1

The PG-1 Preliminary Neurology program serves as the mandatory transitional internship prior to starting the Advanced Neurology residency program. All candidates matching into the Advanced (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, 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-2

The Advanced 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.

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-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.

* Chosen from Movement Disorders, Neuro-ophthalmology, Neuropathology and Interventional Neuroradiology.

Continuity of Care Clinics

Each resident conducts a continuity of care (COC) clinic two weeks out of three at UIHC and every other week at the VA. 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 chosen for their skill at teaching.

Scheduling Rotations

Core rotations are scheduled at the neighboring University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and VA Medical Center.

Elective rotations can involve any type of training in neurology or neuroscience as long as it meets the educational guidelines of the Department and of the ACGME. They can include clinical exposure, clinical research or translational/basic research. A mentor will be identified who will take responsibility for your educational experience.

Elective rotations are allowed at any institution in the world contingent upon approval by UI Hospitals and Clinics and the participating institution. International rotations are coordinated through the hospital’s Office of International Health Rotations and permitted in the PG-3 and PG-4 years.

Board Certification Requirements

The residency meets all requirements of board eligibility. Visit the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry for specifics on board certification requirements.