Neurology Residency Training Program
Clinical Training: Summary of Services
University Hospital Inpatient Service
Two teams work together to provide inpatient neurology care. We have a stroke unit providing specialized care for stroke patients, and a neurologic intensive care unit for critically ill patients.
Approximately 1,200 patients are hospitalized each year on the Neurology inpatient service. The average daily census is about 14 patients divided between 3 teams. Residents assume the major responsibility for patient care under the supervision of the Neurology faculty. Residents also rotate seeing consults in the early evenings and on weekends.
University Hospital Consultation Service
In addition to the comprehensive inpatient service, the Department of Neurology operates the busiest consultation service in the hospital, providing over 1,200 adult consultations each year for other inpatient services as well as the Emergency Department. Although faculty members supervise the residents, these experiences provide a transition toward independent decision-making as a fully trained neurologist.
Neurology Outpatient Services
Our program differs from many other programs in that the Neurology Clinic is a major training site. Our clinic
has successfully integrated the efforts of residents and faculty to provide not only a high standard of care
but also a quality learning experience. Approximately 27,000 adult patients are seen each year in the General
Neurology Clinic and subspecialty clinics. Each resident works full time in the Neurology Outpatient Services for approximately
4 months during the residency. Half of this time is spent in a comprehensive outpatient rotation, during which time residents work in 10 subspecialty clinics, including:
- Epilepsy Clinic
- Neuromuscular Disorders Clinic
- Ataxia Clinic
- Cognitive Disorders Clinic
- Movement Disorders Clinic
- Neuro-Oncology Clinic
- Sleep Clinic
- Stroke Clinic
- Neuro-genetics Clinic
- Multiple Sclerosis/Neuro-immunology Clinic
Half of each resident’s outpatient time is dedicated to a focused outpatient selective, during which time the resident gains exposure to a an outpatient subspecialty of his or her choice. Options include:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Headache and neuropathic pain
- Neuromuscular disease and epilepsy
- Sleep disorders
- Movement disorders and cognitive disorders
In addition, residents maintain a half-day Continuity Clinic throughout their entire residency.
VA
The Neurology Service at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System is an integral part of the Neurology
Program. Three neurology residents are assigned to the VA every month, and residents spend 6
months on average on the VA rotation during their residencies. Approximately 60 patients are admitted to the inpatient
service annually, and 250 patients are seen in consultation. In recent years, the emphasis has increased on care provided in the Outpatient Clinic, where approximately 2,300 patients are seen each year. The Neurology residents also
supervise the inpatient service, see consults and help with EEG interpretation. Residents may also use their time at the VA to explore elective opportunities in rehabilitation and psychiatry. Active involvement by full-time
faculty ensures a quality learning experience.
Pediatric Neurology
Dr. Steve Leber directs the Pediatric Neurology Service. Residents spend an average of 1 month per
year on the Pediatric Neurology rotation. The consultation service evaluates approximately 500 children per
year in Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan Health System. Four mornings per week are spent
in clinic where residents see only new patients. Residents also do inpatient and emergency room consults and
advise the inpatient pediatric team. During this rotation, the resident gains a wide experience in the management
of children with seizure disorders, developmental abnormalities, metabolic disorders affecting the nervous system
and other neurological problems.
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Dr. Linda Selwa directs the EEG laboratory. The 6-week EEG rotation takes place during the latter half of the first year or the first half of the second year of residency training. During this rotation, the resident learns to perform and interpret electroencephalograms during a 2-week boot camp. Then, the resident spends 4 weeks on the epilepsy service managing inpatient epilepsy patients undergoing long term monitoring. There is also opportunity to learn more about IOM and surgical treatments for epilepsy.
Electromyography (EMG) / Neuromuscular
Dr. Jim Teener is the director of EMG laboratory. The EMG rotation is 2
months long, although it is strongly recommended that residents choose to do an additional month immediately afterwards. While on the
Neuromuscular service, residents receive didactic and hands-on training in electrodiagnosis of disorders
affecting the peripheral nervous system. Over the course of the rotation, the resident becomes increasingly
independent and may perform more than 100 EMG studies under supervision. During this rotation, residents
also participate in the clinical evaluation and treatment of patients with neuromuscular diseases and in the
examination of nerve and muscle biopsies.
The University of Michigan also is the home of EMG Whiz, a popular Web-based EMG training simulator for residents and fellows.
Night Float Rotation
When on the night float rotation, a resident takes in-house call overnight Sunday-Thursday. This consists of seeing inpatient and Emergency Room consults, and covering the inpatient service. The night float resident presents any admissions to the team in the morning, and leaves most mornings by 9 a.m. Residents do a total of 2 months of night float over 3 years, with 1 month done in the PGY-2 year, and the other month divided between the PGY-3 and PGY-4 years.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine (PM&R)
Several unique opportunities exist for learning within the department of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Residents spend 2 weeks rotating through one or more rehabilitation subspecialty clinics, including the Spine
Clinic, Medical Rehabilitation, Musculoskeletal Clinic and Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic, Occupational and
Physical Medicine Clinic, the Post-Polio Clinic, Pediatric Rehabilitation and the Spinal Cord Clinic. During the
rotation, residents learn the basic principles of rehabilitation for neurological disorders and become familiar
with the medical treatment approaches of ambulatory patients with a variety of chronic pains. Residents also are exposed to the basic principles of physical and occupational therapy and conditioning exercise, and also
become familiar with the elements of a therapeutic treatment plan and with the evaluation, goal setting and
rationale of treatment.
Psychiatry Rotation
This is a 4-week rotation, which consists of rotating with the Psychiatry Consult-Liaison service at University Hospital or through time spent at the Ann Arbor VA Hospital System. Residents will participate in the management of patients with psychiatric disorders. They will learn about the psychological aspects of the patient-physician relationship and the importance of personal, social and cultural factors in disease processes and their clinical expression. Residents are exposed to the principles of psychopathology, psychiatric diagnosis and therapy, and the indications for and complications of drugs used in psychiatry.
UM Neurology Resident Nadir Osman sees patients and leads rounds at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana.Electives
An average of 4 months of elective time are provided during the 3 years of residency, not counting the time spent on EEG, EMG, psychiatry, and rehabilitation. Many residents
choose to work on clinical or basic research during this time. Other popular electives include neuro-ICU, neuroradiology,
neuro-ophthalmology, neuropathology, neurosurgery, neurological education, neuroimmunology, genetics, stroke,
sleep, movement disorders and epilepsy. Residents may also use elective time to become more adept at
electrodiagnostic tests like EMG, EEG, evoked potentials and intraoperative monitoring. Residents may also choose to do electives in international health care.
Research opportunities
There are many opportunities for carrying out fundamental or clinical research with faculty members during
elective months. Although the program emphasizes clinical training for resident physicians, extensive research
facilities are available in the department's neuroscience laboratories, the Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research
Center, the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Program, and the VA Health System. Research experiences can be
arranged with neurology faculty members who have expertise in neurophysiology, neurochemistry and
neuropharmacology. Residents also may pursue advanced training and research in clinical disciplines such
as epilepsy, electroencephalography, neuromuscular disorders, electromyography, cerebrovascular disease,
cognitive disorders, movement disorders, and neuro-oncology and sleep disorders.
Vacation
Every resident gets 1 month of vacation per year. This can be taken either as a single calendar month, or
as 2 half-month blocks. Vacation is scheduled in "blocks," so it is not taken during other rotations.
