Neurology Residency - Program Strengths
Recognized as one of the top neurology programs in the United States (#14 nationwide in
U.S. News & World Report - Best Hospitals),
the neurology services at The University of Chicago Medical Center combine clinical expertise with state-of-the-art
therapies and groundbreaking research.
Faculty, Hospital & Clinics:
Our faculty includes many internationally recognized clinicians and researchers who excel at teaching our residents and
medical students and conducting both clinical and bench-type research.
The Mitchell Hospital (and Comer Children’s Hospital) is internationally recognized, having been frequently cited in
U.S. News & World Report - Best Hospitals) on
the prestigious Honor Roll of America’s Best Hospitals. The hospitals cater to patients with diverse ethnic and financial
backgrounds. Tertiary referrals of complicated patients from varied locations are frequently made to the hospitals for
expert diagnosis and breakthrough therapies. One of the relatively unique features of The University of Chicago Medical
Center is that all of the faculty who see patients in the clinics and hospital are full-time academic faculty.
Most of our neurologists specialize in a particular disease or category of diseases and lead subspecialty clinics in which
our residents participate on a regular basis. This focused subspecialization enables these neurologists, and the residents
they mentor and teach, to become true experts in managing neurological disorders. Our neurologists are particularly adept
at diagnosing and treating complex disorders that are often viewed as untreatable elsewhere. As active participants in
these subspecialty clinics, our residents learn to evaluate urgent and semi-urgent patients with rare neurological
disorders.
Our multidisciplinary centers and clinics (and our hospital), are devoted to specific neurological problems and enable our
residents to treat their patients with specialized care at one site and in one location. Our residents do not have to travel
to an outlying hospital or clinic. The subspecialty centers/clinics include: an
Adult Epilepsy Center (with sophisticated
3-D imaging techniques, state-of the-art inpatient video EEG recording and magnetoencephalography),
The Comprehensive Sleep Disorders Center,
The Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy,
a Muscular Dystrophy Association-Sponsored Clinic (including
one of the longest running interdisciplinary clinics on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis [ALS]),
The University of Chicago Memory Center (an
interdisciplinary clinic in which complex patients are frequently referred), an MS (multiple sclerosis) Clinic, a Movement
Disorders Clinic, Stroke Clinic, Ataxia Clinic, Neuro-oncology Clinic, and Headache Clinic.
Other Clinical & Research Features of Excellence Include The Neuro-Intensive Care Unit and a Brain Research Imaging
Center (BRIC):
The very active Neuro-ICU is supervised by three Neurointensivists with Neurology backgrounds. Our residents rotate through
the Neuro-ICU for three months and learn how to care for critically ill patients with strokes and other conditions. The
Brain Research Imaging Center focuses on studies using functional
MRI to investigate aspects of brain repair, especially related to language (e.g., aphasia) and motor deficits. In addition,
fMRI studies related to language development are on-going.
Resident-Based Learning:
Senior and Junior residents make decisions; our Attendings supervise. Some of the morning and noon teaching sessions (e.g.,
the journal club) are led by our residents, rather than Attendings. Residents also play an important part in teaching, for
example, to the medical students.
Residents Guide Our Program:
There is a friendly and collegial environment for residents. One of the faculty’s main goals is to make the residency
experience one that is rewarding from both a social and educational point of view.
Our residents have provided key input to many parts of the program. For example, the residents helped develop an anonymous
survey addressing every aspect of our residency program. The survey is completed annually by all residents; each is given
an opportunity to speak openly (and anonymously) about the structure and direction of our program and our faculty. These
surveys have resulted in important changes within our program that have advanced the learning experience for our residents.
In addition, residents provide an anonymous evaluation of the teaching Attendings, which is important feedback for the
Department’s leadership.
Comprehensive Didactic Lecture Schedule:
A comprehensive didactic lecture schedule includes lectures and discussions focusing on a diverse list of neurological
disorders. Our residents attend lectures given by speakers from other institutions, as well as speakers from other
departments within the hospital. Visit our Conferences web page
for more information.
In-House Call – First Year Only:
We offer our residents a “front-loaded” call schedule (call every fourth night) and thus, our residents enjoy their last
two years of residency without scheduled in-house call. This arrangement allows for flexibility in the final two years of
residency. During the first three months of residency our senior residents take night-call with the new PGY-II residents.
This “in-house senior” rotation allows our senior residents to provide assistance, guidance, support, and supervision to
our new residents. As a result, our PGY-II residents become familiar with the assessment of patients with urgent
neurological problems and gain confidence in managing these patients.
Increased Elective Time:
Almost any elective is available at The University of Chicago Medical Center (including electives in other departments).
Off-campus electives are easy to schedule due to the convenient call schedule. Our residents have rotated at other hospitals
in Chicago, other states, and in other countries. PGY-III residents enjoy four weeks of elective time and PGY-IV residents
enjoy a generous 20 weeks of elective time. There are also opportunities for more extended elective time within the PGY-III
year of residency.
Mentor Program:
In order to help our residents achieve their highest level of potential during their residency, many of our faculty serve as
mentors (selection is made by mutual consent). Mentors assist residents with monitoring stress levels, guiding career
choices, assisting with fellowship applications, encouraging publications, assisting with research projects, and assisting
with ongoing learning.
Residents’ Book Fund:
In addition to a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, our residents enjoy an allocation of $500.00 at the
beginning of each year (balances carried forward each year) to be used on educational items and activities including
textbooks, professional society memberships, board examination fees, other training or certification courses, and travel to
professional meetings. In addition, we provide our residents with a membership (or renewal membership) in the
American Academy of Neurology. We also offer extra funding for residents
who present at a national meeting.
Research:
Because of many of our neurologists are committed to conducting cutting-edge research, our residents have access to
patients who are currently undergoing new treatment modalities – years before they are widely available elsewhere.
Our neurologists welcome resident participation in their research studies. The research involves a number of national and
international clinical trials and other aspects of clinical research as well as bench-type research. Many of our
neurologists are supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and other groups for their basic and clinical
research work on various neurological diseases, including Parkinson's disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, ALS, and
peripheral neuropathy.
Our residents participate in an annual “Barry G.W. Arnason
Resident Research Symposium”. Each class presents a poster or presentation which involves basic research, clinical
research, or a description of an interesting patient with a review of the literature. A visiting professor delivers a
special seminar before the symposium and also serves as the judge of the presentations. A monetary award is presented to
each of the best PGY-II, PGY-III, PGY-IV and Fellow presentations.
Outstanding Academic Environment:
The University of Chicago medical school, hospital and clinics are on the beautiful University campus. None of the clinics,
patient or research labs are more than a few minutes away. The closeness also fosters the kind of interdisciplinary
interactions that The University of Chicago Medical Center excels in, such as translational science. This closeness also
brings an academic intellectual excitement to all members of the university community.
Located in Hyde Park, eight miles south of downtown, our campus is comprised of 136 buildings on 211 acres of land. The
campus was designated an official botanic garden in 1997 and houses original buildings in English Gothic style, grouped
around quadrangles. New campus construction includes the Comer Children’s Hospital, the Graduate School of Business Hyde
Park Center and the Center for Integrative Science.
Art and culture play a vital role in the University community. Both students and professionals endeavor to present a wide
range of artistic offerings such as theater, dance, and visual arts. Hyde Parks boasts a number of fine museums, including
the famous Museum of Science and Industry. Located on our campus is the Oriental Institute Museum, one of the world’s major
collections of Near Eastern antiquities, the Regenstein Library Special Collections Research Center, featuring exhibits
based on its holdings, The Renaissance Society, a leading gallery of contemporary art, and the Smart Museum of Art, a
museum and educational institution.
The new Gerald Ratner Athletics Center
spans a whole block frontage between 55th and 56th Streets and includes a competition gymnasium, an
Olympic-sized pool, a fitness center, locker rooms, and Athletics Department offices. The new Athletics Center joins indoor
athletic and recreational spaces with outdoor athletic and recreational fields to the west. Hyde Park, located next to Lake
Michigan, has many parks, zoos, and gardens for outdoor activities.
Seventy-nine Nobel Laureates have been faculty members, students or researchers at the University of Chicago at some point
in their careers. Twelve have won the Nobel Prize in the last decade alone. Of the 79 laureates who have Chicago ties, 27
have won in Physics, 23 in Economic Sciences, 15 in Chemistry, 11 in Physiology or Medicine, and three in Literature. Six
Laureates are currently members of the faculty: James Heckman (Economic Sciences, 2000), Robert Lucas (Economic Sciences,
1995), Robert Fogel (Economic Sciences, 1993), Gary Becker (Economic Sciences, 1992), Ronald Coase (Economic Sciences, 1991)
and James Cronin (Physics, 1980). And, oh, we forgot, the 2007 Nobel prize for Economic Science to Roger Myerson!
Chicago:
The University of Chicago Medical Center is a 15 minute train or car ride to the downtown area of one of the great American
cities, Chicago, a fabulous lakeshore. Where else can you find sailboats and beaches just two-three blocks from the main
downtown (and also just a few blocks from the University of Chicago)? Miles of a pedestrian walkway can be found next to
the lakeshore – with walkers, runners, bikers, and skaters. Chicago also offers great opera, jazz, blues, theater,
restaurants, and sports. And of course, great neighborhoods with ethnic diversity.
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