Pediatric Neurology Residency Program
Annette Grefe, M.D., Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics
Director, Pediatric Neurology Residency Program
Amy Harper, M.D., Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics
Cesar C. Santos, M.D., Professor of Neurology, Pediatrics, and Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Chief, Section of Pediatric Neurology
The main objective of the Child Neurology Residency Program at Wake Forest University School of Medicine is to train pediatricians for the independent practice of neurology with special competence in child neurology and is founded on clinical patient contact.
Criteria for appointment as a pediatric neurology resident include: 1) candidates must have received a doctorate in Medicine from an accredited medical school and must be eligible to take Step 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination http://www.usmle.org (USMLE) and 2) candidates must have successfully completed their required prerequisite training in programs approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education http://www.acgme.org/acWebsite/home/home.asp (2 or more years of residency training in pediatrics in the US or Canada). Pediatric Neurology residency is five years in duration with two years in pediatrics followed by three years in pediatric neurology.
As a five-year categorical program, we have a dedicated position for our residents in the Department of Pediatrics http://www.brennerchildrens.org/Physicians/Residency+Program/ at Wake Forest University School of Medicine for the two years of pediatric training. Candidates invited for interview for the pediatric neurology position will also meet informally with the Pediatric faculty but there is no requirement to apply or match through ERAS for the pre-requisite pediatric training. By taking advantage of this opportunity, a candidate who successfully competes for the pediatric neurology position is able to have five successive years of continuous training at Wake Forest, completing all pediatrics and pediatric neurology requirements for board certification in Neurology with Special Qualifications in Pediatric Neurology and Pediatrics.
The following are objectives for training pediatricians for the practice of neurology:
1. Essential to child neurology training is the acquisition of basic science information as it pertains to the nervous system. Each resident is expected to acquire this skill in their first year which will serve as the foundation and to improve on it by keeping updated by the recent advances in the field of neurology as published in the neurologic literature.
2. Develop clinical skills in obtaining pertinent general and excellent neurologic history and neurologic examination.
3. Correlate the basic science and clinical information to be able to generate, not only a superb clinical diagnosis, but also a list of possible differential diagnoses and management.
4. Develop the skill of appropriate ordering and utilization of laboratory and diagnosis studies.
5. Develop superb clinical aptitude in procedural skills related to the field of neurology, with particular emphasis on the performance of lumbar puncture, EEG, EMG/NCS, EP, sleep study, and cranial ultrasound.
6. Provide general pediatric care not only as it pertains to the practice of neurology but in addition recognize the neurologic complications of medical and surgical conditions.
7. Develop personal qualities (i.e., dependability and promptness) and interpersonal skills in patient care (Humanistic attributes).
8. Learn to assume increasing responsibility and decision making as the training progresses.
9. Develop superb professional attitude and mannerism.
10. Develop excellent overall clinical competence and good moral and ethical standing.