Didactics in Child Neurology

Didactics occur throughout training, including weekly shared didactic time with the adult neurology program and pediatric neurology specific didactics. Our residents also often participate in didactics and team debriefing sessions with the Pediatrics residency, in particular in our intensive care units.All child neurology fellows are expected to participate in an academic project or presentation during their residency and to attend an academic meeting as well. A fund exists to cover travel and registration to an academic meeting for each resident.

1. Child Neurology Orientation:

Adult Neurology training at UCSF always starts with a month that we call Physicianship. We recognize that when you start neurology after medical internship or pediatric residency, you will have forgotten some of the neurology you learned during medical school. The goal of Physicianship is to provide a refresher course in neuroanatomy, localization, the neurological examination and an approach to common neurological problems and emergencies you will encounter during your clinical training. This first month is free from clinic duties and includes time to rest, recharge, and begin career planning especially for those interested in applying for our flexible residency program. Additionally, at the transition from your PGY3 year to the PGY4 year, there is a week-long Child Neurology orientation. Each resident then works with the senior resident on the main Neurohospitalist team for 3 days to orient on our system prior to taking any home call. Finally, residents are required to call their faculty for all new patients and consultations until they have completed their first month on the main service, in order to provide an added layer of support and graduated autonomy.

2. Wednesday Conference:

Wednesday Conference is a weekly 3-hour event in our neurology residency program. It offers residents the opportunity to delve deeper into complex subspeciality Neurology topics, review challenging case studies, and gain from the expertise of visiting professors in special Grand rounds sessions. The first two months of the year is a summer didactic series focusing on basic skills our newest trainees need to know to be successful on the wards. The rest of the year, one hour every Wednesday is reserved for a PGY3 or PGY4 resident to present a case, often with the patient participating in a focused history and neurological examination. Departmental Grand Rounds occur once per month on Wednesday afternoons. Both child neurology and adult neurology trainees attend Wednesday conferences.

4. Clinical Reasoning Conference:

Clinical Reasoning Conference is an educational meeting that allows the resident on the Neurohospitalist team to present an interesting case to the other residents and faculty. The meeting promotes a collegial environment where participants can engage in discussions regarding diagnostic reasoning, management plans, and evidence-based care. This afternoon conference happens twice a month. It not only helps improve the residents' clinical reasoning skills but also keeps them informed about the spectrum of neurological conditions presenting within each hospital.

5. NICN Conferences:

Twice a month the Neonatal ICU team, the Child Neurology faculty who run our NICN or Neonatal Intensive care Neurology team, and our residents meet jointly to discuss interesting cases and common clinical presentations. This conference allows for bedside exam rounds, formal didactics, and resident teaching opportunities in a cross-disciplinary setting

6. Child Neurology Focused Didactics:

Twice a month the Child Neurology Residents meet for focused didactics. The curriculum is based upon the Board exam topics and is meant to be a higher-level conference in which faculty with expertise in each area provide a deeper dive into important topics.

7. Journal Club:

Journal Club is a monthly gathering where the residents and faculty critically appraise recent scientific literature in child neurology. Guided by faculty mentors, residents learn how to evaluate the methodology and statistical analysis of published studies. Our journal clubs encourage the cultivation of evidence-based practice, expose residents to cutting-edge research in their field, and foster a better understanding of clinical trials and statistical analysis. This forum is not only for discussing clinical science but also for developing presentation skills and engaging in scholarly debate.

8. Neuroradiology Conferences:

Inpatient rotators participate in a weekly interdisciplinary neuroradiology conference where cases from both child neurology and neurosurgery are presented and discussed with neuroradiology faculty. This is always an outstanding learning experience where trainees gain knowledge in interpretation of complex neuroimaging, often with pathological correlation.

9. Morbidity and Mortality Conference

Once a month the Child Neurology division meets for M and M conference. Run by our inpatient medical director, we review important systems-based issues which have arisen based on incident reports or volunteered cases. We follow guidelines to make this an educational process, in which residents can participate in a protective and supportive environment.