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Adult Neurology Residency Program

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Welcome from the Program Leadership

Dena Williams, DO
Dena Williams, DO
Adult Residency Program Director

Welcome to the Neurology Residency Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,

At UNC, our mission is simple but powerful: to train thoughtful, confident neurologists who care deeply for their patients and for one another. Our program is built on the principle of graduated autonomy – a deliberate progression from closely guided learning to independent clinical leadership. Through structured mentorship, engaged faculty, and a culture of shared responsibility, our residents grow steadily into capable clinicians ready for fellowship, practice, or academic careers.

We believe that exceptional training happens in an environment of respect, collaboration, and belonging. Our residents help shape our curriculum, lead educational initiatives, and drive quality improvement efforts. Whether pursing research, global neurology, health equity, or clinician-educator pathways, each resident receives the support and infrastructure needed to build their own versions of neurology.

What truly distinguishes our program is our people. We prioritize fairness, teamwork, and kindness – even on the most demanding days. We celebrate milestones together, invest in mentorship across all levels of training, and create space for residents to grow not only as physicians but as leaders and mentors.

We are proud of our graduates and the neurologists they become. We invite you to explore our program and imagine how your own path in neurology could take shape at UNC Chapel Hill.

Warmly,

Program Leadership

Dena Williams, DO Program Director

Nathan Walker, MD Associate Program Director

Atif Sheikh, MD Associate Program Director

Sharon Ward, Program Coordinator

Vision & Core Values

As Developed by our Residents

Vision

  • We are committed to excellence in the delivery of neurological care.
  • We place the needs, well-being and comfort of our patients above and beyond all other considerations.
  • We strive to provide care that is barrier-free and high quality.
  • We commit to provide effective, efficient, compassionate, economically competitive, responsive, and patient-centered care to all our patients.
  • We will respect patient choice.
  • We develop and foster a team-based, collegial, positive-learning environment.

Core Values

  • Patients come first.
  • Do your best to make the lives of the people you work with easier.
  • Split the work as fairly as possible
  • Treat everyone with respect.
  • Be nice, even when you are really tired.
  • Let someone know if you need help.

Give

To donate to the UNC Neurology Residency Programs, visit unchf.org/neuroresidents.

Philanthropic donations support additional educational activities for our residents including advancing curriculum innovations, supporting presentations at conferences, external rotation opportunities and special workshops.