Program Description
The UNC Child Neurology Residency Program is an ACGME-accredited program (PGY1-PGY5) that accepts two categorical residents per year. After residents complete two years of training in pediatrics, their third year is spent predominantly in adult neurology training, where they participate in the evaluation and management of patients with a variety of neurological diseases. The following two years are dedicated to child neurology, with twelve months of clinical child neurology training at the NC Children’s Hospital, a tertiary care center, where emergency medicine, inpatient services, and outpatient clinics are located.
Also during the last two years, twelve months of elective rotations are offered in a wide range of research and clinical settings, from subspecialty clinics, to inpatient services, research and practice improvement focus rotations. Some examples of elective rotations include: epilepsy, sleep medicine, the Carolina Institute of Developmental Disabilities (CIDD), offering opportunities such as the LEND program, pediatric psychiatry, pediatric neurosurgery, neuro-critical care, neuromuscular-neurophysiology, pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation, the palliative care team, and many more. We work with each resident to tailor a training plan that best fits their individual interests and career goals. All adult and pediatric inpatient rotations and child neurology clinics are located at UNC Hospitals main campus, and adult neurology specialty clinics are at the Neurology outpatient clinic.
Recruitment
We are offering two categorical five-year positions (PGY1-PGY5).
Applications are submitted through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) using the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) system. Applicants need only apply to the UNC Child Neurology residency via ERAS – a separate application to UNC Pediatrics is not necessary.
The American Board of Pediatrics requires the following schedule for the Pediatric portion of training:
- 5 units Inpatient Pediatrics
- 2 units NICU
- 2 units PICU
- 3 units Emergency Medicine/Acute Illness (at least 2 months in ED)
- 2 units Ambulatory Experience to include Community Pediatrics and Child Advocacy
- 4 units Subspecialty (at least 3 units of core subspecialties)
- 1 unit Adolescent Medicine
- 1 unit Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
- 1 unit Normal Newborn Experience
- QI Project
More information about the first two years of the residency program is available on the UNC Department of Pediatrics website.
Adult Neurology
Inpatient – 6 months, divided between neurology ward and consult service
Outpatient – 3 months, some examples – neuro-muscular disorders, neuro-immunology, movement disorders, sleep clinic
Elective – 3 months, some examples – neuroradiology, neuropathology, neurophysiology, epilepsy
Majority of Adult Neurology rotations are completed in PGY3
Child Neurology
Inpatient – 8 months
Outpatient – 4 months
Majority of Child Neurology rotations are completed in PGY4, and some in PGY5
Electives, Child Neurology
Total of 12 months. Required rotations: child psychiatry, neurosurgery, research. Other electives for example – genetics, palliative care, neurodevelopmental disabilities clinic, pediatric EEG and epilepsy monitoring unit
Majority of Child Neurology elective rotations are completed in PGY5, and some in PGY4
Two of our residents, Drs. Sonia Varghese and Katelyn Bricker, published multiple abstracts at the 49th Annual Child Neurology Society (CNS) Virtual Meeting held on October 12 – 23, 2020. One of Dr. Bricker’s posters, “Sleep Dysfunction in Rett Syndrome,” was awarded the M. Richard Koenigsberger Scholarship.
2020 abstracts included:
Sleep in Rett Syndrome
Katelyn Bricker MD, MS and Zheng (Jane) Fan, MD
The forgotten TORCH
Katelyn Bricker MD, MS and Yael Shiloh-Malawsky, MD
Addis Clinic – Telemedicine in Epilepsy
Sonia Varghese, MD, MPH, MBA and Yael Shiloh-Malawsky, MD
Menkes Disease in 5 Siblings
Sonia Varghese, MD, MPH, MBA and Yael Shiloh-Malawsky, MD