Categorical Child Neurology Residency Program
University of Louisville School of Medicine

The University of Louisville Department of Pediatrics and Division of Child Neurology offer three five-year categorical positions during the match cycle, whereby applicants may simultaneously apply for two years of preliminary training in pediatrics followed by three years of child neurology residency. Those applicants interested in training for all five years at the University of Louisville, please choose  through the ERAS process:

• The Categorical program for the University of Louisville Child Neurology
Residency program (ACGME ID # 1852021103/ NRMP Code # 1217185C0)

The categorical program includes 2 years of pediatric training and a 3 year child neurology position.  More information may be obtained by looking on the ERAS website at  https://www.aamc.org/services/eras/

Interested individuals may contact either Julie Armstrong-Binnix in Child Neurology at (502) 852-9141 or via email at julie.binnix-armstrong@louisville.edu, or Brittney Luckett in the Department of Pediatrics at (502) 629-8828 or via email at pedmeded@louisville.edu for further information.

Overview of the program

The first two (pediatrics) years of the categorical program in child neurology are within the University of Louisville Pediatrics Residency Program. The two years include inpatient, outpatient, NICU, PICU and elective experiences as well as research opportunities. The resident will gain experience in general pediatrics in accordance with the requirements as outlined by the American Board of Pediatrics.  At the end of the five year experience the trainee will be Board eligible in Pediatrics as well as Board eligible in Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology.

Beginning in the PGY-3 year, the child neurology resident begins with one year on the adult neurology service obtaining experience in general neurology and stroke inpatient services, as well as exposure to the various outpatient subspecialties within neurology.  The child neurology resident spends a total of 8 months in the second year and third year (PGY-4 and 5) on the child neurology inpatient service where he/she is responsible for the care of all patients on the child neurology service, in addition to hospital consultations. Four months are spent in the outpatient child neurology clinics during PGY-4 and 5. During the second and third year (PGY-4 and 5), rotations are completed in child psychiatry, neuro- ophthalmology, pediatric neurorehabilitation, neurodevelopmental disabilities, neuroradiology, neurogenetics, stroke, muscular dystrophy, and epilepsy, among other subspecialty electives. Throughout all three years of child neurology residency, continuity clinic will be in child neurology once a week.

Formal instruction during the first child neurology (adult) year consists of weekly Neurosciences Grand Rounds, weekly resident case presentations, monthly journal club and didactic sessions at least three times per week.  During the second and third year of residency in child neurology, the resident will attend weekly dedicated child neurology board review and weekly child neurology didactic conferences, including child neurology grand rounds, EEG conference, neurogenetics conference, difficult case conference, journal club, morbidity and mortality, chief rounds, and EMG/NCS conference. Experience in EEG and other studies will occur in a longitudinal manner throughout the training program.

Call

In-house call is taken during the first (adult) year and involves a night float system.  During the last two years of the program, child neurology call is taken from home.  The PGY-4 year currently involves a maximum of one weekday call a week and one weekend a month.  The PGY-5 year involves a maximum of 2 weekday calls a month and one weekend a month. Duty hours are carefully monitored and held to the ACGME standards.

Research

The resident is required to become involved in research (e.g. publication, oral presentations or poster presentation) during the second and third year of child neurology residency, with a requirement to complete two scholarly projects, one which can be in quality improvement. There is an opportunity for sponsored travel for those residents who present research projects at scientific meetings. A poster is required at the end of the child neurology residency program for the annual Department of Pediatrics graduation poster session.  Resident's are partnered with a child neurology faculty mentor at the start of the pediatric portion to help facilitate research interests.

Formal evaluations during training

At the start of the pediatrics program, residents are paired with a child neurology faculty mentor to help guide them during the full 5 year program.  During the program, performance is assessed through monthly evaluations by faculty attending physicians as well as semiannual reviews with the program director.  At the end of each year, a written self-examination (RITE) is completed, provided by the American Academy of Neurology.  Results are then reviewed
with a faculty mentor. Residents will complete a standardized patient examination annually to assess their neurological examination skills.

Application requirements

Eligibility for training in child neurology requires one of the following:

a)  Two years of residency training in pediatrics accredited by the ACGME in the United States or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada
b)  one year of training in general pediatrics and one year of research in the basic neurosciences, OR
c)  one year of training in general pediatrics and one year of training in internal medicine

The University of Louisville Child Neurology Residency Program is currently accepting applicants through the NRMP for the categorical program as outlined above (two years of general pediatrics plus three years of child neurology).

Additional preferred criteria include:
• USMLE scores greater than 210 with no multiple attempts
• COMLEX scores greater than 500
• Strong letters of recommendation with evidence of child neurology components
• International residents must have current ECFMG certification
• J-1 Visa status, green card or EAD for training purposes
• ACGME-acceptable medical college graduate.
• Completion of all USMLE steps is required prior to December 31st
of the Internship year.
• The personal statement should include components of Neurology and a focus in Pediatrics and or Child Neurology.
• Clinical experience within the United States is strongly preferred
• Graduation from medical school must be within the past three years

If you do not meet these standards, we still encourage you to apply, and will review all applications on a case by case basis.

The Program Directors review and determine the acceptability of applications prior to being invited for an interview.

All applicants to the Categorical program will be expected to complete the entire five years of training at the University of Louisville.  At the completion of training in this program, the candidate will be qualified and is expected to sit for the certification administered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
with special qualification in child neurology.

International Medical Graduates are welcome to apply to this program and must provide proof of a valid standard ECFMG certificate. The University of Louisville, School of Medicine only utilizes the J-1 Visa, green card, EAD or US citizenship for training purposes. They must also fulfill the ACGME requirements as listed above.

The child neurology training participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).  Those applicants interested in applying to the categorical child neurology residency program at the University of Louisville please choose the Categorical program for the University of Louisville Child Neurology Residency program.  More information may be obtained by looking on the ERAS website at https://www.aamc.org/services/eras/

Applications are reviewed by the program directors of Child Neurology and Pediatrics and prospective candidates are then invited to interview on October 10th.  Interviews take place during October, November and December of each application cycle. Applications must be submitted to ERAS during the application cycle (no later than December 1st)

If you would like to receive more information about the Child Neurology Residency Program, please see our Contact/Follow Us section.