University of Louisville Neurology Program

General Program Information

The University of Louisville, School of Medicine (UofL SOM) Neurology Residency program is an ACGME accredited training, (ACGME #1802021042) under the directorship of Dr. Adriana E. Palade since September 2016.

Effective November 2022: We received ACGME approval for a increased resident complement! We are growing from 4 to 6 residents per year, starting July 2023! 

UofL Neurology will start accepting applications when ERAS opens in September 2023 for 6 -PGY1 positions (listed in ERAS as Categorical- Neurology- NRMP Code: 1217180C0) to start July 1, 2024.  We will hold virtual interviews November 2023- January 2024.  Please do not email application documentation to the Program Director or Coordinator.

Applicants MUST be registered with NRMP to participate in the 2024 NRMP Match. Applicants who are not registered with NRMP cannot be considered for a residency position.

**We are not accepting any outside requests for observerships /externships/ visiting residents or students/etc. for 2023-2024**

The University of Louisville Neurology Department is open to all eligible faculty, staff, residents and students regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.

Neurology Residents

UofL SOM Requirements:

  • For all PGY levels, UofL SOM utilizes only the J1 Visa; changes to visa status must be completed before training can begin. 

    • FMG’s must have current ECFMG certification

  • J-1 Visa, green card, EAD or US citizenship

  • Graduates of medical schools in the United States and Canada accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

  • Graduates of medical schools in the United States and Canada accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

  • Graduates of medical schools outside of the United States and Canada who have current valid certificates from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).  In addition, schools located outside the U.S. and Canada must

  • Be officially recognized in good standing in the country where they are located

  • Be registered as a medical school, college, or university in the International Medical Education Directory                              

  • Require that all courses must be completed by physical on-site attendance in the country in which the school is chartered. 

  • Possess a basic course of clinical and classroom medical instruction that is not less than 32 months in length; and 

  • under the educational institution’s direct authority

    Non-US Citizens Requirements

  • Applicants who are not citizens of the United States must possess or be eligible for one of the following:

    • J1 Clinical Visa

    • Valid Employment Authorization Document

    • Valid Permanent Resident Card

  • The following arenot accepted for residency or fellowship training

    • J1 Research Visa

    • J2 Dependent Visa

    • H1B Visa 

Program Specific Requirements:

  • USMLE scores must be a 210 or above, passed on first attempt; COMLEX scores 450 or above, passedon first attempt.

    • All steps must be completed prior to entering PGY-2 year

  • ERAS Letters of recommendation (LOR)

    • focus on Neurology interest

    • LOR from a Program Director and Department Chair

    • FMG’s should have at least one (1) LOR from US Clinical Experience

  • Medical School Graduation: 

    • Candidates with five (5) or more years after graduation: We would expect to see detail accounting of where the candidate has been, what the candidate has been involved in since graduation, and their contribution to neurology detailed in a neurology focused personal statement.

  • Substantial US clinical experience is preferred

    • Short term observerships are not viewed as a substantial US clinical experience

    • Program does take into consideration limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic 

  • All four years of training are at University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Department of Neurology

    Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure (KBML) Requirement

  • First year resident’s licenses will be processed through the Graduate Medical Education Office. The resident must obtain an “R” or “Full” license BEFORE the beginning of their PGY2 year of training through the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure.  (http://kbml.ky.gov/)

Residency background

The neurology residency training program is designed to train clinical neurologists who will provide comprehensive, evidence-based care for people with disorders of the nervous system. Neurology is undergoing major changes due to advances in technology, new medications and a focus on treatment paradigms based on prospective clinical trials. The neurology residency program provides three years of intensive training combining supervised clinical practice, research opportunities, medical center-wide lectures and conferences, and small group discussions. We regard our residents as colleagues in training, and strive to provide an exciting and collegial environment for mutual, life-long learning.

Clinical experience

The clinical experience consists of a mixture of inpatient and outpatient general and subspecialty neurology, neurodiagnostics, child neurology, neuroradiology and psychiatry. Residents assume increasing responsibility for supervised patient care as they gain confidence and experience by PGY level.

Inpatient experience

Residents are exposed to both common and rare neurological disorders while providing inpatient admitting and consultative services at the University of Louisville Hospital, Jewish Hospital, and Norton Children's Hospital. Separate subspecialty inpatient experience is provided on the Epilepsy and Multidisciplinary Stroke services.

Resident Outpatient and Elective Opportunities

Residents are exposed to outpatient care for patients with neurological disorders in our general and subspecialty clinics at the University of Louisville Outpatient Center,  Ambulatory Care Building, Frazier Rehab and the Novak Center for Children's Health. Subspecialty clinics provide comprehensive experience in epilepsy, stroke, cognitive and behavioral neurology, neuromuscular disease, neuro-ophthalmology,  movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, neuroimmunology, headache, child neurology, neurogenetics, clinical neurodiagnositics (EMG/NCS, EEG, evoked potentials), neuroradiology, psychiatry, pain management, neuro-anesthesia.  

Within the confines of the requirements for board certification, residents are encouraged to tailor their elective experiences to suit their individual interests.

Click here for information on new subspecialty tracks for residents

Research opportunities for residents

Faculty members in the Department of Neurology are involved in clinical and laboratory-based research in epilepsy, spinal cord injury, movement disorders, peripheral neuropathy, dystonia, stroke, dementia and multiple sclerosis. Residents are encouraged to participate in research activities, design their own projects and present the results of their work at national meetings