Department of Neurology

Program Outline

The Pediatric Neurology Residency Program is a five-year categorical program which includes two years of general pediatrics at the University of Washington, mostly at Seattle Children’s Hospital, along with integrated training and educational experiences through the Adult Neurology Residency Program, and broad training in Pediatric Neurology. Over the three years of neurology residency, trainees will spend 12 months in adult neurology and 12 months in pediatric neurology. The remaining 12 months are flexible and are reserved for a variety of clinical and neuroscience electives which includes one required month of child psychiatry. The program director is Dr. Hannah Tully

The Program is designed to:

  • Train physicians to become proficient clinical pediatric neurologists through three years of progressively independent responsibility in the care of patients with neurological conditions.
  • Provide exposure to a wide variety of ancillary disciplines such as neuropathology, electroencephalography, electromyography, neuroradiology, neuro-ophthalmology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, neurodevelopmental disorders and rehabilitation medicine.
  • Develop a broad understanding of the basic neurosciences which form the foundation for the current practice of clinical neurology and to prepare physicians for future developments in our exciting field.

First year of Pediatric Neurology Training (PN1)

The first year of training focuses primarily on clinical (adult) neurology. However, early in this year the resident will spend one four-week block at Seattle Children’s Hospital as a neurology junior ward resident. This initial clinical experience will allow the trainee to learn some of the essential skills of obtaining a neurologic history, performing a neurologic exam and developing a differential diagnosis in a more familiar pediatric setting, prior to joining the adult neurology clinical services. For the adult neurology training, residents rotate through the primary hospitals of the Neurology Residency Program of the University of Washington, including the University of Washington Medical Center, Veterans’ Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, and Harborview Medical Center. The primary goal of this year is to become competent in general adult neurology, including care of acute and chronic neurologic problems and to become adept at exam-based localization of neurological lesions. Residents begin participating in program-wide educational programs including weekly grand rounds, and core lecture series. In addition to patient care responsibilities on the ward and in outpatient adult neurology clinics, residents also have two elective blocks in clinical neuroscience focused in adult neurology such as EEG, neuropathology, and neuroradiology (among others). Residents also participate in the teaching of medical students during their required neurology clinical clerkship. While being immersed in adult neurology, during this year the resident also begins seeing pediatric neurology outpatients in his or her own weekly continuity clinic which will continue for all three years of neurology training.

Second year of Pediatric Neurology Training (PN2)

During this year, pediatric neurology residents spend three months working on our inpatient services, with half of each month spent on our neurocritical care service and the other half spent on our general ward service. Three months are spent focusing on outpatient care with two months at Seattle Children’s and one month working with local private group practices in order to broaden exposure. The required month of child psychiatry also occurs during this year and is focused on the Autism Center. One month is reserved for completion of the clinical adult neurology elective. The remaining four months are used in flexible elective time with a wide range of opportunities including neuromuscular medicine, EEG/epilepsy, neurosurgery, biochemical genetics, ethics and palliative care and many more. Each resident’s program is individually tailored to meet core educational needs and their own interests and career goals. The inpatient months provide outstanding clinical training as Children’s is the tertiary referral center for several states. This provides opportunities to see the complete range of neurological illness encountered from pre-term infants to late adolescents. These months also allow the resident time to teach medical students, pediatric residents, and other team members. Residents also work in a variety of general and subspecialty pediatric neurology clinics (including epilepsy, neuromuscular, neuro-oncology, genetics, and developmental pediatrics clinics), where cases are staffed by members of the full-time faculty. The resident continues to see patients in a weekly continuity clinic except during inpatient blocks.

Third year of Pediatric Neurology Training

In the final year of the program, the resident has one month of inpatient service as well as one month serving as a resource and mentor for the PN2 residents during their first inpatient month. One month will be spent working in the epilepsy monitoring unit and participating in subspecialty epilepsy clinics (for example: ketogenic diet, surgical epilepsy, and epilepsy genetics). Two additional months are spent in outpatient clinic gaining additional experience. This leaves seven months of flexible elective time to pursue clinical interests, educational projects, research, or other academic pursuits. During this year the resident refines skills in clinical pediatric neurology and is expected to take on an even more prominent role in teaching fellow residents and medical students. As with prior years, the resident continues to see his or her patients in a weekly continuity clinic.

Research Track (Optional)

One of our top priorities is to continue to train future leaders in academic pediatric neurology who participate in clinical, translational and basic neuroscience. There are many opportunities for residents take part in research with our faculty.

Fellowships

If you are interested in furthering your education within Pediatric Neurology, we offer two areas for specialization with our focused Fellowships.

Pediatric Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship

The pediatric epilepsy fellowship is a two-year training program designed for development of an academic career in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology. Graduates will be eligible for certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology subspecialty in Clinical Neurophysiology.

Pediatric Neurocritical Care Fellowship

The pediatric neurocritical care fellowship is a one-year training program where the fellow will develop expertise in the recognition, evaluation and approach to neuroprotection of acute neurologic insults in the Pediatric, Cardiac and Neonatal Intensive Care Units, including cardiac arrest; stroke; refractory status epilepticus; traumatic brain injury; autoimmune and demyelinating disorders; CNS infections; metabolic, neuromuscular disorders; and neurologic complications of critical illness. This is a non-ACGME fellowship.

Electives

  • Biochemical Genetics
  • Education
  • EEG
  • Ethics
  • Epilepsy
  • Neuromuscular/EMG
  • Headache
  • Movement disorders
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Neurocritical care
  • Neurogenetics
  • Neuro-oncology
  • Neuro-ophthalmology
  • Neuroradiology including interventional radiology
  • Neuropathology
  • Neuropsychology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Palliative care
  • Psychiatry
  • Sleep
  • Stroke
  • Research
  • Rehabilitation medicine
  • Vascular neurology

Special Opportunities

If desired, residents will have the chance to work with Seattle Children’s child neurologists in outreach sites in Alaska.