Child Neurology Fellowship Program

Program Description

The goals and objectives of the Child Neurology Residency are:

1. To train Child Neurology Residents in comprehensive diagnosis and management of both common and rare neurological conditions affecting neonates, children and adolescents. Although all clinical care is supervised by child neurology attendings, it is expected that the Child Neurology Resident will become progressively more capable of independent decision making as training progresses, ultimately able to provide comprehensive neurologic care of very complex, critically ill children.
2. To train Child Neurology Resident in clinical adult neurology, through rotations at adult institutions, primarily LAC-USC and University Hospital. While it is recognized that Child Neurology Resident will be Board Certified in Neurology and fully trained in basic diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in adults, it is not expected that expertise will match that of a fully committed Adult Neurologist. However, by completion of the residency, the Child Neurology Resident must be capable of providing comprehensive adult neurological care, given the reality that many will practice in settings which require cross coverage of adult neurological patients.
3. To train Child Neurology Resident in basic neurological science including but not limited to neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, neuroanatomy, neuroendocrinology, neuropathology and neurogenetics.
4. To train Child Neurology Resident in specific skills needed in the practice of neurology, including, but not limited to clinical electrophysiology (EEG, EMG, NCVs, evoked potential studies), neuroradiology, neuropathology, psychiatry, neuroopthalmology. Training in use of evoked potentials and electrophysiologic techniques in the OR is available on an elective basis.
5. To train Child Neurology Resident in the appropriate management and application of ancillary therapies such as pediatric neurorehabilitation, neuropsychological and psychometric testing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, behavior modification.
6. To have the Child Neurology Resident understand the ethical issues involved in the care of pediatric patients, including end of life issues, termination of support in severely brain injured individuals, and choices regarding palliative care. To train the Child neurology resident in normal, variant normal and abnormal child development. To impart research skills including, but not necessarily limited to clinical research design, data collection, biostatistical analysis, presentation at meetings, and manuscript preparation.
7. To facilitate learning bench research techniques when there is particular interest.
8. To impart teaching skills, including the ability to teach in a clinical setting, give seminars, lectures to colleagues and trainees, and teach community physicians.
9. To assist the Child Neurology Resident in preparing teaching materials on basic neurologic subjects. To train Child Neurology Resident in use of community resources, particularly for handicapped children and adolescents, including, but not limited to schools, Regional Centers, public programs for supportive care and therapy, and community voluntary organizations.
10. To have the Child neurology resident understand how health care financing impacts upon both the practice of child neurology and upon resources and services available for our patients, and to have them learn skills to negotiate this increasingly challenging system.
11. The Child neurology resident will learn to informally assess cost-effectiveness of various modalities of care, particularly to be able to decide between various options.
12. To have the child neurology resident develop exceptionally good communication skills, both with patients, parents, hospital staff and colleagues in and out of the hospital. This includes ability to communicate back to referring physicians and agencies in succinct written or dictated form.
13. To encourage community service by encouraging the Child Neurology Resident to become familiar with and, when possible, involved in programs such as the Epilepsy Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Tourette Syndrome Association, and other parent or community run groups. 

To Apply

To find out more about this program, or to apply, refer to the contact information below.

Contact Information