Child Neurology
UT Southwestern offers a five-year categorical residency program, composed of two years of ACGME accredited residency training in Pediatrics at Children's Medical Center, followed by three years of pediatric neurology training.
During the two-year pediatrics training, residents fulfill the American Board of Pediatrics’ specialty pathway; this makes residents eligible to sit for the American Board of Pediatrics after completing the full five-year residency. After completing these two years, our residents start their three years of child neurology training. We also offer a three-year reserved pediatric neurology residency for candidates who have completed preliminary training in pediatrics elsewhere.
A pediatric neurology graduate is eligible to sit for board certification in Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Program Years
- Postgraduate Years 1-2: Pediatric Training
Residents spend their first two years as integrated members of the Pediatrics Residency program at UT Southwestern - Childrens Health℠.
- Postgraduate Year 3: Adult Neurology and Intro to Child Neurology
The first block of this year is dedicated to An Introduction to Neurology and Management of Acute Neurologic Emergencies. This focused review of neuroscience, neuroanatomy, neuropathology, and neuroradiology occurs without the burden of primary clinical responsibilities.
Residents complete six months of adult inpatient neurology with the focus on direct care of patients with acute neurologic disease on the neurology inpatient and consult services, while under the direct supervision of adult neurology senior residents and attending faculty. They also complete one block each of adult outpatient specialty clinics, adult neurology elective, and neuropathology.
Integrated throughout training is a weekly Child Neurology Continuity Clinic where residents follow patients longitudinally and assess disease progression and management, especially as it pertains to a developing child.
- Postgraduate Year 4: Mastering Skills in Child Neurology
During their fourth year, residents will complete their adult neurology training requirements including adult outpatient specialty clinics and adult neurology electives. Residents spend more time developing and mastering their skills in child neurology. They develop diagnostic skills and become familiar with the management of acute and chronic child neurologic disorders under direct supervision of senior residents and attendings in a variety of settings, including the ICUs, general and subspecialty pediatrics floors, EMU, the Emergency Room, and outpatient clinic rotations.
- Postgraduate Year 5: Becoming a Child Neurologist
Senior residents spend Year 5 in a more supervisory role. Senior residents assume the major teaching duties and lead teams consisting of medical students, junior child-neurology residents, and rotating residents from other services. Residents complete scheduled rotations within general and subspecialty pediatric neurology clinics including stroke, epilepsy, neurodevelopmental disabilities, neuromuscular, headache medicine, concussion, neurogenetics, rare disorders, neuroimmunology, neuro-oncology, and more. Child Psychiatry rotation is also completed during this year. In addition, residents have electives, which are designed to be flexible to their needs in preparation for fellowship or a career in practice.