Curriculum

The UMKC Neurology Residency program emphasizes direct patient care with appropriate faculty supervision as its foundation.

Overview by Year

PGY-1

The PGY-1 year of the UMKC Neurology Residency program provides an in-depth Internal Medicine experience in conjunction with the UMKC Internal Medicine Residency program. The clinical sites of the UMKC Internal Medicine program are Saint Luke’s Hospital (SLH) and University Health Truman Medical Center (UHTMC), which allow interns to become familiar with each site prior to starting the intensive neurology years in post-graduate years 2-4. Interns spend one month on the stroke service at Saint Luke’s and 1-2 months on the consult service at UHTMC. This allows for an initial exposure to clinical neurology during the PGY-1 year. The PGY-1 year is capped off by a Neurology Immersion Block, which involves intensive introduction to the basics of clinical neurology.

PGY-2

The PGY-2 year lays the foundation for residents' neurological education by exposing them to a wide variety of clinical neurology. Residents play integral roles on stroke and other inpatient neurology services, including the intensive care unit. Residents participate in month-long rotations on neuroradiology and neurophysiology. These rotations serve as the basis for further learning in these foundational areas. Residents also have two months of elective time during the PGY-2 year.

Each resident’s one half-day per week continuity clinic at University Health Truman Medical Center will begin in the PGY-2 year. This clinic will allow the resident to take ownership of a group of patients in order to develop the skills necessary to practice independently in a post-residency career.

PGY-3

The PGY-3 year advances concepts learned in the PGY-2 year with a gradual transition towards more responsibility and leadership. Residents spend time in several important subspecialties, including movement disorders, multiple sclerosis and neuro-ophthalmology. Three consecutive months in the PGY-3 year are spent at Children’s Mercy Hospital (CMH) learning the essentials of child neurology. Residents will have one month of elective time during the PGY-3 year.

PGY-4

The PGY-4 year is the culmination of the program. Residents assume a leadership role on each service they rotate through. They also play an important part in the education of students and junior residents. The intersection between mental health and neurological disease is explored during residents' one month rotation in the University Health Truman Medical Center psychiatry department. Residents have two and a half months of elective time during the PGY-4 year.

Didactics

Educational development is fostered through a detailed didactic program. One half-day each week is dedicated solely to resident education. Through interactive experiences and lectures, each half-day explores neurological topics from different perspectives: neuroanatomy and localization, clinical neurology, basic science and board review. Regularly scheduled Journal Clubs and Grand Rounds complement the educational program.