Program overview

Conferences
At the beginning of each academic year, a series of introductory neurology lectures is given over the first 8 weeks (3 to 5 noon lectures/week) designed primarily for the JAR's to review common neurological disorders, diagnostic tests, and treatment modalities. Residents participate in a monthly basic science review with each session led by a resident. The remainder of the conferences scheduled are:

Monday
- Clinical Neurophysiology (noon, weekly)

Tuesday
- Morning Report (7 a.m., weekly)
- Resident Neuroscience Conference - coverage of basic neuroscience/clinical topics (noon, weekly)

Wednesday
- Clinical Neuroscience Grand Rounds (8-9 a.m., weekly)
- Stroke Conference (noon, bi-weekly)
- Behavioral Neurology Conference (noon, monthly)

Thursday
- Neuro-intensive Care Conference (noon, monthly)
- Evidence-based Neurology/Journal Club (noon, monthly)
- Interesting Case Conference - cases presented by residents or faculty utilized to discuss common and uncommon neurologic disorders. The first Thursday each month - cases are presented in the Neuroradiology suite with a neuroradiologist present. (5-6 p.m., weekly)

Friday
- Medical Grand Rounds (7:30-8:30 a.m., optional)
- Pediatric Neurology Conference (noon, weekly)

Resident Evaluations
At the start of the residency program, each resident is assigned a faculty advisor. This advisor meets with the resident bi-annually to discuss performance and career plans. Evaluations are completed at the end of each rotation by supervising faculty and provided to the advisor for discussion. Each resident is supervised during portions of history taking and physical examination by supervising attendings. A formal advisor supervised history and physical is performed during the first month of residency to ensure the new resident is comfortable and capable with their examination. The program director will also meet with you yearly. Annual mock- boards are based on the format of neurology boards. Each resident performs a timed examination of a patient with 2-3 faculty present. The resident then presents the case to the faculty, answers questions concerning that patient, and other vignettes. Feedback concerning performance is shared. All residents take the yearly Academy of Neurology In-service Residency Examination and receive their scoring. Results are reviewed with the faculty advisor and program director. The residents also evaluate each faculty member, rotation and lecture series.

Vacation/Meetings
Residents are given 21 days (three weeks) of vacation each year. During the December holidays, an additional six days of vacation are scheduled by residents coming off elective and splitting the inpatient and consultative duties. Finally, residents have one half week to attend the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting or another meeting.

The Division provides each resident an annual fund to attend a national or regional meeting of his/her choice. This can include the AAN meeting or other meetings such as Neurosciences or Stroke Conference.

Call Room
The residents' call room at Duke is private and also located adjacent to the inpatient ward.