Saint Louis University's child neurology residency program accepts two categorical residents each year using the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). The residency is accredited by the ACGME and offers comprehensive clinical training.
Through our partnership with the Saint Louis University Pediatric Residency Program, residents who match into child neurology will automatically earn a PGY1 position in the Pediatric Residency Program. During the residents' two years of training in the Saint Louis University Pediatric Residency Program, they learn to diagnose and treat a wide range of neurologic diseases affecting a diverse pediatric population.
Upon successful completion of pediatric residency the resident will transition into the Child Neurology Residency Program. Our graduating residents are eligible to sit for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as well as the American Board of Pediatrics board examinations.
Child Neurology Training
This program qualifies a physician for certification in neurology with special competence in child neurology. Twelve of the 36 months are spent on the adult neurology service. An additional 12 months are devoted to the study of clinical child neurology in the ambulatory and in-patient settings.
The ambulatory program provides residents with an opportunity to rotate through clinics in general child neurology, neurofibromatosis, neuro-oncology, neonatology, myelodysplasia and neuromuscular disorders. The final 12 months are spent in the study of neuropathology, neuroradiology, clinical neurophysiology or clinical research. While on the ward rotation, residents make daily rounds with the attending child neurologist and attend all regularly scheduled conferences of the SLU’s Department of Neurology.
Each resident is expected to participate in a faculty-sponsored research project. Research activities of the faculty are focused on neonatal neurological problems, sleep disorders and pediatric brain tumors.
SLU's child neurology training program exists to both educate and train physicians to be independent practitioners. For that reason, guided and gradual assumption of responsibility for patient care, as well as the other aspects of child neurology practice are, a vital part of the program. As a faculty, we encourage this assumption of responsibility as a resident’s knowledge and experience, skill and judgment permit. Supervision and evaluation are designed and implemented with this goal in mind.
Attending physicians always retain final responsibility for the diagnosis and management of patients seen by the neurology service, but we recognize that there is often more than one acceptable approach to diagnosis and management. We seek to educate our successors, not train our replicas.
Physicians are responsible for practicing within their limits of educational and professional development as perceived and informed by faculty guidance and self-assessment. Residents have access to advice and assistance of the supervising physician on each rotation at any time and may request the presence of the attending physician for any emergency or other urgent situation when necessary. Consultation and advice may be sought from any member of the faculty but final responsibility and thus decisions for an individual patient’s care rest with the attending physician of record.
After hours and weekend on-call responsibility is shared by fellows. Responsibilities include management of neurology service patients, as well as coverage of consults both in-patient and in the emergency room for pediatric patients. Duty hours are in strict compliance with ACGME guidelines.
Comparison of a resident’s growing knowledge, skill and competence with both the standards of the profession and the progress of peers is a valuable part of the educational program. Careful and timely feedback is designed to encourage by demonstrating achievement and guide by identifying areas yet to be mastered.
We accomplish this by:
- Discussion of individual cases and general topics during and as part of clinical care rendered in both in-patient and out-patient settings by supervising faculty.
- Completion of a written evaluation form for each rotation that identifies specific goals of the rotation and progress in meeting them.
- Monthly review of resident progress and performance by the faculty as a group.
- Semi-annual review of evaluations and discussion of future training directions and possible modifications with the Program Director.
- Immediate resident notification of any evaluation, written complaint or other concerns that would adversely affect successful advancement in the program.
- Twice yearly Mock Board examinations by the faculty.
- Yearly participation in the in-service examination of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Program Evaluation
The Child Neurology Training Program continuously monitors and evaluates its structure and performance in order to provide an excellent educational program. Study and critical review of current methods allows retention of what is worthwhile, improvement when indicated and possible innovation as opportunities arise. This is accomplished through the following mechanisms:
The Program Director, faculty and residents meet annually to review the program’s goals, objectives and performance. Topics include but are not necessarily limited to:
- Program resources
- Faculty support
- Supporting institutions
- Volume and variety of patients
- Teaching methods and effectiveness
- Clinic and ward supervision
- Methods and timing of evaluation
The Office of Graduate Medical Education conducts a review of the program at the mid-point
of each accreditation cycle of the ACGME. This in-house evaluation is carried out
by reviewers from outside the Department of Neurology but from within Saint Louis
University School of Medicine. Faculty and resident interviews are conducted and the
information gained, along with the program’s strengths and weaknesses, are provided
in a written report to the program director, director of child neurology, chairman
of the Department of Neurology and the associate dean in charge of Graduate Medical
Education.
The program maintains accreditation by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical
Education and thus undergoes regular evaluation by the Neurology Residency Review
Committee. This provides both documentation and confirmation of the program’s organization
and performance, as well as identification of opportunities for innovation or improvement
— both in comparison to accepted independent, national norms for all training programs.
Facilities
The child neurology program is based at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, a 195-bed acute care hospital with single patient rooms, a 60 bed NICU, an 11 bed PICU, and surgical suite and radiology facilities including CT and MRI. The hospital also has a 22-room emergency department.
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital has state of the art clinical facilities that include a Level I pediatric trauma center and Level IV NICU. The neurophysiology lab is equipped for EEG, EMG/ NCV, and EP studies. A two-bed sleep/polysomnography laboratory with two additional beds is dedicated to epilepsy monitoring. Laboratory test results are readily available by computer throughout the institution in its clinics, wards, specialty units and offices.
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital also houses the pediatric outpatient clinic's conference rooms and the child neurology faculty and resident offices.
Learn More About Cardinal Glennon Hospital
Adult neurology training takes place at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. The hospital opened its doors in September 2020 and features more than 800,000 square feet of space and 316 private patient rooms.
SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital is a Level I Time Critical Diagnosis hospital in stroke, trauma and STEMI. It has an expanded emergency department, larger intensive care units, increased parking for patients and healing gardens and green space. The site also includes areas for future expansion to meet patient, physician, and student needs.
SLU Hospital is adjacent to the Center for Specialized Medicine which opened at the end of August 2020. The CSM houses our outpatient primary care providers and specialists.
SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital and the Center for Specialized Medicine is only a few minutes walking distance from SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. The former hospital offers tunnel access from Cardinal Glennon to the School of Medicine. Additional training occurs at the John Cochran Veteran’s Hospital.
The Department of Neurology's academic offices are located in the SLUCare Academic Pavilion located at Spring and Chouteau avenues. The Academic Pavilion opened in August 2020 and is the location of the offices for the adult neurology faculty and residents, classrooms and meeting rooms.