Adult neurology residency program begins at Methodist Neurological Institute
Science Centric
— 8 January 2008 | 23:34 GMT

The Methodist Neurological Institute (NI) at The Methodist Hospital has established its first adult neurology residency program. Dr Ericka Simpson, co-director of the MDA/ALS Research and Clinical Centre and director of the Myotonic Dystrophy/Myasthenia Gravis Clinics at the Methodist NI, will serve as the residency program director.

The Methodist Hospital sponsors 17 accredited residency programs with about 125 of its own residents, including the neurosurgery residency program which began in 2005. Additionally, as many as 600 residents from a multitude of institutions rotate through Methodist annually.

Simpson said the neurology training program’s mission is to equip residents with the knowledge and skills to become proficient clinical neurologists and physician scientists. ‘Methodist has a strong commitment to the education and training of future clinicians and scientists,’ said Simpson. ‘Unique to the neurology program is the incorporation of required clinical or basic science research rotations during the training period. This is based upon a commitment to develop residents for academic careers in neurology research, as well as become competent and skilled clinical neurologists.’

Applications are presently being accepted for the program which will begin in July 2008, with plans to train up to a maximum of six residents. Methodist’s neurology program encompasses three years of training and includes rotations through both inpatient and outpatient services, including stroke/vascular neurology, general neurology, neuromuscular and ALS, pain/headache, and movement disorder services, as well as participation in translational research.

‘Methodist has so much to offer in terms of patients, advances in clinical care and technology’ said Dr Stanley H. Appel, chairman of neurology, and co-founder and co-director of the Methodist NI. ‘Our faculty is committed to translating advances in basic science research into meaningful therapies for diseases of the nervous system and to educating the next generation of neurologists and physician-scientists. This new neurology residency program presents an exciting opportunity for us all.’

Training will primarily be at The Methodist Hospital, with instruction and mentoring provided by faculty with substantial experience in training residents and fellows.

The curriculum includes lectures, conferences and grand rounds designed to advance residents’ knowledge and clinical acumen. The training experience will involve speciality training with one-on-one faculty teaching, as well as elective rotations in the resident’s area of interest.

Source: Methodist Hospital, Houston

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