Faculty supervisors:
- Dr. Jennifer Bain and various rotating faculty
Description:
Adult neurology residents must accomplish three months of pediatric neurology over three years of residency training. Columbia’s pediatric neurology service includes a consultation service that provides consultation to the other services at CHONY, including pediatric, pediatric neurological surgery, the pediatric intensive care unit and the neonatal intensive care unit.
The pediatric neurology experience is based at the Children’s Hospital of New York [CHONY], where the clinical activities of the Pediatric Neurology Division are headquartered on the 6th floor tower [CHONY 6T]. The pediatric neurology consult team includes one PGY-2 , one PGY-3, and one PGY-4 adult neurology resident, rotating pediatric residents, and two pediatric neurology resident/fellows (PGY-3, PGY-4, or PGY-5), under the supervision of the pediatric neurology attending on service as well. The PGY-2 residents typically work four weeks of Monday-Saturday day shifts, whereas the PGY-3 and PGY-4 residents typically work some weeks Monday -Friday day shifts and some weeks Monday-Friday night shifts.
Evaluation:
Performance evaluations are completed by faculty supervisors by using the Medhub system and verbal feedback is provided in the mid-point and end of the rotation by the supervising fellow and attending. Residents will perform a supervised neurological examination at the end of their PGY-3 or 4 rotations. The standard American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology [ABPN] neurological clinical exercise [NEXv.2 – see Appendix for Evaluations] will be completed based on this examination.
Location: Children’s Hospital of New York [CHONY] Tower 6th floor
Specific Objectives:
PGY-2
PGY-2 residents will focus on mastering the basic skills of history-taking and neurological examination for the pediatric neurology patient. The goal of pediatric neurology training is not to prepare adult neurology residents for the independent practice of pediatric neurology but to provide the basic clinical skills, knowledge and approach to pediatric neurological disease.
Medical Knowledge
To learn about the growth and development of the normal nervous system.
To develop an approach for assessing developmental milestone achievement.
To become familiar with the common and important diseases in pediatric neurology, including delayed development of the nervous system, metabolic disorders, seizures, headache, infections, brain tumors, diseases of the spinal cord, hydrocephalus, movement disorders, trauma, stroke and neuromuscular disorders, among others.
To learn the indications and basics of interpretation of EEG in children.
To identify different pediatric epileptic syndromes with their underlying genetic, traumatic, structural, and idiopathic etiologies.
To differentiate epileptic syndromes from mimics of epilepsy, including syncope, non-epileptic psychogenic seizures, movement disorders, and behavior disturbance.
To develop interpretation skills of common tests used in diagnosing pediatric neurologic disease, particularly routine and continuous EEG, as well as evoked potentials.
Patient Care
To develop skill at taking a neurological and developmental history on pediatric patients.
To develop skills in performing in the pediatric neurology examination, including the measurement of head circumference, the assessment of the cranium, the examination of the skeletal, cardiac, respiratory, abdominal and integumentary systems, the elicitation of developmental reflexes, and the examination of cognitive, language, cranial nerves, gross and fine motor systems, the sensory systems, deep tendon reflexes, developmental reflexes, coordination, stance and locomotion.
To learn how to distinguish normal from abnormal findings on the pediatric neurologic examination.
To develop an approach for assessing developmental milestone achievement.
To make a localization and differential diagnosis of common neurological complaints in the pediatric patient.
To begin to develop a management strategy for treating common neurological problems and emergencies in pediatric patients.
To develop an awareness of the use and interpretation of common tests used in diagnosing pediatric neurologic disease, including metabolic and genetic testing, neuroimaging, EEG, and electrodiagnostic studies for neuromuscular disease.
To attend the educational conferences of the Pediatric Neurology Division, including case conferences..
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
To interact and communicate effectively and compassionately with patients and family members in a professional, ethical and culturally sensitive manner.
To develop the interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral, necessary to (i) transmit an accurate neurological history and exam to other physicians, (ii) present cases on rounds and in conferences, and (iii) to provide competent counseling to patients and families.
To maintain electronic medical records that are clear, accurate, comprehensive and timely.
Professionalism
To demonstrate the professional habits of punctuality, responsibility, honesty, integrity, compassion, and cultural sensitivity in caring for pediatric patients with neurological disease.
To be compliant with ethical and legal standards, work hour’s guidelines and the requirements of patient confidentiality.
Systems-based Practice
To demonstrate the ability to work effectively as a member of the health care team on the pediatric neurology service.
To develop awareness of hospital protocols, practice guidelines and other resources that may enhance patient care for pediatric neurology patients.
Practice-based Learning and Improvement
To begin to use the medical literature in the diagnosis and management of pediatric neurological diseases.
To become familiar with hospital information systems in the evaluation and treatment of neurological patients.
To attend case conferences highlighting the management and outcomes of interventions for pediatric neurological diseases.
PGY-3
PGY-3 residents will broaden their exposure to basic skills of history-taking and neurological examination during their rotation on the Pediatric Consultation service. During the Pediatric Consultation service rotation, the PGY-3 residents will further develop their ability to diagnose and manage neurological disease in pediatric patients.
Medical Knowledge
To expand on knowledge about the growth and development of the normal nervous system.
To expand and consolidate knowledge about common and important diseases in pediatric neurology, including delayed development of the nervous system, metabolic disorders, seizures, headache, infections, brain tumors, diseases of the spinal cord, hydrocephalus, movement disorders, trauma, stroke and neuromuscular disorders, among others.
To be able to recognize neurological emergencies in children and make recommendations regarding diagnostic studies and treatment.
To perform pediatric neurological consultations on the pediatric services and in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
To consolidate knowledge about pediatric epilepsy syndromes and their associated findings on EEG.
To create a complete, rational and independently-formulated synthesis of each case for presentation on rounds.
Patient Care
To continue to develop skills at taking a neurological and developmental history on pediatric patients.
To further expand knowledge of how to distinguish normal from abnormal findings on the pediatric neurologic examination.
To apply an approach for assessing developmental milestone achievement.
To make a localization and differential diagnosis of common neurological complaints in the pediatric patient.
To expand the ability to diagnose and manage a broad variety of pediatric neurological problems, including epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, stroke, diseases of the spinal cord, metabolic disorders, and neurological infections, among others.
To begin to develop a management strategy for treating common neurological problems.
To develop interpretation skills of common tests used in diagnosing pediatric neurologic disease, particularly routine and continuous EEG, as well as evoked potentials.
To perform pediatric neurological consultations on the pediatric services and in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
To attend the educational conferences of the Pediatric Neurology Division, including case conferences and Pediatric Neurology Grand Rounds.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
To interact and communicate effectively and compassionately with patients and family members in a professional, ethical and culturally sensitive manner.
To develop the interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral, necessary to (i) transmit an accurate neurological history and exam to other physicians, (ii) present cases on rounds and in conferences, and (iii) to provide competent counseling to patients and families.
To maintain electronic medical records that are clear, accurate, comprehensive and timely.
Professionalism
To demonstrate the professional habits of punctuality, responsibility, honesty, integrity, compassion, and cultural sensitivity in caring for pediatric patients with neurological disease.
To be compliant with ethical and legal standards, work hour’s guidelines and the requirements of patient confidentiality.
Systems-based Practice
To demonstrate the ability to work effectively as a member of the health care team on the pediatric neurology service.
To develop awareness of hospital protocols, practice guidelines and other resources that may enhance patient care for pediatric neurology patients.
Practice-based Learning and Improvement
To begin to use the medical literature in the diagnosis and management of pediatric neurological diseases.
To become familiar with hospital information systems in the evaluation and treatment of neurological patients.
To attend case conferences highlighting the management and outcomes of interventions for pediatric neurological diseases.
PGY – 4
PGY-4 residents have accomplished two-months of the pediatric consultation service, when they return for their final month of pediatric neurology training. They are expected to have mastered the basic skills of history-taking and neurological examination for the pediatric neurology patient. The goal of pediatric neurology training is not to prepare adult neurology residents for the independent practice of pediatric neurology but to provide the basic clinical skills, knowledge and approach to pediatric neurological disease. Accordingly, for senior neurology residents, the rotation goals build upon the previous clinical experiences, and the clinical duties and responsibilities reflect a more advanced level of capability.
Patient Care
To improve the ability to take a neurological and developmental history and to perform a pediatric neurological history in neonates, infants, and children.
To be able to recognize neurological emergencies in children and make recommendations regarding diagnostic studies and treatment.
To expand the ability to diagnose and manage a broad variety of pediatric neurological problems, including epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, stroke, diseases of the spinal cord, metabolic disorders, and neurological infections, among others.
To perform pediatric neurological consultations on the pediatric services and in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
To create a complete, rational and independently-formulated synthesis of each case for presentation on rounds.
Medical Knowledge
To become familiar with the following pediatric neurologic conditions, including clinical presentation, differential diagnoses, etiology and pathophysiology, treatment and prognosis.
To demonstrate an expanded knowledge of the pathophysiology and epidemiology of common and acute neurological problems in pediatric patients, including headache, increased intracranial pressure, trauma, seizure and status epilepticus, and alterations of mental status and behavior.
To develop a more sophisticated knowledge of the indications and interpretation of diagnostic used in pediatric neurologic diseases, including metabolic and genetic testing, neuroimaging, EEG, and electrodiagnostic studies for neuromuscular disease.
To identify and describe abnormalities seen in important and acute neurologic disorders on neuroimaging studies in pediatric patients.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
To refine the ability to communicate effectively and compassionately with patients and family members in a professional, ethical and culturally sensitive manner.
To improve the interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral, necessary to (i) transmit an accurate neurological history and exam to other physicians, (ii) present cases on rounds and in conferences, and (iii) to provide competent counseling to patients and families.
To maintain electronic medical records that are clear, accurate, comprehensive and timely.
Professionalism
To demonstrate the professional habits of punctuality, responsibility, honesty, integrity, compassion, and cultural sensitivity in caring for pediatric patients with neurological disease.
To show appropriate respect for and cultural sensitivity to patients and their families.
To be compliant with ethical and legal standards, work hour’s guidelines and the requirements of patient confidentiality.
Systems-based Practice
To demonstrate the ability to reference and utilize electronic information systems to access medical, scientific and patient information.
To develop an expanded awareness of hospital protocols, triage guidelines and standards of practice that have an impact on the evaluation and management of pediatric patients with neurological problems.
To develop effective time management and triage skills in responding to requests for consultation and when admitting and caring for hospitalized pediatric neurology patients.
Practice-based Learning and Improvement Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
To refine the use of the medical literature, including electronic databases, in the application to patient care and neurological education in pediatric neurology.
To develop an appreciation for the clinical trials and evidence-based medicine that informs the management of pediatric neurological problems.
To attend case conferences highlighting the management and outcomes of interventions for pediatric neurological diseases.
Updated 7/21/25