Elective Policy

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Electives

During Y2 and Y3 child neurology residents are allotted several months of self determined elective time each year.  We have implemented more oversight of electives which we continue to refine.

Requirements of electives:

The range and abundance of electives during neurology residency allows residents to explore many areas of neurology in greater depth. Electives are structured rotations that allow residents to pursue clinical and research activities of their interest and choice. Many standard and popular electives are available but residents may also design their own personalized learning experiences, as long as the criteria for approval are met.

Requirements for electives:

  • Residents are encouraged to take standardized electives. These have been previously developed with a curriculum including goals and objectives. Given the highly variable interest of our residents and the resources available individualized electives can be designed and will be approved at least 90 days in advance of the desired elective date
  • All elective requests must be filed electronically
  • All electives must be at CUMC unless special approval and review completed documenting why a similar experience is unavailable at CUMC
  • Specific elective designations are all listed in Amion for MedHub evaluation
  • All electives require a faculty sponsor, a formal set of goals and objectives, and a method of evaluating resident performance.
  • All electives require the in-hospital presence of the resident, whether in a clinical or laboratory setting. Residents on elective continue to participate in ongoing program activities, including Morning Report, Grand Rounds, Journal Club and all of the other residency program conferences. Residents on elective maintain their weekly continuity clinic as well as their weekly subspecialty clinic.
  • Elective planning is carried out before the start of the next academic year if possible. Please submit elective requests to the program director at the beginning of the year
  • A formal written elective request form must be submitted to the education office no later than 60 days for in-house electives (CUMC) subject to the approval of the Program Director.
  • Away electives require no less than 120 days advanced notice to the Education Office, subject to the approval of the Program Director and the GMEC.  A comparable in-house elective must not be available as an alternative
  • Faculty member overseeing elective activities and able to provide verbal feedback and written evaluation at the end of the elective.
  • Electives may be used for research projects (basic science or clinical) or writing projects (e.g. case reports, literature reviews for publication), under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Pure reading or study electives are not permitted.
  • Identification of faculty member responsible for supervising resident during elective (must be able to provide written evaluation of resident’s performance at end of the elective) 
  • The elective request form can be found in the O drive under residency program/electives/elective form.  Please make elective requests with 30-day notice.

Residents may choose from activities including (but by no means limited to):

  1. Research projects (basic and clinical), e.g., research mentorship
  2. Writing projects (case reports, literature reviews for publication)
  3. Representative clinical electives:
    1. Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG review, ECOG, sleep study review)
    2. Pediatric Epilepsy
    3. Pediatric Neuro-oncology
    4. Additional Ambulatory Elective
    5. Pediatric neurorehabilitation (Dr. Kim CUMC)
    6. Autism Elective (CABD Westchester) requires special permission interview Dr. Lord
    7. Pediatric sleep elective (Hesmati)
    8. Interventional neuroradiology (Dr. Phillip Meyers-requires individual structuring)
    9. Pediatric Neuro-ophthalmology
    10. Pediatric neurorehabilitation Blythedale (requires CUMC block and then special away rotation permission)
    11. EMG/NCS (required 1 block second elective pediatrics can be designed)
    12. Neurocutaneous elective (dermatology Dr. Christine Lauren)
    13. Pediatric Neurocritical Care (Dr. Joshua Cappell)
    14. Pediatric Headache Elective (Dr. Robert Fryer)
    15. Neuroanatomy Elective (Dr. Robert Fryer)
  4. Other activities pending approval from the residency director