Neurology

Neurology Component

The Neurology component is a 4-week experience divided into two 2-week blocks offering students a variety of care settings and subspecialties. Students are matched, based on preferences, with the following services:

• General Inpatient Neurology Ward
• Neurology Inpatient Consults
• Stroke
• Neurosciences Intensive Care
• Pediatric Neurology
• Veteran’s Affairs Neurology Service (combination of inpatient and outpatient care)
• Yale Outpatient Neurology

While the team structure varies across services, in the inpatient setting students will work with a team consisting of an attending, a senior resident, 1-2 junior residents, and APPs. In the outpatient setting, students will work one-on-one with a faculty preceptor, rotating through various subspecialties during their two-week block.

Pedagogy

In addition to attending clinical teaching experiences with their teams, students also participate in case-based subspecialty didactics, small group clinical reasoning discussion sessions, and simulated neurologic emergencies.

Assessment

Students will receive feedback informally during teaching rounds, as well as formally through mid-rotation feedback and supervised neurologic examinations. The final grade is based on summative feedback, completion of component requirements, attendance, and a written knowledge examination.

Learning Objectives

• Learn the clinical knowledge and apply basic science concepts to evaluate and treat common presentations in neurology including neurological emergencies (e.g., coma, mental status changes, stroke, and seizures) and common neurological complaints (e.g., headache, dizziness, back and neck pain, weakness, and numbness).
• Learn the clinical knowledge and apply basic science concepts to evaluate and treat less common neurological problems, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease and other movement disorders, neuromuscular diseases, dementia, central nervous system infections, and tumors of the nervous system.
• Use clinical reasoning to synthesize data into a prioritized differential diagnosis and plan.
• Demonstrate behaviors consistent with the highest standards of professionalism and medical ethics in all patient encounters and interactions with colleagues.
• Demonstrate effective communication with patients, families, and all members of the healthcare team.
• Obtain an accurate and appropriately detailed medical history in a logical and organized manner for a given clinical setting.
• Complete an appropriate and accurate hypothesis-driven physical examination with a particular emphasis on the neurologic examination.
• Deliver an effective oral and written presentation, appropriately tailored for a given clinical setting.
• Recognize whether to obtain and how to interpret common diagnostic studies in neurology, including electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, lumbar puncture, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brain and spinal cord.
• Utilize effective methods of acquiring and applying evidence-based practices to guide diagnosis and treatment decisions.
• Appreciate how patient health care needs are impacted by social and structural determinants of health.

Required Experiences

The Neurology Logbook is a required document for students to log their clinical experiences. It is reviewed by clerkship leadership and completion is monitored centrally by the Office of Curriculum. If you need accessibility assistance with the Logbook, please contact the Office of Curriculum.