Duration: 1-3 months
Eligibility
Residents must be enrolled in an accredited Neurology or Neurosurgery residency program and a have strong interest in pursuing academic medicine. Eligibility requirements can be found at: https://www.cc.nih.gov/training/physicians/neurology.html.
Rotations
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) offers a four to twelve-week clinical elective rotation at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center, a 200 state-of-the-art research hospital, located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.
Residents can choose a rotation within a research branch with a subspecialty focus. The research branches employ a wide variety of techniques including pharmacology, immunology, neurophysiology, molecular biology and genetics, neuroimaging [positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scanning, functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy], electroencephalography (EEG), evoked potentials, and electromyography.
MAJOR CLINICAL INTERESTS OF THE RESEARCH BRANCHES ARE:
- Epilepsy: medical and surgical management of epilepsy including studies of experimental antiepileptic drugs
- Neurophysiology with EMG or EEG focus
- Movement Disorders: neurophysiologic studies of normal movement and movement disorders using techniques such as PET scans, functional MRI, EEG analysis and transcranial magnetic stimulation
- Autonomic disorders: patient-oriented investigations into disorders of central catecholamine systems
- Neurogenetics: Adult and pediatric neurodegenerative diseases of the brain and neuromuscular system
- Neuroimmunology and Neurovirology: study of immunologic mechanisms, clinical correlates, and treatment of multiple sclerosis and neurovirologic disorders
- Stroke and traumatic brain injury: Management of acute and chronic brain injury including novel neuroimaging techniques
ROTATION OBJECTIVES:
- Assist in providing neurological evaluation of fascinating patients with complex diagnostic and management issues
- Gain first-hand experience in evaluating patients on clinical research protocols, frequently in the context of novel therapeutic agents
- Discuss patients at the weekly Neurology Consult Service rounds
- Attend other clinics, rounds, and laboratory research meetings as desired
- Build upon their fund of knowledge by observing the experimental diagnostic procedures and therapies available at the NIH Clinical Center
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Residents must be currently enrolled, and in good standing, in an Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited program in the United States (US) at the time of application for an elective rotation. A Program Letter of Agreement must be provided by the resident’s program director. In addition, foreign medical school graduates must have ECFMG certification and provide a copy of the validated ECFMG certificate.
SELECTION OF APPLICANTS
Applicants should indicate their goals for the rotation in their cover letter. Please contact Dr. Christopher Grunseich for additional information. Christopher.grunseich@nih.gov