The Neurology Residency Program, which is ACGME-accredited, accepts candidates through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). There are eight positions offered per year in our four-year, PGY1 to PGY4 program which includes a required first year in Internal Medicine at Cleveland Clinic.
First Year of Residency (PGY1)
The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) requires that the PGY1 year be spent in an accredited medical training program. The Residency Review Committee for Neurology and the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) specify that 12 months of general internal medicine training is ideal prior to entry into the three-year neurology residency. This year must include at least eight months of direct patient care in internal medicine, no more than two in emergency medicine, and no more than two in neurology.
First Year of Neurology Residency (PGY2)
The majority of this year is spent in direct patient care, most of which is in the inpatient setting. Residents spend most of the inpatient months on the two main adult neurology inpatient services: cerebrovascular disease and general neurology. Each inpatient team consists of a senior neurology resident, two junior neurology residents, two or more rotating junior residents from other departments, and two medical students. The on-call schedule during inpatient months averages every 4th-6th night. Cleveland Clinic uses a module system, with 13 four-week module rotations making up the academic year. In total, a PGY2 resident has eight inpatient modules and five outpatient modules where they have their weekends off and no call. Longitudinal outpatient clinic is scheduled one-half day per week with a staff preceptor who will work with the resident throughout the three years of training. There is one additional month per year spent in the outpatient department, rotating among the subspecialty services. Over the course of the three-year residency, three months are spent on the neuroradiology service, learning neuroimaging techniques and reading MRI and CT scans with staff neuroradiologists. Additional imaging training includes a daily neuroradiology conference while on the inpatient services.
PGY2 Schedule
Inpatient Rotations
- Stroke Neurology: 3 modules
- General Neurology: 3 modules
- Neuro ICU: 1 module
- Epilepsy: 1 module
- Pediatric Consults: 1 module
Outpatient Rotations
- Pediatric Clinic: 1 module
- Neuroradiology: 1 module
- Subspecialty Clinic: 1 module
- Elective: 1 module
Second and Third Years of Neurology Residency (PGY-3 and PGY-4)
As a senior resident, one module is spent per year managing the three inpatient services, as well as an additional module in the NICU and on the epilepsy service. The remaining time is split between electives and three academic courses. A three-month EEG/Epilepsy rotation features an in-depth course covering EEG, evoked potentials, sleep, and intraoperative monitoring. Residents read EEG records and attend staff reading sessions and epilepsy outpatient clinics. A one-month rotation in the EMG laboratory includes didactic sessions as well as hands-on experience in the techniques of nerve conductions studies and the needle electrode examinations. If the resident is interested in further EMG exposure, the rotation can be expanded to three months. Finally, there is a two-module Neuropathology course where residents are able to work directly with our Neuropathologists. Senior residents use a nightfloat call system. This includes four weeks each year, split between the first and second half of the year.
PGY3 Schedule
Inpatient Rotations
- Stroke Neurology: 1 module
- General Neurology: 1 module
- Adult Consults: 1 module
- Neuro ICU: 1 module
- Epilepsy: 1 module
- Nightfloat: 0.5 modules x 2
Outpatient Rotations
- Subspecialty Clinic: 1 module
- EMG Course: 1-3 modules
- EEG Course: 2-3 modules
- Elective: up to 3 modules
PGY4 Schedule
Inpatient Rotations
- Stroke Neurology: 1 module
- General Neurology: 1 module
- Adult Consults: 1 module
- Pediatric Consults: 1 module
- Nightfloat: 0.5 modules x 2
Outpatient Rotations
- Neuropathology: 2 modules
- Subspecialty Clinic: 1 module
- Elective: 5 modules
Elective Rotations
Trainees in Neurology can choose from a large array of elective rotations. Residents with particular research interests may use multiple blocks of elective time to devote to specific projects. For special academic pursuits, residents may spend elective time away from Cleveland Clinic, upon approval from the Program Director. The below list is not all-inclusive, as residents have done electives in a variety of fields.
- Autonomic Disorders
- Carotid Ultrasound/TCD
- Cognitive Disorders
- Deep Brain Stimulation
- EEG
- EMG/Neuromuscular
- Evoked Potentials
- Headache
- Movement Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuroimmunology
- Neuro-Ophthalmology
- Neuro-Infectious Disease
- Neuroradiology
- Pain Management
- Palliative Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Regional Neurology
- Research
- Rheumatology
- Sleep Medicine
- Stroke
Formal Evaluations During Training
As part of the residency requirement, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, requires each resident to satisfactorily complete five clinical skills evaluation exercises (NEX). These examinations are designed to assess the residents’ competency in medical interviewing, neurologic examination, humanistic qualities, professionalism and counseling skills. Each resident will be observed and evaluated by one of our faculty members in five different areas: critical care, neuromuscular, ambulatory, neurodegenerative and child neurology. Following each encounter, discussion and feedback from the faculty member will be given to the resident. These NEX exams will take place during the PGY2, PGY3 and early part of the PGY4 years. During each of the training years, residents take the RITE written self-assessment examination provided by the American Academy of Neurology.
Prerequisites
Senior residents are permitted to moonlight on the Neurology, Epilepsy and NICU services. Residents are provided with the opportunity to attend national meetings to present their research, with full financial support from the department. The department also sponsors junior membership in the American Academy of Neurology for all residents. Three weeks are allotted for vacation each year.
Application Requirements
All candidates are required to register with ERAS. No additional documents are required. The deadline for accepting applications directly from ERAS is November 30.
We welcome International Medical Graduates (IMGs) to apply to the Neurology Residency Program. IMGs must hold a valid standard ECFMG certificate or provide proof that they are in the process of obtaining one. Cleveland Clinic sponsors both J-1 and H-1B visas. We also welcome Doctors of Osteopathy to apply to the Neurology Residency Program.
We prefer a minimum score requirement of 80 and above on all USMLE tests taken, but we consider more than just scores when reviewing applications. We also accept COMLEX scores for DO candidates. We do not have a year of graduation requirement, but we prefer that candidates are current in their clinical experience.
Upon receipt, applications are reviewed by the Program Director, and then prospective candidates are contacted via telephone and/or e-mail to schedule an interview on a Monday or Friday between November and January.
- MaryAnn Mays, MD
Program Director
Department of Neurology, T33
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195
- Megan Poeschl
Residency Coordinator
Department of Neurology, S90
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195
Phone: 216.444.2945
Fax: 216.445.9908
Email: poeschm@ccf.org
What Do Our Past Residents Think About Our Program, and Where Are They Now?
Other Programs
- Clinical Neurophysiology: EEG/Epilepsy Track
- Adult EEG- Epilepsy Program
- Pediatric EEG-Epilepsy Program
- Cognitive Disorders
- EMG / Neuromuscular
- Headache Medicine
- Movement Disorders
- Neuro Endovascular/Interventional Neuroradiology
- Neuroimmunology (Multiple Sclerosis)
- Neurocritical Care
- Neuromuscular Medicine
- Neuro-Oncology
- Sleep Medicine
- Vascular Neurology