Neurology Clerkship

Overview

Three weeks of Neurology are required during the fourth year, if not taken in third year.

The Neurology clerkship is an exciting 3-week clinical experience. Recent advances in the understanding of diseases of the nervous system are expanding our ability to help patients. New technologies, particularly in neuroimaging, are enhancing our ability to localize and define neurological disorder and solve diagnostic challenges. An expanding array of treatment options allows neurologists to make a substantive impact in their patients’ quality of life and longevity. It remains a discipline that requires detailed and accurate history taking and physical examination skills; a discipline in which a diagnosis can be made given enough knowledge of applied anatomy and pathology. In other words, good “sleuth work” and solid clinical skills are essential to the practice of neurology.

During this clerkship you will be taught the elements of a complete neurological history and physical examination. You will learn to interpret your findings and to develop a differential diagnosis based on these findings. You will learn the appropriate use of diagnostic testing to verify or clarify a diagnosis and you will learn the basics of neurological therapeutics. This will be accomplished by direct patient contact in clinics and hospital services, by informal teaching rounds, and by a series of didactic case-based conferences. For most of you this will be your only clinical exposure to disorders of the nervous system, disorders that all of you will confront in your careers. So, now is the time! Enjoy the next few weeks and learn a lot.