Neurology Clerkships
Memphis
Core Clerkship Director: Dr. Kate Nearing
901.448.6971
Contact: Wendy Elliott
Department Chairman: Andrei V. Alexandrov, MD
Clerkship Coordinator: Wendy Elliott
This four-week (one block) required clerkship is offered in Memphis and Chattanooga. In Memphis, students are assigned to one of three primary locations that have Neurology Residents: The Regional One Health, the VA Medical Center, and the Methodist University Hospital. Up to four students per block may elect to perform a Pediatric Neurology-based assignment at the downtown Methodist-Le Bonheur Hospital. This must be requested at least one month in advance and be approved by Dr. Namrata Shaw, Pediatric Neurology Clerkship Director - 901.287.5178.
Irrespective of their assigned location, all students meet several times per week in the Neurology Department Library in order to attend formal teaching rounds in a case-discussion type of format. Attendance at these lectures, Grand Rounds and other scheduled teaching conferences is mandatory. Students are exposed to patients with neurological disorders in outpatient/ambulatory, inpatient, and emergency room settings. Students work closely with the Neurology staff physician (attending) and the resident physicians. Students also participate in all of the Neurology Department's clinical conferences.
A student's final grade is based 50 percent on an internally written examination and 50 percent on the attending neurologist's evaluation of their clinical performance. Since this is a required clerkship, students should not schedule interviews or other out of town commitments during this time.
Strategic Vision
To provide the physician-in-training with a general framework in which he or she will be able to recognize and treat all neurological emergencies and common neurological disorders encountered in a primary care practice.
Intent
Refine history-taking and physical examination skills necessary to localize the anatomical location of the pathology affecting the patient's nervous system. For additional information see the Neurology Clerkship Overview.
Methodology
- Acquire excellent history-taking skills
- Develop the ability to perform a proper neurological examination
- Review neuroanatomic principles of nervous system lesion localization
- Discuss a logical approach of to diagnostic testing
- Understand the pathophysiology of common neurological disorders
- Develop an approach to both specific and symptomatic treatment using Evidence Based Medicine [EBM] guidelines
For complete information, please refer to the Neurology Clerkship website on Blackboard (NEU 1-3001/F). This site addresses frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding orientation, expectations, responsibilities, and grading procedures.
Chattanooga
Neurology Clerkship Director: Jake McKay, MD
Jake.McKay@erlanger.org
Office Contact: Joyce Poke
Email: Joyce.Poke@erlanger.org
This is a four-week (one block) required clerkship. Students will become familiar with standard diagnostic techniques, become proficient at performing a neurologic examination, become familiar with best practice guidelines, and become award of administrative requirements of an inpatient hospital environment, and work collegially with other health care professionals. The clerkship will provide the student with a general framework in which he or she will be able to recognize and treat neurological emergencies and common neurologic disorders encountered in a primary care practice. Specific goals include:
- Acquire excellent history-taking skills
- Develop the ability to perform a proper neurological examination
- Review neuroanatomic principle of nervous system lesion localization
- Discuss a logical approach to diagnostic testing
- Understand the pathophysiology of common neurologic disorders (with extensive exposure to stroke syndromes)
- Develop an approach to both specific and symptomatic treatment using Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) guidelines
Attendance at lectures and teaching conferences is required. Student's final grade is based 50 percent on an internally written examination and 50 percent on the attending neurologist's evaluation of their clinical performance. Students will have required didactic sessions to include teleconferencing such sessions from Memphis. Use of shared resources will be key. An internal video series will be included in the curriculum. Daily mini-presentations will also be required.
Students will have significant exposure to patients both in the hospital and in the outpatient clinic. A good portion of patient care will involve neurology consultations.
Ultimate responsibility for patient care rests with the attending neurologist who leads the treatment team. Medical students will have limited responsibility but will be allowed to conduct supervised interviewed with patients, and in accordance with hospital bylaws, all responsibilities for inpatient chart documentation rests with the treatment team. Students will have ample opportunity to present written reports and sample chart notes as part of their learning experience. Students will assist with neurology procedures should the need arise (LP, carotid dopplers, EMG/NCT)
Neurology faculty will supervise students directly.
Students will be expected to attend the regularly scheduled rounds, clinics, video lecture series and participate in the Neurology Clerkship teleconferences run by the Neurology Clerkship in Memphis. They can expect at least two or three formal didactic lectures each week. They may attend weekly Grand Rounds at Erlanger hospital. They should attend any ad hoc conferences. Students will be expected to participate in "Word of the Day" assignments (students will be assigned a one-word neurology topic and present a brief talk about the topic).
There is no student overnight call requirement; however, attendance at weekend/holiday rounds and admissions duty (observation/participation) is offered. Established duty hour rules for students will be followed.