About the Program

The Division runs an ACGME-accredited training program in pediatric neurology in conjunction with the adult neurology residency program at UC San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center, and pediatrics training at UCSD Medical Center and Rady Children's Hospital San Diego (RCHSD).

It is a 5-year combined program in which trainees complete 2 years of general pediatrics training and 3 years of neurology training, and then are eligible for board certifications in Pediatrics and in Neurology with a Special Qualification in Child Neurology.

PGY 1 and 2

The PGY 1 and PGY 2 years are performed in conjunction with the UC San Diego and RCHSD Residency Training Program in Pediatrics. Trainees rotate through inpatient and outpatient clinical experiences including their pediatrics continuity clinic, and complete other required training such as a rotation in community pediatrics. Elective time is provided for trainees to explore specific interests. Trainees attend didactic sessions and Pediatrics Grand Rounds with their pediatrics colleagues, and also have the opportunity to attend neurology didactic conferences and departmental events.

PGY 3

PGY 3 year begins with "Neurology Boot Camp" to orient trainees to adult and child neurology, and the remainder of the year is mostly dedicated to attaining excellence in clinical adult neurology, including inpatient and outpatient experiences, as well as elective time. Training sites include UCSD Medical Center and the Veterans Affairs Hospital.

PGY 4 and 5

PGY 4 and PGY 5 years are performed mostly at RCHSD with inpatient and outpatient experiences including ICU and Neonatal Neurology. The average daily inpatient neurology census is 5 patients on the neurology ward, 5 patients on the rehabilitation service, and 10 patients on other hospital services. The pediatric neurology service sees an average of 15-20 new inpatient admissions and consultations per week.

Neurology continuity clinic spans PGY 3-5 years with trainees taking ownership over their patients.

Child neurology didactics sessions take place on Tuesday afternoons and include scheduled conferences in psychiatry and neurogenomics, as well as faculty-led lectures and child neurology journal club. Trainees also have formal didactics and Neurosciences Grand Rounds every Friday morning from PGY 3-5 years which include lectures covering a variety of neurology-specific topics. Research experiences are encouraged and facilitated through the PGY 3-5 years.

The Residency Program in Child Neurology is dedicated to training of the next generation of physicians and physician scientists. The residency program is committed to training a diverse physician and scientist workforce in an environment respectful of differences in race, gender, ethnicity, ability and disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, geographic origin, religion, etc. The residency program also recognizes the importance of ongoing training for physicians in patient safety and quality improvement, and has policies in place to monitor resident well-being, fatigue, and burn-out.

Questions?

Office Number: (858) 966-5819

Program Coordinator: 
Lurenette Griffin
lgriffin@rchsd.org

Program Director: 
Dr. Jeffrey Gold
jjgold@ucsd.edu