Curriculum

The MUSC training program in neurology is fully approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education for training and Board Certification in Neurology. We maintain inpatient services in adult neurology at the Medical University Hospital and at the nearby Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).

The residency program prepares the resident to become an outstanding physician in the practice of clinical neurology and/or a clinical neuroscientist and teacher in the academic setting. MUSC Neurology residency is a four-year program, which includes an integrated PGY1 year of medicine. The PGY1 year includes three months of neurology and allows for a smooth transition from internship to the PGY2 year. Eight PGY-1 positions are made available each year.

Successful applicants to the Residency Program are automatically assigned a PGY1 medicine position, and no additional application/interview is required for this first year.

General Neurology & Stroke Services

There are two primary services at MUSC: General Neurology and Stroke Neurology.

Both services consist of a senior PGY3/4 neurology resident and a junior PGY2 neurology resident. There is also an internal medicine or psychiatry rotator on each team and in most blocks, an additional PGY1 neurology resident.

Team responsibilities include evaluation of patients in the Emergency Department, referrals from Neurology specialty clinics as well as referrals from outside physicians. MUSC patients are admitted to a dedicated Neurology/Neurosurgery wing, which also includes an active Epilepsy video monitoring unit. The services work directly with Physical/Occupational/Speech therapy as well as Case Management and Social Work, who are assigned specifically to the Neurology/Neurosurgery subspecialties.

Charleston VA Neurology Inpatient Service

The Charleston VA neurology team consists of a senior PGY3/4 resident and a junior PGY2 neurology resident. It is an inpatient service with opportunities to participate in outpatient subspecialty clinics. The presence of two residents allows time for one to go to a subspecialty clinic if interested.

Neurology Consultation Service

We have two consult teams at MUSC. One team covers general neurology consults in the hospital and emergency department the other team covers acute strokes and stroke consults. Each team has one to two senior neurology residents along with off service rotators from both the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Internal Medicine.

Pediatric Neurology Service

MUSC Children’s Health also maintains an active Pediatric inpatient consultation service and outpatient clinic, which our neurology residents rotate through for four weeks each year. Residents have a varied exposure ranging from the Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units to the Epilepsy monitoring unit. This rotation takes place at the new children's hospital on campus.

Continuity Clinics

In addition to the inpatient, pediatrics and consultation services, each resident assesses and manages a group of patients in their own longitudinal neurology clinic. The Resident General Neurology Clinic begins in the PGY2 year and continues to the end of the PGY4 year. Resident clinics are located in a clinic building on MUSC’s campus and at the VA. Patients who are seen by a resident during an inpatient stay or during an Emergency Dept. evaluation have an opportunity to follow up with that resident. Patients are also referred to the general neurology from within and outside of MUSC. This provides residents with hands-on training in the evolution of neurological disease and the development of patient-physician rapport.

Outpatient Rotations

All residents spend time in the outpatient subspecialities including Behavioral Neurology, Epilepsy, Movement Disorders, Neuroimmunology, and Neuromuscular. In addition, residents have multiple electives each year and have the option to have rotations in Headache, Neuro-oncology,Neuro-ophthalmology, Neuro-otology, Sleep Medicine, Neuro-endovascular surgery, Research, and Teleneurology, among others.

Night Float Call System

We utilize a night float system for call. One upper level and one lower level neurology resident are present to cover admissions and consults at MUSC and the VA from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Wellness & Education

This rotation was created to provide residents with more experience in education as well as to support their wellness. During the rotation, residents are tasked with medical student education, including providing lectures and proctoring a simulation lab and exam workshop. Residents are also given a list of tasks to complete to enhance their wellness. These tasks may include attending doctor’s appointments, exercising, or choosing from a reading list. The remainder of the rotation can be used to pursue individual academic pursuits such as research or studying.