Neurology for Medical Students

The major objective of the curriculum of the Department of Neurology is to provide a basic background in clinical neuroscience for the majority of medical students who will enter careers outside of this field, while also offering an opportunity for those who wish to pursue careers in neurology or interrelated fields to test their interest and expand their exposure.

All students are taught the skills needed to obtain a neurological history and to perform and interpret a complete and reliable neurological examination, with an understanding of localization within the neuraxis. They become familiar with pathogenetic and pathophysiological mechanisms, the diagnostic evaluation and the management of the most common neurological clinical problems, those disorders that are illustrative of important concepts and those disorders that require rapid intervention. A smaller group of students, often with an identified interest in pursuing a career in neurology or a related field, schedule elective rotations and/or participate in departmental research projects.

The Department of Neurology consists of affiliated programs in the Department of Neurology at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Mercy Catholic Medical Center, Lehigh Valley Hospital and Allegheny General Hospital. All of these are important resources for patient care, student training and research.

There are many opportunities to see and examine patients with a variety of neurological disorders. Specialized facilities for monitoring behavior and brain function are available. Students at all sites will see patients with cerebral infarction, multiple sclerosis, sleep disorders, movement disorders, epilepsy and a broad range of common and rare disorders.

Curriculum

First Year

Neurology faculty provide clinical correlation on selected topics in the various basic science courses.

Second Year

The department conducts the neurological section of the course in Introduction to Clinical Medicine. The complete neurological examination is reviewed through lectures, demonstrations and self-examination techniques. Patients with neurological disorders are examined in small groups under the supervision of an instructor.

Fourth Year

Neurology is one of three required fourth-year clerkships. This clerkship is available at all sites. Students attend teaching rounds and conferences, may be assigned to evaluate patients on the consultation service or in clinics, and gain exposure to such specialized areas as electroencephalography, electromyography, neuroradiology and neuropathology.

In addition, there are electives (2-4 weeks) in neuromuscular, epilepsy and outpatient.