Conferences, Department of Neurology in the Medical School at the University of Minnesota

Neurology Residency Training Program:
Conferences, Rounds

The Department of Neurology schedules a wide range of educational conferences. In addition to these departmental conferences, a large number of conferences concerning the neurosciences take place within the University of Minnesota. These include conferences in the departments of Medicine, Neuroscience, Anatomy, Psychiatry, Ophthalmology, Radiology, Pharmacology, Genetics, and others.

The major venue of resident teaching in the Neurology Program occurs at the bedside either in the hospital or in the clinic. We hold firmly to the tenet that skills in neurological diagnosis and clinical management are best acquired through direct experience with patients. Thus, we believe that one of our major assets is the program of ward and clinic rounds conducted by a devoted teaching staff with diverse clinical expertise.

This direct patient-related activity is also complemented by service-wide, individual hospital, and rotation-related conferences.

Service-wide Conferences (attended by all residents)

Clinical Neuroscience Joint Conference (UMMC, Tuesday 7:30-8:30am)
Faculty and residents from the departments of Neuroradiology, Neurosurgery, Neurology and Neuropathology meet weekly to review interesting imaging studies for patients on the clinical services. Patient management, innovations in imaging, and diagnosic strategies are discussed.

Scientific Basis of Neurology (UMMC, Tuesday  8:30-9:30am)
This lecture series is offered by the faculty for the residents. The first 8 lectures each year focus on emergency neurology, and are directed to the new PG-2 residents. Thereafter the curriculum switches over to a 3-year cycle, covering a diversity of topics (grouped by module). Both clinical and basic science topics are covered.

Resident Board Review Course (UMMC, Tuesday 9:30-10:30)
This course, organized and presented by residents, provides preparation for part I of the boards.

Grand Rounds (UMMC, Thursday 4:30-5:30)
Various invited speakers, both internal and external, lecture on a variety of neurological topics.  Visiting neurologists and neuroscientists regularly participate as guest speakers.

Journal Club (UMMC, 4th Thursday of the month 5:30-6:00pm)
Each month, one resident presents an in-depth review of a current, high-impact paper, followed by a general discussion (faculty and residents).

Morbidity and Mortality Conference (UMMC, 4th Thursday of the month 6:00-6:30pm)
Each month, one resident presents a case history from one of the affiliated hospitals in which an adverse outcome resulted. The case is analyzed in great detail, and management strategies assessed. This conference serves as an excellent quality assurance tool, and is attended by faculty and residents.

Mock Oral Boards (UMMC, one Friday in May)

Live patient and vignette sessions are offered. This exercise provides great preparation for part II of the neurology boards.

Visiting Professor Rounds/Graduation Exercises (UMMC, first Friday/Saturday in June)

On Friday afternoon, following a general lecture by the visiting professor, neurology residents present interesting clinical cases for discussion. The following Saturday morning the annual resident graduation/education symposium is held. At this event, each resident presents the results of his/her research project for the year. This symposium is attended by faculty from all of the facilities. Saturday evening, a general departmental dinner reception is held at a campus art museum, honoring the graduates from the residency and fellowship programs. Awards are also handed out to those residents who offered the best research presentations at the symposium.

University Core Curriculum Lecture Series (UMMC, 3 mornings per year)

A University Core Curriculum lecture series is offered through the GME office three times a year.  In October the topics covered are Critical Review of Literature, Ethics, Taking Care of Yourself, and Prevention.  In January the topics covered are Statistics, Medical/Legal Issues, and Physician as Communicator & Physician as Teacher.  In March the topics covered are Research Designs, Health Care Delivery Systems/SYMPAL Project, and Cost Containment/QA/QI.

Individual Hospital Rounds, Conferences (attended by residents rotating at those facilities)

UMMC Daily/Conference Schedule

 HCMC Daily/Weekly Conference Schedule

 VAMC Daily/Weekly Conference Schedule

 *University-wide conferences

 Rotation Related Conferences

• EMG Waveform Conference is held 4:30-5:30, 1^st, 3^rdand 5^th Wednesday in the Neurology Library.

  
  

• EEG Waveform Conference is held 4:30-5:30, 2^nd Wednesday in the EEG lab at UMMC and 4^th Wednesday in the EEG lab at HCMC.

  
  

• Sleep conference is held on Tuesdays (see CNP lecture series for dates) at HCMC from 12:00-1:00.

  
  

• Epilepsy Conference is held on 2^nd Tuesday of the month at UMMC in the Neurology Conference room from 5:00-6:00.

  
  

• Pediatric Neurology Conference is held on Wednesday morning from 7:30-8:30 in the Neurology Conference Room (UMMC).

  
  

• Neuromuscular Conference is held every Wednesday in B535 (UMMC) from 3:30-4:30