The Neurology clerkship is a required 4-week clinical clerkship that is currently available throughout the academic year to third- and fourth-year medical students. Students rotate at RWJ University Hospital, JFK Neuroscience Institute, and Monmouth Medical Center where they are exposed to a diversity of neurological disorders of varying acuity in the outpatient and inpatient setting. Whenever possible, the student schedule is modeled on resident schedule with pre-rounding, morning attending rounds, afternoon clinics, sign-out and short calls for an accurate representation of life as a neurology trainee.
The Neurology learning curve is practically vertical, and we get it. Our innovative educational approach centers around flipped classroom learning. In this model, students are asked to review background content by watching a specially produced YouTube review video, confirm their understanding of material with a brief self-assessment quiz, analyze case scenarios in facilitated structured live discussions, and problem solve during a small-group hybrid neurological emergency simulation. Students also participate in small-group Teaching Preceptor sessions, where they receive a more personalized chief-complaint based diagnostic training.
Student learning is marked by the Reporter, Interpreter, Manager, Education paradigm. During the first week of the clerkship, students are expected to practice and demonstrate proficiency as reporters. They gather appropriate, chronological and organized history with a focus on the chief complaint and practice complete neurological examinations guided by the history. During the second week, the focus is shifted towards interpreting the data, and students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in integrating their historical and exam findings to generate at least three localizations of lesions in the nervous system to explain the findings, and at least three pathological conditions that may be responsible for these lesions. During the last two weeks of the clerkship, students are expected to become managers by demonstrating meaningful contributions to patient care and suggesting appropriate tests and therapies. Also, students are encouraged to educate the patient and healthcare team by supporting their clinical decision making with high quality evidence.