Medical Education

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.

Neurophobia is defined as the “fear of neural sciences and clinical neurology due to… inability of students to apply basic science knowledge” (Jozefowicz RF, 1994). This terrible disorder has a 50% prevalence, affects all genders equally, has familial predilection and bimodal distribution. First manifestation occurs during the preclinical neuroscience course, condition flairs during the Neurology clerkship. Here at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, we are pushing the boundaries of Neurophobia treatment. Our latest intervention is a YouTube channel “The Neurophile,” which is currently undergoing rigorous testing. We design and post review lectures on various neurological topics. Ask your educator if the Neurophile is right for you.

Warning: May cause irresistible urge to localize lesions and diagnose neurological patients. Some cases are intractable, leading to students become neurologists. Caution is advised.

So, you think you want to become a neurologist? Do you want to gain confidence in managing a variety of neurological disorders? Do you need a recommendation letter for residency applications? We have the answer. The 4-week Advanced Clinical Neurology rotation is available as an elective throughout the academic year to third- and fourth-year medical students who demonstrate satisfactory completion of the required neurology clerkship. Students have a choice for 4 inpatient neurological services (Stroke primary service, Neurocritical care service, General Neurology consultation service, and Pediatric Neurology consultation service) and up to 4 afternoons of neurology subspecialty clinic (one clinic per week).

Students are expected to become primary providers for patients (no more than 4 simultaneously), and appreciate subtleties of history taking and neurological examination, diagnostic uncertainty, and management of complex diagnostic issues through independent literature search and evidence-based medicine.  Students will join daily resident didactics and grand rounds and should get accustomed to self-directed learning. The focus of this rotation is to afford the student a neurology resident level experience and to prepare them for a future career in neurology. All budding neurologists are welcome!

Would you like to gain confidence managing neurological emergencies? Would you like the ability to come up with an accurate neurological differential diagnosis in the 3 minutes it takes to obtain a head CT? Is the Advanced Clinical Neurology elective is not challenging enough for you? Try the 4-week Stroke And Neurocritical Care Subspecialty Subinternship. This rotation is not for the faint of heart and is open as an elective throughout the academic year to third- and fourth-year medical students who demonstrate satisfactory completion of the required neurology clerkship. Students may choose to spend 4 weeks on the inpatient Stroke service, inpatient Neurocritical care service, or split their time between the two services. There is no outpatient component, and students are expected to take overnight call once per week and one weekend call (see schedule sample below).

Students are expected to become primary providers for patients (no more than 5 simultaneously) and learn to manage neurological emergencies such as stroke codes and intracranial pressure crises, appreciate subtleties of history taking and neurological examination (especially in comatose and poorly responsive patients), diagnostic uncertainty, and management of complex diagnostic issues through independent literature search and evidence-based medicine.  The focus of this rotation is to afford the student a neurology resident level experience and to prepare them for a future career in neurology. Come prepared, and we will facilitate the next step of your training!