Child Neurology Section

Marisel Vazquez, MD
Professor
Section Chair
Department of Pediatrics
School of Medicine
University of Puerto Rico
Tel – 787-756-4020

Email –  marisel.vazquez1@upr.edu

Fellowship Academic Curriculum

Three-year pediatric neurology training program:

• One year on the adult neurology rotations (Adult Neurology Residency Program) (hospital-based).  Clinical services are provided in two different medical facilities (University District Hospital, and Veterans Administration Hospital).This include exposure to stroke, movement and neuromuscular rotations. The adult neurology training is distributed throughout the first 2 years and is divided between consultative and ward services.
• One years of child neurology (hospital-based- University Pediatric Hospital and San Juan City Hospital)
• 12 month selectives and elective time-
  • Selectives;1 month  Neurophysiology (EEG-EP), 1month Neuroradiology, I month Child psychiatry,2 months in Basic Neuroscience course
  • Electives;  Neurosurgery, Genetics, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Pediatric Epilepsy, Neuroradiology, other
• Conferences, lectures, courses and seminars are designed to keep Residents informed of major developments in both the basic and clinical neurosciences.  These are available through the Department of Neurology, Pediatrics, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry.  Didactic activities include regular discussion of a wide variety of topics, such as seizures, cerebrovascular disease, neonatal neurologic complications, developmental disorders, movement disorders, neuromuscular disorders, cognitive neurology, neuropathology (clinical-pathological conference), pediatric oncology, and neuroradiology, among many others.
• Residents are required to participate in at least one clinical or basic research project during their training under the mentorship of a member of the faculty and are encouraged to publish the results in peer-reviewed journals.
• Residents are mentored and encouraged to present their projects at scientific meetings.
• RITE written exam is required each year

At the end of the training candidates will be qualified to sit for the examination of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology for certification in Neurology with special qualifications in Child Neurology and be prepared for the independent practice of child neurology.

Life as a fellow

Residents work alongside skilled and experienced professionals, committed to caring for their patients. The Pediatric Neurology resident, along with the attending staff, is responsible for managing the primary inpatient and hospital consultations in the general ward, and Intensive care units (Adult, Neonatal, and Pediatric).  During the daily rounds the residents discuss their clinical findings, assessment and management to the attending faculty, basing them on the literature search and other sources.  Inpatient admissions are followed and co-managed by pediatric residents. The inpatient team is composed of a pediatric neurology attending physician, 1 pediatric neurology resident, 1 junior or senior resident from adult neurology and at least 1 pediatric resident.  Often there are also Child Psychiatry residents and visiting UPR medical students. Clinics are held weekly in both Pediatric and Adult Neurology.  In addition, all pediatric neurology residents have a weekly continuity clinic, staffed by a faculty member, which they attend year-round for all three years of the residency.  Didactic instruction includes conferences twice a week covering neuroscience and clinical topics, a monthly journal club, neuropathology and brain cutting sessions, a weekly book review session, and one-on-one teaching at the bedside. The senior resident assists our faculty in the supervision of child neurology residents in lower levels of training through direct supervision and has a supervisory role as Chief Resident in third year. Calls from home average every 3rd to 4th day.  The resident must take the RITE written exam each year.

Life after fellowship

Pediatric neurologists have a high demand in the island community.  There is a shortage of these specialists and opportunities for independent and /or hospital based practice are always available.  Our graduates have started their own practice, or have joined very busy practices in different hospitals around the island; one of them practice in USA, others have stayed here at the University Pediatric Hospital and remained on faculty.

How to apply

A. Appointment of Residents 

The admission requirements for the Child Neurology Residency Training Program are:

• Graduated from an LCME Accredited Medical School
  • Evidence of successful completion of USMLE Part 1, 2 and 3
  • Graduated from foreign Medical School
  • Certified evidence of completion of Medical School Graduation
  • Certificate of the ECFMG examination.
  • Foreign graduates not US citizens must present an official certificate of their Medical School   Diploma provided  by the corresponding Embassy and a certificate of the Federal Office of Immigration and Naturalization (PL 94-488)
  • Fully bilingual, dominating well English and Spanish

• Prerequisite Training: the training can be initiated following one of three options:
  • Two years of postgraduate training in an approved pediatric program
  • Tne PGY-1 year (as described in the ACGME Program Requirements for Residency Education in Neurology, Section I.A.1) and 1 year of residency training in pediatrics
  • Tne year of pediatrics plus 1 year of basic neuroscience training. The program director must review and determine the acceptability of these initial 2 years of training.

The program director must review and determine the acceptability of these initial 2 years of training.

B.  Procedure for evaluation of selection of candidates: 

There is an admission and Selection Committee composed of Child Neurology and Adult Neurology faculty members representing each of the participating Institutions.  The selection process is in accordance with the institutional and departmental policies and procedures.

Candidates must:

• Complete an application form
• Submit transcripts from Undergraduate College and Medical School
• Dean’s letter
• Results of approved USMLE (1, 2, 3) or ECFMG Certificate
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty members of his/her Pediatric Residency Training Program or Neurology Training Program
• Letter of recommendation from the current Residency Program Director

The committee interviews the candidates individually and reviews all the submitted documents. The eligible applicants are evaluated on the basis of their academic credentials, aptitude, personal characteristics and ability to communicate effectively.  The committee selects candidates in a ranking order.

Contact: Ms. Leticia Rodríguez- Neurology Section Coordinator

(e-mail:leticia.rodriguez2@upr.edu)