Recommended Seminar Topics for First-Year Neurology Residents
First-year neurology residents should focus on foundational topics in neurological assessment, critical care, and disease management that build core competencies while addressing high-yield clinical scenarios they will frequently encounter.
Core Neurological Assessment and Examination
- Neurological examination techniques and interpretation - Developing a systematic approach to the neurological exam with emphasis on motor, sensory, and cranial nerve assessment 1, 2
- Localizing neurological lesions - Practical approaches to clinical localization based on examination findings 1
- Neuroimaging interpretation fundamentals - Basic principles of reading CT, MRI, and angiography with focus on emergency findings 3
Neurocritical Care Fundamentals
- Management of severe traumatic brain injury - Assessment of severity using Glasgow Coma Scale, pupillary response, and evidence-based protocols for the first 24 hours 3
- Multimodality monitoring in neurocritical care - Understanding intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, cerebrovascular autoregulation, and brain oxygenation monitoring 3
- Neurological complications of ECMO - Recognition and management of acute brain injuries in patients on extracorporeal support 3
Cerebrovascular Disease
- Acute stroke management - Protocols for assessment, imaging, and time-sensitive interventions 3
- Cerebrovascular autoregulation - Physiological principles and clinical implications in various neurological conditions 3
- Neurovascular unit function - Understanding the interactions between neurons, glia, and cerebral vasculature in health and disease 3
Neurological Emergencies
- Status epilepticus management - Recognition and evidence-based treatment algorithms 3
- Infectious complications of neuraxial procedures - Prevention, diagnosis, and management 3
- Altered mental status evaluation - Systematic approach to the undifferentiated encephalopathic patient 3
Neurology Subspecialty Introductions
- Interventional neurology fundamentals - Overview of endovascular techniques and indications 4
- Pediatric neurology essentials - Developmental considerations in neurological assessment and common pediatric neurological disorders 2
- Neuro-immunology basics - Approach to autoimmune neurological disorders 5
Professional Development
- Effective teaching techniques for neurology residents - Developing skills to teach medical students with focus on reducing neurophobia 6
- Evidence-based medicine in neurology - Critical appraisal of neurological literature and application to clinical practice 3
- Interdisciplinary collaboration - Working effectively with neurosurgery, neuroradiology, and other specialties 4, 5
Neurological Examination Across Special Populations
- Neurological assessment in the pediatric patient - Age-appropriate examination techniques and developmental considerations 2
- Neurological examination in the critically ill - Modified approaches for sedated or unresponsive patients 3
- Functional neurological disorders - Recognition and appropriate management 5
Common Clinical Scenarios
- Approach to syncope - Differentiating cardiac, neurological, and neural-mediated etiologies 3
- Evaluation of headache disorders - Systematic approach to primary and secondary headaches 5
- Management of seizures and epilepsy - Initial workup, treatment, and monitoring 3