Observership Program listings for international medical graduates

Division Of Pediatric Neurology

UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans.

Child Neurology Residency Program

Welcome!

Welcome and thank you for your interest in the UAB Child Neurology residency program! Our ACGME-accredited, five-year categorical program is designed to educate and empower trainees to be well-trained, patient-centered child neurologists. Training is based on supervised clinical work with increasing responsibility for outpatients and inpatients over time. Applications for the Child Neurology residency program are accepted through ERAS only. Applicants do NOT need to separately apply to the UAB Pediatric Residency Program for the Child Neurology positions.

Our program offers two categorical resident positions each year. Almost all residents complete two years of training in pediatrics prior to the initiation of training in child neurology. Our graduates are eligible to sit for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as well as the American Board of Pediatrics board examinations.

After completing two years of training in general pediatrics at UAB/Children's of Alabama, our trainees complete adult neurology training and child neurology training where they focus on the evaluation and management of patients with a wide array of neuropathology at University Hospital, the Birmingham VA Medical Center, Kirklin Clinic, and Children's of Alabama. All locations are within a short walk of each other!

During the PGY-3 year, our trainees complete 9 months of  adult neurology training and have 3 months of child neurology training. The PGY-3 trainees also begin taking care of patients in their weekly pediatric neurology continuity clinic. In the PGY-4 year, our trainees complete 12 months of child neurology training in the outpatient, inpatient, and elective settings as they learn from patients and their families. During the PGY-5 year, trainees spend one month on our child neurology inpatient consult service "pre-tending," 3 months in adult neurology (completing neuropathology, outpatient clinics, and a desired elective), and they have the opportunity to design the other 8 months of that year in a way that best suit their interests and future endeavors. We offer a variety of outpatient clinic opportunities, electives, research/QI activities, and we encourage our PGY-5s to focus on how to best prepare for board certification and a career after graduation from our program.

During the PGY-3, PGY-4, and PGY-5 years, trainees attend a variety of educational conferences hosted by both the UAB Division of Pediatric Neurology and the UAB Department of Neurology. They also attend weekly Grand Rounds at Children's of Alabama and UAB Department of Neurology Grand Rounds.

Lastly, our diverse faculty of child neurologists enjoy teaching motivated, well-rounded trainees. We believe in the power of mentorship and lifelong learning. We are a close-knit group of child neurologists who enjoy Birmingham as it is a thriving, affordable city for individuals with a variety of interests outside of work! We want all of our trainees and our faculty to balance wellness and the true privilege of working to achieve high patient care and advancements within our exciting field. Thank you again for your time and interest in our program. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions about our program.

Sincerely,

Dr. Sarah Novara

Pediatric Neurology at Children's of Alabama

Children's of Alabama is the only free-standing pediatric hospital in Alabama. It is one of the 10 busiest hospitals in the nation. With over 16,000 inpatient admissions and over 690,000 outpatient visits annually, you will get plenty of exposure!

The neurology service at Children's of Alabama provides a very well rounded experience. In 2021, the division had around 9,000 outpatient clinic visits and over 4,600 inpatient consults and 3,300 telehealth visits. Child neurology trainees assist in the care of hospital patients as members of our consultation service. They also attend general neurology and neurology sub-specialty clinics with all of the child neurology attendings.

Pediatric neurology call is covered by adult neurology rotating PGY-3s and our PGY3-5s throughout each year. We have a night float system that operates most Monday-Friday evenings with another trainee on home call for Saturday-Monday morning. These weeks of night float or weekend home call are scattered throughout each academic year. There are several in-house pediatric residents on-call every night who provide first-line cross-cover for patients who have been consulted on by neurology. Overall, pediatric neurology PGY-4s and PGY-5s on call provide backup and assistance almost exclusively over the phone to the in-house residents when on home call, and when on night float, they perform telephone consults along with various in-person consults on patients needing to see neurology prior to Emergency Department discharge, those with neurologic emergencies, or those who are being admitted and need a neurology consultation. Our trainees and adult neurology rotating PGY-3s have a backup attending and epileptologist on call with them at all times, and our trainees perform no more than 6 weeks of night float per year.

Pediatric Neurology Faculty

Montefiore Children's Hospital Holds Special Prom For Teenage Patients

NORWOOD, The Bronx (PIX 11)—Teenage patients battling long-term health challenges at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore were treated to an unforgettable prom experience, giving them a chance to embrace a sense of normalcy amidst their ongoing health treatment.

The hospital's Grand Hall transformed into a glamorous prom venue, welcoming dozens of teens who are not letting their illnesses stop them from living their lives to the fullest.

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Sixteen-year-old Hailey Fondeur has been looking forward to getting all dolled up for prom night. For the teen who has been battling Leukemia since 2022, the event was a chance to set aside the burden of her illness and savor the moment surrounded by love, laughter, and friendship.

"I feel that there's part of me back again," Fondeur said. "There's some normal back in my life after a year and a half."

Stilt walkers towered above the crowd while mascots dressed as donuts boogied down on the dance floor. The venue was decked out in pink and orange decor — the signature colors of Dunkin' Donuts. The vibrant party was made possible through a generous grant from the Dunkin' Joy in Childhood Foundation, which has a goal of providing teens facing health challenges a sense of normalcy.

"Our teens …. Are going through a lot that no teen should have to go through, so giving them those milestones that every teen has experienced is really giving them back a little piece of their life and making them realize that they're still teens and deserve all the things that teens get," said Child Life Specialist Katie Roche who works at Montefiore.

Prom guests were treated to hair and makeup services by a glam squad, adding an extra touch of glamour to their evening.

"It's really cool," said attendee Patricia Martinez. "It's my first time getting my hair done by a professional."

As hospital staff looks to remind patients that they are valued and never alone in their health journey, Fondeur is hoping other teens can experience the simple joys in life, just as she got to do at her very first prom.

"I hope every teen gets to experience at least one thing that teens normally get to experience in their life," Fondeur said.

This is the hospital's 10th annual prom night, but organizers tell PIX11 News that they hold themed events monthly to help their young patients find joy in the midst of some of the most trying times of their lives.

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