Our Program

Established in 2013 and relocated to the state-of-the-art Jennie Sealy Hospital in 2016, our 14-bed Neurocritical Care Unit (NCCU) is one of the few dedicated neuro ICUs in the nation. This specialized unit serves both neurology and neurosurgery patients, offering advanced, multidisciplinary care for critically ill individuals with complex neurological conditions.

Neurology residents play a pivotal role in the NCCU, primarily managing neurology patients admitted to the ICU. These patients often present with severe conditions such as large strokes requiring surgical intervention, intracerebral hemorrhages, status epilepticus, and neuromuscular disorders leading to respiratory failure, among other critical neurological issues.

The NCCU service is structured as a collaborative and intensive learning environment, consisting of an NCCU attending, a neurocritical care fellow, one neurology resident (PGY-2/3/4), and medical students. This team-based approach ensures that residents receive hands-on experience in managing critically ill patients under the mentorship of seasoned experts in neurocritical care.

During their residency, neurology residents spend between 6 to 8 weeks on the night float rotation at our Galveston campus. This critical training period offers an unparalleled opportunity for residents to hone their skills in autonomous patient care under the supervision of experienced faculty.

The night float shift begins at 5:00 PM and concludes at 6:30 AM the following day. Throughout the night, the resident is responsible for managing new consults, responding to stroke activations, and admitting patients to the neurology service. Additionally, they oversee the care of inpatients in both the Neurocritical Care Unit (NCCU) and the neurology floor, ensuring comprehensive, round-the-clock care for critically ill and complex patients.

Each morning, the night float resident presents interesting and unique cases from the overnight shift during the Morning Report, which is led by the department chair and attended by faculty, fellows, and all neurology residents. This forum not only highlights the resident's clinical acumen but also fosters a collaborative learning environment.

Residents frequently report that the night float rotation is one of their most valuable learning experiences, as it allows them to excel in autonomous patient care while still benefiting from faculty oversight. This rotation is pivotal in developing the confidence and competence required to manage high-stakes neurological emergencies independently.

The Non-Vascular Ward Service is an integral component of our Neurology Residency Program, offering residents the opportunity to manage a broad spectrum of neurological conditions under the guidance of an experienced neurology attending. This service is staffed by a PGY-2 or PGY-3 resident, along with medical students, creating a collaborative and educational environment.

While the service admits a diverse array of neurological cases, its primary focus is on non-vascular neurological diseases. Residents will gain extensive experience in managing complex conditions such as epilepsy, neuro-infectious diseases, neuro-immunological disorders, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), neuro-ophthalmological conditions, and various neuromuscular pathologies, including Myasthenia Gravis. The service also provides exposure to rare and challenging neurologic conditions, offering a comprehensive training experience.

The pathologies managed on this service range from acute crises, such as status epilepticus and myasthenic crises, to chronic and relapsing conditions like multiple sclerosis exacerbations and autoimmune encephalitis. This diverse clinical exposure ensures that residents develop the diagnostic acumen and therapeutic skills necessary to manage a wide range of non-vascular neurological disorders with confidence and precision.

The Neurology Consult Service is a pivotal component of our residency program, tasked with evaluating acute neurological consults both in the emergency room and throughout the inpatient units at the Galveston Campus. This service offers residents exposure to a broad spectrum of acute neurological conditions, including those referred by various primary services across the hospital.

The team is composed of a senior resident (PGY-3 or PGY-4), a junior PGY-2 resident, and 1 to 2 PGY-1 interns from both internal medicine and neurology, as well as 1 to 2 PGY-2 psychiatry residents along with medical students. This diverse team structure ensures comprehensive management of acute neurological cases and provides a rich, collaborative learning environment.

As the primary admitting team from the emergency room, the Neurology Consult Service is responsible for addressing urgent and complex neurological issues and providing expert consultations to other inpatient services. This rotation offers residents invaluable experience in handling a wide array of acute neurological conditions, honing their diagnostic and management skills in a dynamic and high-pressure setting.

Residents in our Neurology Residency Program rotate through a diverse array of subspecialty clinics, each offering specialized training and expertise in various neurological domains. These clinics include:

• Neuromuscular Clinic
• Epilepsy Clinic
• Vascular Neurology Clinic
• Movement Disorders Clinic, including Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Clinic
• Neuroimmunology/MS Clinic
• Dementia Clinic
• Botox/Spasticity Clinic

In these settings, residents gain exposure to a broad spectrum of neurological conditions and treatment approaches. They are involved in managing complex cases and acquiring hands-on experience with advanced clinical procedures.

Residents will also have the opportunity to learn and perform various clinic procedures, including:

• Botox Injections for Chronic Migraine
• EMG-Guided Botox for Muscle Spasticity related to conditions such as stroke or multiple sclerosis
• Trigger Point Injections
• Occipital Neuralgia Blocks

This comprehensive rotation ensures that residents develop a well-rounded skill set and proficiency in specialized diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, preparing them for expert practice in their chosen fields.

Our residency program offers a diverse array of elective opportunities, allowing residents to tailor their training to their individual interests and career goals. The elective options available include:

• Neuroendovascular/Neuro-Interventional Radiology (Neuro-IR)
• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Neuroradiology
• Neuro-Oncology
• Ophthalmology/Neuro-Ophthalmology
• Neurocognitive/Neuropsychology
• Pain Medicine
• Neurorehabilitation
• Neuropathology
• Neuro Obstetrics
• Research

These electives provide residents with the flexibility to gain specialized knowledge and skills in various subspecialties and research areas, enhancing their overall expertise and preparing them for a range of career paths within neurology

Located in the esteemed Texas Medical Center Houston, MD Anderson Cancer Center is recognized as one of the leading cancer hospitals in the country. During their PGY-2 and PGY-3 years, our neurology residents spend two months at MD Anderson, rotating through the acute neurology consult service, the inpatient neuro-oncology service, and gaining valuable experience in the neuro-oncology outpatient clinic.

This rotation provides residents with experience in rare and complex neurological conditions, including central nervous system tumors such as gliomas, meningiomas, vestibular schwannomas, CNS lymphomas, and metastatic disease as well as neurological complications of various chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Residents also work with patients receiving cutting-edge experimental therapies.

Additionally, residents handle neurological emergencies and consults for complex conditions, contributing to the center's renowned clinical and research endeavors. The experience at MD Anderson often leads to the publication of case reports and case series, further advancing their expertise in neuro-oncology and clinical research.

During this block, residents are assigned to the inpatient psychiatry service at the Galveston campus. Residents are responsible for consulting on and managing patients with acute psychiatric illnesses, gaining valuable experience in psychiatric evaluation and treatment. For more information on the program, please visit UTMB Psychiatry General Residency Program.

During this rotation, residents evaluate children with neurological conditions such as genetic syndromes, epilepsy, and mitochondrial diseases, among others. This rotation primarily takes place at the Victory Lakes Clinic in League City, located approximately a 30-minute drive from the Galveston campus.

In the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU), residents are responsible for the care of patients admitted for the evaluation and management of epilepsy, working closely with an epilepsy attending. The team includes an epilepsy attending, a neurophysiology fellow, and a PGY-2 or PGY-3 resident.

Patients are admitted to the EMU for precise event characterization and surgical planning. Residents engage in the detailed review of continuous EEG recordings, the adjustment of antiseizure medications during the hospitalization, and the formulation of comprehensive epilepsy care plans for post-discharge management. Junior residents focus on mastering seizure semiology and localization, as well as developing proficiency in EEG interpretation through a structured curriculum.

Our Stroke/Vascular Neurology Service is a cornerstone of our Neurology Residency Program, staffed by highly trained faculty specializing in stroke and vascular neurology. This dedicated service primarily admits patients with stroke and a wide range of vascular neurological pathologies, offering state-of-the-art care and management.

In addition to managing admitted patients, the team provides comprehensive coverage for in-hospital vascular neurology consultations and is responsible for the urgent management of acute stroke alerts, ensuring that patients receive timely and expert care during critical moments.

The service is structured to foster a collaborative and educational environment, comprising a multidisciplinary team that includes a vascular/endovascular attending, stroke fellow, one senior PGY-4 or PGY-3 resident, one junior PGY-2 resident, and one to two interns from both neurology prelim and internal medicine. This team is further supported by medical students and a dedicated stroke coordinator, creating a dynamic and enriched learning experience for all involved.

The average patient census ranges between 10 to 15 patients, providing residents with an optimal balance of case variety and depth. This setup allows for the development of advanced skills in stroke and vascular neurology under the mentorship of experienced faculty and within a team-oriented framework.

Established in 1954, Texas Children’s Hospital is the nation’s largest children’s hospital and the primary pediatric teaching hospital for Baylor College of Medicine. Serving as both a primary community hospital and a tertiary referral center, Texas Children’s provides extensive training in managing the unique and complex needs of infants, children, and adolescents.

During their PGY-3/4 year, residents rotate for two months at Texas Children’s Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. This rotation offers residents comprehensive experience in treating a wide range of neurological conditions, including primary neurological disorders and neurological complications associated with other pediatric diseases. Residents are involved in all aspects of care for pediatric patients with neurological diseases, benefiting from the hospital’s diverse and complex patient population.

During this block, residents are assigned to the inpatient psychiatry service at the Galveston campus. Residents are responsible for consulting on and managing patients with acute psychiatric illnesses, gaining valuable experience in psychiatric evaluation and treatment. For more information on the program, please visit UTMB Psychiatry General Residency Program.

During this rotation, residents evaluate children with neurological conditions such as genetic syndromes, epilepsy, and mitochondrial diseases, among others. This rotation primarily takes place at the Victory Lakes Clinic in League City, located approximately a 30-minute drive from the Galveston campus.

Our Stroke/Vascular Neurology Service is a cornerstone of our Neurology Residency Program, staffed by highly trained faculty specializing in stroke and vascular neurology. This dedicated service primarily admits patients with stroke and a wide range of vascular neurological pathologies, offering state-of-the-art care and management.

In addition to managing admitted patients, the team provides comprehensive coverage for in-hospital vascular neurology consultations and is responsible for the urgent management of acute stroke alerts, ensuring that patients receive timely and expert care during critical moments.

The service is structured to foster a collaborative and educational environment, comprising a multidisciplinary team that includes a vascular/endovascular attending, stroke fellow, one senior PGY-4 or PGY-3 resident, one junior PGY-2 resident, and one to two interns from both neurology prelim and internal medicine. This team is further supported by medical students and a dedicated stroke coordinator, creating a dynamic and enriched learning experience for all involved.

The average patient census ranges between 10 to 15 patients, providing residents with an optimal balance of case variety and depth. This setup allows for the development of advanced skills in stroke and vascular neurology under the mentorship of experienced faculty and within a team-oriented framework.

As a STROKE SENIOR, PGY3/4 resident take on a role akin to junior faculty, supervising and mentoring junior residents, interns, and medical students. They are also responsible for responding to acute stroke alerts throughout the hospital, supervising junior residents in the management of these alerts during the afternoon.

The Neurology Consult Service is a pivotal component of our residency program, tasked with evaluating acute neurological consults both in the emergency room and throughout the inpatient units at the Galveston Campus. This service offers residents exposure to a broad spectrum of acute neurological conditions, including those referred by various primary services across the hospital.

The team is composed of a senior resident (PGY-3 or PGY-4), a junior PGY-2 resident, and 1 to 2 PGY-1 interns from both internal medicine and neurology, as well as 1 to 2 PGY-2 psychiatry residents along with medical students. This diverse team structure ensures comprehensive management of acute neurological cases and provides a rich, collaborative learning environment.

As the primary admitting team from the emergency room, the Neurology Consult Service is responsible for addressing urgent and complex neurological issues and providing expert consultations to other inpatient services. This rotation offers residents invaluable experience in handling a wide array of acute neurological conditions, honing their diagnostic and management skills in a dynamic and high-pressure setting.

As a CONSULT SENIOR, the senior resident supervises junior residents, interns, and rotating medical students, effectively serving as a junior attending. The team, which functions as the primary admitting team from the emergency room, is responsible for managing acute neurology consults from various inpatient services.

Established in 1954, Texas Children’s Hospital is the nation’s largest children’s hospital and the primary pediatric teaching hospital for Baylor College of Medicine. Serving as both a primary community hospital and a tertiary referral center, Texas Children’s provides extensive training in managing the unique and complex needs of infants, children, and adolescents.

During their PGY-3/4 year, residents rotate for two months at Texas Children’s Hospital in the Texas Medical Center. This rotation offers residents comprehensive experience in treating a wide range of neurological conditions, including primary neurological disorders and neurological complications associated with other pediatric diseases. Residents are involved in all aspects of care for pediatric patients with neurological diseases, benefiting from the hospital’s diverse and complex patient population.

During this block, residents are assigned to the inpatient psychiatry service at the Galveston campus. Residents are responsible for consulting on and managing patients with acute psychiatric illnesses, gaining valuable experience in psychiatric evaluation and treatment. For more information on the program, please visit UTMB Psychiatry General Residency Program.

PGY-4 residents are allocated approximately 5 months for elective rotations. This period allows residents to tailor their training to their specific interests and career goals, providing opportunities to explore various subspecialties and research areas within neurology.

Our residency program offers a diverse array of elective opportunities, allowing residents to tailor their training to their individual interests and career goals. The elective options available include:

• Neuroendovascular/Neuro-Interventional Radiology (Neuro-IR)
• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Neuroradiology
• Neuro-Oncology
• Ophthalmology/Neuro-Ophthalmology
• Neurocognitive/Neuropsychology
• Pain Medicine
• Neurorehabilitation
• Neuropathology
• Neuro Obstetrics
• Research

These electives provide residents with the flexibility to gain specialized knowledge and skills in various subspecialties and research areas, enhancing their overall expertise and preparing them for a range of career paths within neurology