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Next Generation of Care Starts Here

Education is the centerpiece of our academic program, and we continue to build upon our commitment to produce outstanding physicians with unsurpassed skills in order to provide the best patient care possible. That commitment began when the neurology and neurosurgery educational programs at the University of Kentucky were established in the 1960s; it is still upheld today. We are proud of the long tradition of excellence embodied by our students, faculty and alumni.

Our training program seeks to bring out the best in our trainees and provide the necessary skills for a successful clinical or academic career. The University of Kentucky basic science departments are ranked in the top 20 percent of National Institute of Health funded programs and offer opportunities for research experience.

Neurology

Unique educational opportunities through outreach facilities and international collaborations are built into our neurology educational program. We offer LCME-accredited educational programs for third- and fourth-year medical students, ACGME-accredited residency programs in adult and child neurology and post-residency clinical fellowships in epilepsy, geriatrics, headache, neuropsychology, movement disorders and vascular neurology.   

Our four-year categorical neurology residency program offers a variety of programs to promote residents’ intellectual growth. These include:    

  • Subspecialty rotations including electromyography (EMG)/nerve conduction studies (NCS), epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU)/electroencephalogram (EEG), neuro ICU, neuro-radiology, behavioral neurology, stroke clinic, ALS clinic, movement disorder clinic and research.
  • Didactic lecture series covering topics in basic neurology, emergencies, imaging, board prep and advanced topics.
  • A strong mentorship program that pairs each resident with a faculty member for both career development and resident research.
  • Opportunities to participate and present at both national and international meetings and conferences.

Through our fellowship programs, we provide an organized and comprehensive educational experience that addresses patient care in inpatient, outpatient and acute care settings. Under the direct supervision of highly qualified faculty, fellows are provided ample time for clinical practice, instruction and training. During this time, the fellow is able to develop the necessary skills and positive professional attitude essential for high-quality patient care. Fellowships are offered in the following fields:   

  • Clinical neuropsychology.
  • Epilepsy.
  • Geriatric neurology.
  • Headache medicine.
  • Movement disorders.
  • Vascular neurology.

Neurosurgery

Our goal with the neurosurgery program is to provide an education in the theoretical and technical aspects of neurological surgery so that the resident will be equipped for either clinical practice or academic neurosurgery. Research opportunities, inpatient training, specialized rotations and teaching conferences all help us achieve that goal.    

Research opportunities are available for up to one year for neurosurgery residents. Residents involved in research receive guidance and technical support from research faculty across campus as well as from neurosurgery research personnel in the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center. The PGY-5 resident will typically acquire up to six months of research experience by either working in a basic laboratory or completing a clinical research project.    

Inpatient neurosurgical training occurs at both the UK and VA Medical Centers. The UK Medical Center has a ten-bed Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit. Residents learn the concepts of neurocritical care during their rotations through the unit. Dedicated neuro-intensivists are involved in the management of all of the patients in the unit and the Critical Care Service. Both medical centers have resident-staffed outpatient clinics.   

In addition to ward rotations, the residents spend time on rotations in pathology, radiology, anatomy, neuro critical-care and research.   

Regularly scheduled teaching conferences allow the residents to participate in the process of assessing and diagnosing neurologic diseases. Monthly conferences include Grand Rounds, topic review and case discussions. In addition, faculty-run review sessions provide the background information needed for a successful neurosurgical practice. They also provide support for the yearly in-service examinations and the American Board of Neurological Surgery examination held in March. 

Our neurology and neurosurgery educational programs emphasize lifelong learning, quality patient care, and intentional research. With every new day and new student, we help create the future of healthcare.