Neurology

Medical Students

Medical Students

Neurology Clerkship

The UCLA Neurology Clerkship is a four week required rotation where students will:

  1. Gain competence in taking a neurologic history and performing a neurologic exam, and use them to aid in localization and diagnosis of neurologic disease
  2. Develop knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to assess, diagnose, and refer patients presenting in the primary care setting with neurologic complaints
  3. Have the opportunity to explore the field of neurology as a potential career path through exposure to a variety of complaints and diagnoses through patient encounters and case-based didactics

We hope students will enjoy their time spent with us in Neurology and develop a sound, fundamental base in clinical neuroscience for future reference in whatever specialty they may choose as a career.

Objectives

At the completion of the third-year clerkship, the student should have acquired the ability to:

  • Recognize common neurologic disease presentations.
  • Perform a screening neurologic history and examination.
  • Localize a lession based on clinical information.
  • Generate a differential diagnosis for common neurologic complaints.
  • Develop a practical approach to the evaluation and management of common neurologic complaints.
  • Appropriately order and interpret information from common neurologic diagnostic evaluation, e.g. neuroimaging, lumbar puncture.
  • Recognize and appropriately respond to neurologic emergencies.
  • Be Familiar with ethical and psychosocial problems encountered in the care of neurologically ill patients.

Structure and Required Activities

Students spend four weeks on their clinical neurology rotation at one of six sites: Ronald Reagan University Medical Center (Westwood), West Los Angeles VA, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center or Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. During that time, they are expected to participate fully as a member of their assigned team in both inpatient and outpatient settings, performing neurologic examinations and assessments on patients, presenting the patients to their residents and attendings, discussing diagnosis and management principles, and writing daily progress notes.

In addition, students enrich their participation in other aspects of clinical neurology by attending site specific lectures and seminars, performing two nights of long call and two weekend days on service over the course of the four week rotation. Didactics include case-based small group discussions interspersed through the clerkship. The NBME Neurology Shelf Exam must be completed at the end of the rotation.

Supplemental Clerkship Resources

  1. American Academy of Neurology’s NeuroSAE Medical Student Edition. This is a practice exam designed for medical students on Neurology clerkships who are preparing to take the NBME Neurology Shelf examination. This set of practice questions is provided free of charge by DGSOM.
  2. Online resources. Online resources, previous lectures and teaching sessions are posted on UCLA Box and Gryphon for each student’s self-directed learning. They can be reviewed at any time over the course of the clerkship and are meant to supplement the study plan and preparation for Casebook discussions, clinical duties and the NBME Neurology Shelf. The suggested text is: Lange Clinical Neurology.

Neurology Elective Rotations: 4th Year Medical Students

Three-week Neurology elective rotations are available for DGSOM students as well as visiting students.

  • RRUMC Neurology Sub-Internship: Stroke, Pediatric and General Neurology Inpatient Service
  • Harbor-UCLA Neurology Elective
  • Cedars-Sinai Neurology Sub-Internship
  • California Rehabilitation Institute: Neurorehabilitation elective

Visiting Students

  • Visiting students must apply using the central application system: VSAS

Diversity in Training Scholarship Program