Curriculum

Neurology Residency

Our 4-year categorical neurology residency begins with a robust PGY-1 year primarily based at Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital a major academic affiliate of the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. As a teaching hospital, we are committed to academic excellence, interprofessional education, and hands-on clinical learning.

Trinity Health Grand Rapids is a Comprehensive Stroke Center, nationally recognized for its excellence in stroke care and neurological services. The hospital includes a dedicated Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) and supports a full range of inpatient and outpatient neurology services. With over 500 inpatient beds, it serves as a high-acuity, high-volume tertiary care center for the region.

Our institution is the primary NIH StrokeNet site in West Michigan, providing residents with opportunities to engage in nationally recognized stroke research and patient recruitment under faculty mentorship. Trinity Health Grand Rapids has received multiple accolades for quality, safety, and clinical excellence, including recognition by U.S. News & World Report and The Joint Commission.

Throughout their training, residents rotate through a variety of clinical settings, including:

• Trinity Health Hauenstein Neuroscience Center
• Trinity Health Muskegon
• Trinity Health Grand Haven
• Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
• University of Michigan Health-West
• Corewell Health facilities

Program Focus

Our program follows a categorical 4-year structure, with each academic year divided into 13 four-week blocks.

Neurology Boot Camp

During the PGY-1 year, all residents participate in a dedicated two-week Neurology Boot Camp, designed to:

• Reinforce core neuroanatomy
• Teach neurological examination techniques
• Review neurologic emergencies and neuro-localization principles
• Provide Emergency Neurological Life Support (ENLS) training and certification prior to PGY-2

Call and Work Structure

We utilize a structured night float system to manage inpatient call.

This system is senior-resident led and eliminates 24-hour call shifts, promoting wellness and educational focus.

Outpatient Training and Procedures

Residents attend Continuity Clinic one half-day per week from PGY-2 through PGY-4. This longitudinal outpatient experience builds the foundation for independent practice in general neurology.

Residents also receive hands-on training in common neurology procedures, including:

• Botulinum toxin injections
• Peripheral nerve blocks
• Lumbar punctures

Rotations

Unique elective rotation opportunities for our residents include:

• Community Neurology (Muskegon and Grand Haven)
• Epilepsy
• Headache Medicine
• Humanism and Resiliency Program (Leadership, Advocacy, Transition to Practice, Relationship Building, and Finance)
• Movement Disorders
• Multiple Sclerosis/Neuro-immunology
• Neuro-Palliative Care
• Neuro-Pathology
• Neuropsychology
• Neuro-Rehabilitation with Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
• Pain medicine with Spine Clinic and Mary Free Bed comprehensive pain management program
• Sleep Medicine
• Sports Neurology
• Neuro-Oncology
• Neuromuscular
• Vascular Neurology/Neuro Interventional
• Neuro-Ophthalmology
• Neuro-Radiology
• Research
• Neurosurgery

Conferences and Didactics

Our program is deeply committed to educational excellence, offering a dynamic and interactive curriculum designed to support both clinical and professional development.

Protected Didactic Time

Residents are provided with 4 hours of protected teaching time each week, ensuring uninterrupted focus on learning. Didactics are organized into themed modular blocks following a rotating curriculum of core and advanced topics covering the full breadth of neurological care.

Curriculum Features

• Foundational and advanced neurology topics across all subspecialties
• Simulation-based learning for neurological emergencies and procedures
• Resident-led teaching and case-based learning formats
• Board preparation sessions integrated throughout the year

Humanism and Resiliency Curriculum

We are proud to offer a distinctive Humanism and Resiliency curriculum, which fosters personal and professional growth. Led by Dr. Aileen Antonio, these sessions explore key areas beyond clinical knowledge, including:

• Advocacy in healthcare
• Physician wellness and burnout prevention
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)
• Medical ethics and professionalism
• Financial literacy and physician leadership

This innovative curriculum reflects our belief that great neurologists are not only excellent clinicians, but also compassionate leaders and resilient humans.

Conferences

• Neuroradiology Case Conference
• Neurology Morning Report
• Neuroscience Grand Rounds
• Neuroscience Journal Club
• Morbidity, Mortality and Improvement (MMI) conference
• Neurology Research committee
• Neuro-Oncology Tumor Board
• Multiple Sclerosis Didactics
• Epilepsy Case Conference 

Didactic Modules

• Advocacy
• Algorithmic Approach to Neurology Chief Complaints
• Autonomic Neurology
• Behavioral neurology/Neuropsychology and Dementia
• EMG & neurophysiology with hands-on training
• Epilepsy & EEG
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
• Ethics/Professionalism
• Evidence Based Medicine
• Headache
• Humanism and Resilience
• Movement Disorders
• Neuroanatomy with Clinical-Neuro-Radiological correlation
• Neuroimmunology
• Neuro-Infectious Disease
• Neuromuscular
• Neuro-Oncology
• Neuro-Ophthalmology
• Neuro-Palliative care and breaking bad news simulation
• Neuropathology
• Neuropharmacology
• Neurorehabilitation
• Neuroradiology
• Neuro-Critical Care
• Neurological Examination
• Pediatric Neurology
• Practice Management, Billing/Coding education
• Real world skills – Personal Finance, Billing, Medical-Legal advice, etc…
• Residency-In-Training Exam (RITE) Preparation
• Sleep Medicine
• Spine and Back care
• Sports Neurology
• Stroke and Neuro-interventional/Neurosurgery
• Wellness

Research

In alignment with ACGME guidelines, all neurology residents will participate in a three-year integrative scholarly research program beginning in the PGY-2 year. This program is designed to:

• Develop familiarity with research methodology and ethical considerations
• Enhance critical appraisal skills through didactic and hands-on learning
• Support residents in becoming thoughtful, informed consumers and producers of medical research

Residents are paired with faculty mentors who provide guidance throughout the research process.

Research Support and Resources

The Trinity Health Grand Rapids Neurology Residency at the Hauenstein Neurosciences Center is a proud partner of the NIH StrokeNet Clinical Trials Network, serving as the main trial site in West Michigan in collaboration with the University of Michigan. Residents actively participate in the recruitment and enrollment of patients in clinical trials under the supervision of faculty mentors.

Additional departmental research resources include:

• A dedicated Research Coordinator
• Access to a Biostatistics Consultant
• An on-site Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Expertise in poster design, presentation coaching, and A/V preparation
• A fully staffed Clinical Trials Unit (CTU)

We provide robust support for residents to present their work at local, regional, national, and international conferences.

Ready to apply?

All applications are accepted through ERAS. Please see the Applicants section of your preferred program for additional details.

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