Residency Training

Neurology Residency Program

Sandeep Rana, M.D., Program Director
Length of Program:            3 years
Number of positions:              9

The Allegheny General Hospital Neurology Residency Program was established in 1996 under the tutelage of Jon Brillman, M.D., Chairman, and continues under the expert direction of Thomas Scott, M.D., Program Director.   The 3-year training program places a strong emphasis on traditional bedside teaching and the use of sophisticated technology in all aspects of the neurosciences, including basic neurosciences research.  Successful applicants must complete eight months to one year of broad clinical experience in preliminary Internal Medicine, with primary responsibility in patient care, prior to consideration for Neurology Residency Training at Allegheny General Hospital. 

The Department of Neurology faculty is dedicated to the care of neurologically ill patients, as well as education and research into uncommon neurological disorders.  The House Staff experience personal daily supervision by a senior attending physicians who emphasize and demonstrate the qualities for inpatient care, professionalism, medical acumen and interpretations, interpersonal and communication skills between patients, families, staff, and their peers.  The approach to practical and system-based learning is shared throughout many levels during residency training.  In addition, a strong emphasis in maintaining close interactions with other disciplines is expected of all neurology residents.

Facilities and Resources

The Neurology Department serves on average 690 admissions and 1,470 inpatients consults annually.  The designated Neuroscience floor, 9C, of the inpatient pavilion has approximately 36 beds, which are primarily dedicated to the care of neurologic and neurosurgical patients.  In addition, three (3) rooms are designed for extended stay Video-EEG Monitoring.  The department also monitors eight (8) maximum-observation beds dedicated to traumatic and acutely ill neurology and neuro-surgical patients.  In addition, Neurology services 23 beds between Surgical and Neuro-Intensive Care Units. The Neurology Department’s inpatient capabilities include EEG, EMG, evoked potentials, and nerve conduction velocity studies, in addition to the continuous EEG video monitoring.

General Neurology and Sub-Specialty Clinics

The Neurology Department consists of twelve (12) full-time physicians (including a neuropsychologist), coupled with individual nursing professionals per specialty practice. The Neurology residents care for patients routinely throughout their training experience in General Neurology Clinic.  Also offered throughout their residency training are the following sub-specialty areas and/or clinics available continuously under individual faculty direction: Cerebrovascular/Stroke, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuromuscular (to include Botulinum Toxin Clinic), Neuro-Oncology, Spasticity and Movement Disorders.

Curriculum/Clinical Rotations

The Neurology Residency Program provides a clinical neuroscience research track beginning in PGY II through IV years of training.  This includes an ongoing lecture series on topics ranging from research design to basic statistics taught by expert faculty, in addition to the preparation of manuscripts for editorial review.  Individual faculty mentorship is supported throughout training on project design, development and presentation.  In addition, the program provides a full weekly conference schedule to include Combined Neurology/Neurosurgery/Pathology, EEG, EMG, Epilepsy/Stroke Cases, Neuroscience Grand Rounds, Neuropathology, Neuroradiology and monthly Journal Clubs.

Clinical Rotations

Clinical *Electives are available in basic research, behavioral neurology, EEG, EMG, neuro-ophthalmology, neuro-otology, neuropathology, neuroradiology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, outpatient and subspecialty clinics.

Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship

The Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship Program at Allegheny General Hospital is under the directorship of George A. Small, M.D., Program Director.  This program provides a PGY V level of training for one-year and is structured to allow progressive acquisition of knowledge in performance and interpretation of electromyography, nerve conduction studies and electroencephalography and to apply these skills to patient care. 

The program is comprised of approximately 5 months each of Electroencephalography (EEG) and Electromyography (EMG).  The remaining 2 months is available for Electives, which can include a combination of Pediatric neurophysiology, neurorehabilitation, polysomnography and intraoperative evoked potentials.  The resident will attend weekly didactic conferences in epilepsy and clinical neuromuscular disease, in addition to day-to-day care of patient hospitalized with the same neurological illnesses.