From the Program Director and Associate Program Director
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Steven K. Feske, M.D. |
David M. Greer, M.D. |
The Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School Neurology Program was formed with the merger of the MGH and BWH Neurology Departments in 1997. The merger brought together two of the premier hospitals in Boston to create the highest quality training experience for neurology residents. Both hospitals serve their local communities for primary care and both are tertiary referral facilities for the Boston area, nationally, and internationally. They maintain large in-patient neurology ward and consultation services as well as Neurology Critical Care units with the staffing to take care of the most seriously ill patients. In addition, they maintain large general and subspecialty outpatient clinics in all areas of neurology.
The neurology residency is an integral part of the in- and outpatient clinical services at both hospitals. Residents work closely with expert clinicians to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for high quality practice and lifelong learning. Residents also see patients in the outpatient service at the VA Boston Healthcare System. Through these varied experiences, the residents’ clinical experience is broad. Residents are given a high degree of responsibility with supervision, so that they develop the competence and independence of mature clinicians.
The Neurology Departments of Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s Hospitals and Harvard Medical School all maintain major neuroscience research facilities. These facilities and the large faculty provide the residents with many opportunities to develop productive relationships with scientific mentors and to participate in clinical and basic science research. Residents are encouraged to participate in research during their residency years to prepare them for careers in academic neurology.
The structure of the three-year program affords opportunities for residents to develop as teachers both for their colleagues and for Harvard medical students, who rotate on the neurology services in their clinical years. Many residents also take advantage of an opportunity to teach in the Nervous System and Behavior course at Harvard Medical School.
The Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School Neurology Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. We accept 15 adult neurology residents and 2 pediatric neurology residents per class and have approximately 51 residents in the 3-year program. This large size among neurology residencies allows our program to take residents with a variety of interests, creating a vibrant environment of shared stimulation and support. The residents play a major role in the governance of the program through their participation in various committees and through the Chief Residency program.
It is our goal to produce physicians who will become superb clinicians as well as leaders in the neurosciences, in teaching, and in the regional and national organizations of neurology. Upon completion of the program, residents are highly trained in clinical neurology and have developed skill and interests in research and teaching. This has allowed our residents to transition smoothly into fellowships in clinical neurology and neuroscience.
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