Education Research: The Future of Child Neurology Residency Training: The Perspective of a Child Neurology Society Task Force.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Postgraduate residency in the United States is complex, and each medical field faces unique educational challenges. Child neurology has had a distinct identity for decades, yet its training curriculum originated from a joint venture of 2 larger and older fields, pediatrics and neurology. The traditional five-year training sequence consists of 2 years of pediatrics, 1 year of adult neurology, and 2 years of child neurology, as well as all other educational experiences, including electives. The contents of each major component have changed, in some instances dramatically, over the years, yet the original basic structure remains.

Methods: In anticipation of upcoming reviews of the child neurology training curriculum, the Child Neurology Society (CNS) convened a task force to review key aspects of this training curriculum. The task force members were surveyed anonymously both before and after a series of discussions to consider the current and expected educational needs of child neurologists in the mid-21st century, following a modified Delphi approach.

Results: The consensus was that child neurology has matured immensely as a field, with substantial subspecialization becoming common at major academic medical centers. There was significant variability in the availability of pediatric neurologic subspecialty training in fields such as neurogenetics and neuromuscular neurology across the United States. The preponderant view of the Task Force was that the child neurology training curriculum should be reviewed and potentially modified in accordance with the evolving educational needs of child neurologists, particularly with regard to general pediatrics and adult neurology training. The spectrum of faculty expertise and curricular emphasis across programs, viewed as a strength of training options, precluded reaching consensus on details of appropriate changes.

Discussion: The findings of the task force indicate that there will be a need for ongoing evaluation and updating of the child neurology training curriculum in future years. Before the next formal review of the child neurology training curriculum by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, we recommend a robust discussion among multiple stakeholders, including accreditation bodies, medical specialty boards, and professional societies such as the CNS that represent child neurologists in practice and in training.