Neurology: Student Learning Outcomes

Office of Medical Education

  1. Neurological Examination
    • Demonstrate proficiency at performing an appropriately focused and reliable neurological examination in both the ambulatory and hospital settings including mental status, cranial nerves, motor function, sensation, reflexes, coordination, and gait.
    • Understand how to recognize and interpret abnormal findings on the neurological exam; be able to distinguish between upper and lower motor neuron findings, lesions of the hemispheres, posterior fossa, spinal cord, nerve root/plexus, peripheral nerve, neuromuscular junction, and muscle.
    • Demonstrate understanding of how to approach and examine the patient with altered level of consciousness.
  2. Documentation
    • Demonstrate the ability to document a history and physical and neurological examination.
  3. Neuroimaging
    • Demonstrate knowledge of currently available brain and spinal cord imaging modalities (CT/CTA, MRI/MRA, PET, MR Spectroscopy), indications for and limitations of their use.
    • Demonstrate ability to differentiate normal from abnormal brain imaging.
    • Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis/Lumbar Puncture
    • Demonstrate understanding of indications for and how to perform a lumbar puncture and how to interpret the results of spinal fluid analysis.
  4. EEG
    • Understand when EEG testing is indicated, a basic understanding of how the testing is conducted, the significance of common waveform patterns (alpha, delta, beta, theta, spike waves, sharp waves, etc.), and limitations for its use.
  5. EMG
    • Understand when EMG testing is indicated, how the testing is performed, and limitations of use.
    • Cerebrovascular Disorders
    • Demonstrate knowledge of the diagnosis and management of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, stroke risk factors, including knowledge of the NIH Stroke Scale, ABCD2 score, and ICH score.
  6. Headache
    • Demonstrate knowledge of the diagnostic criteria for major types of headache including migraine with and without aura, pseudotumor cerebri, temporal arteritis, cluster headache, and their appropriate treatment.
    • Demonstrate understanding of headache emergencies including a differential diagnosis of "worst headache of my life" (subarachnoid hemorrhage, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, etc.)
  7. Epilepsy
    • Demonstrate knowledge of common seizure semiology and terminology (simple vs. complex, partial vs. generalized), common seizure syndromes and approach to the patient with first time seizure.
    • Demonstrate knowledge of anti-epileptic medications, common side effects and contraindications.
    • Demonstrate knowledge of status epilepticus, its definition and management.
  8. Dementia
    • Demonstrate knowledge of the symptoms of dementia, major types of dementia (Alzheimer's, Lewy Body, Parkinson's and Parkinson's Plus Syndromes, prion diseases, etc.), appropriate initial workup for reversible causes, prognosis, and management.
  9. Peripheral and Neuromuscular Neurology
    • Demonstrate knowledge of common neuromuscular disorders (Guillain Barre/AIDP, CIDP, myasthenia gravis, ALS, and peripheral neuropathies), their diagnosis and treatment.
  10. Movement Disorders
    • Demonstrate ability to recognize common movement disorders and tremors (Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's, dystonia, ataxia, essential tremor, intention tremor, etc.) associated syndromes, their diagnosis and treatment.
  11. Multiple Sclerosis/Neuroimmunology
    • Demonstrate understanding of Multiple Sclerosis; distinguish between relapsing and progressive forms of MS; understanding of the McDonald Criteria for diagnosis of MS, common presenting signs and symptoms, the difference between MS and clinically isolated syndrome, and available treatments.
  12. Medical Causes of Neurologic Dysfunction
    • Demonstrate knowledge of medical causes of neurological disease including hepatic failure, malignancy, electrolyte abnormalities, etc.
  13. Neuroinfectious Diseases
    • Demonstrate knowledge of infections of the nervous system in patients with and without HIV; appropriate workup including spinal fluid analysis and imaging, and emergent and long term treatment.
    • Demonstrate an understanding of which neurological infectious should be reported to local health agencies.
  14. Neurological Emergencies
    • Demonstrate knowledge of the approach to common neurological emergencies including acute stroke, status epilepticus, myasthenic crisis, Guillain Barre, and acute altered mental status.
  15. Pediatric Neurology
    • Demonstrate knowledge of normal developmental milestones in the pediatric patient.
    • Demonstrate knowledge of genetic neurological syndromes (Tuberous Sclerosis, etc.) their hallmark features and prognosis.
  16. Sleep Disorders
    • Demonstrate knowledge of common disorders of sleep (narcolepsy, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, etc.), diagnosis, treatment and management.
  17. Head Trauma/Concussion
    • Demonstrate knowledge of the definition of concussion, symptoms of post-concussive syndrome, management, and prognosis.
  18. Substance Abuse Disorders
    • Demonstrate knowledge of the effects of substance abuse as it relate to the neurological presentation (alcohol withdrawal, opiate intoxication, etc.) its epidemiology and treatment.
  19. Psychiatric Disorders
    • Demonstrate knowledge of common psychiatric disorders and how to distinguish these from neurological dysfunction.
  20. Pain
    • Demonstrate knowledge of common causes of focal pain and clinical features of neuropathic pain and common neuropathic pain syndromes (Trigeminal neuralgia, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome etc.), their diagnosis and treatment.
  21. Cranial Neuropathies
    • Demonstrate knowledge of normal cranial nerve examination and ability to recognize cranial neuropathies.
  22. Brain Death
    • Demonstrate knowledge of what constitutes brain death and how the determination is made.
  23. Dizziness
    • Demonstrate knowledge of common causes of dizziness, how to distinguish causes with diagnostic testing, management and treatment of specific disorders including Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, Meniere's Diseases, etc.
  24. End of Life Care
    • Demonstrate an understanding of the appropriate setting to offer hospice care to patients at the end of life.