Clinical Elective for Medical Students

Introduction 

The Department of Neurology in the Neurological Institute has four divisions, namely General Neurology, Cerebrovascular Diseases, Peripheral Nervous System Disorders, and Epilepsy. As a department in one of the largest and most advanced hospitals in Taiwan, we have 126 beds, including 12 in the intensive care units (8 in the stroke ICU and 4 in the neurological ICU). There are also 24 seasoned attending neurologists, five of them are also professors. To evaluate nervous system disorders, we provide many specialized neurological tests, such as neuropsychological examinations, electroencephalography (EEG), video-EEG monitoring (V-EEG), electromyography (EMG), sensory evoked potentials (SEP), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), cerebral hemodynamic test, cerebrovascular ultrasonography, vestibular function test, neuromuscular pathology and neurogenetic/ neuroimmunological tests.

Objective

1. To learn and practice how to construct an integrated patient history, perform neurological examinations, and further conduct accurate neurological localizations and differential diagnoses.
2. To learn comprehensively the indications and essential interpretations of specialized neurological tests.
3. To practice evidence-based .medicine
    

Available Supervisors

• Headache: Dr. Shuu-Jiun Wang, Dr. Wei-Ta Chen, Dr. Shih-Pin Chen, Dr. Yen-Feng Wang
• Dementia: Dr. Jong-Ling Fuh, Dr. Pei-Ning Wang
• Movement disorders: Dr. Din-E Shan
• Neuropathy/Myopathy: Dr. Bing-Wen Soong, Dr. Kon-Ping Lin, Dr. Kwong-kum Liao, Yi-Chung Lee, Dr. Yi-Chu Liao
• Cerebrovascular diseases: Dr. Yung-Yang Lin, Dr. Li-Chi Hsu, Dr. I-Hui Lee, Dr. Chih-Ping Chung, Dr. Chun-Jen Lin
• Epilepsy: Dr. Der-Jen Yen, Dr. Shang-Yeong Kwan, Dr. Hsiang-Yu Yu, Dr. Chien Chen, Dr. Yo-Tsen Liu, Dr. Chien-Chen Chou
•  Dizziness/Vestibular physiology: Dr. Li-Chi Hsu
   

Tentative Schedule

WEEK ONE

1. Participate in resident ward rounds and attend teaching/management rounds.*
2. Attend neurological core-lectures and meetings.
3. Visit neurological clinics.
    

WEEK TWO

1. Participate in resident work rounds and attend teaching/management rounds.
2. Attend neurological core-lectures and meetings.
3. Visit neurological clinics.
4. Visit neurological laboratories (EEG, EMG, cerebrovascular ultrasonography).

WEEK THREE

1. Participate in resident work rounds and attend teaching/management rounds.
2. Attend neurological core-lectures and meetings.
3. Participate in neurological consultations with supervisors.
4. Participate in the teaching clinic.
    

WEEK FOUR

1. Participate in resident work rounds and attend teaching/management rounds.
2. Participate in teaching consultation.
3. Visit neurological clinics.
4. Attend the neurological meetings and present one case with a brief clinical history and neuroimaging.
5. Visit neurological laboratories (hemodynamic test, neuromuscular pathology and neurogenetic/ neuroimmunological tests) (optional).

Assessment

MINI-CEX performed by supervisors

References

1. Neurology and Neurosurgery Illustrated. Kenneth W. Lindsay. 5th edition, 2010
2. Merritt’s Neurology. Lewis P Rowland. 13th edition, 2015
3. Adams and Victors Principles of Neurology. Allan H. Ropper, Martin A. Samuels, Joshua P. Klein. 10th edition, 2014
4. Technique of the Neurologic Examination. William E. Demyer, M.D. 5th edition, 2004.
5. Topical Diagnosis in Neurology. Peter Duus. 5th completely revised edition, 2011
6. UpToDate: http://www.uptodate.com