The major goal of the Neurology Residency Education Program is to provide the opportunity for residents to gain the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to enable them to provide exemplary health care to people with neurological disease. The program facilitates learning through an atmosphere of collegiality and mutual respect that fosters active communication between residents and faculty. We will stress the pursuit of excellence in clinical neurology and encourage the development of a deeper interest in the academic aspects of the discipline. We will endeavour to create a level of excitement that will stimulate our residents to seek further education and pursue careers in academic neurology.

The general goals and objectives for adult and pediatric neurology are outlined in the document Objectives of Training and Specialty Training Requirements in Neurology. Based upon these general objectives each program is expected to develop rotation specific objectives suitable for that particular program, as noted in Standard B.2 of the booklet General Standards of Accreditation.

Residents must demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes relating to gender, culture and ethnicity pertinent to neurology. In addition, all residents must demonstrate an ability to incorporate gender, cultural and ethnic perspectives in research methodology, data presentation and analysis. On completion of the educational program, the graduate physician will be competent to function as a consultant neurologist. This requires the physician to:

• Provide scientifically based, comprehensive and effective diagnosis and management for patients with neurologic disorders.
• Communicate effectively with patients, their families and medical colleagues (particularly referring physicians), and other health care professionals.
• Counsel patients and others on aspects of prevention of neurological disorders, including risk factors, and genetic and environmental concerns.
• Maintain complete and accurate medical records.
• Effectively coordinate the work of the health care team.
• Be an effective teacher of other physicians (including medical students and other residents), as well as other health care personnel and patients.
• Be proficient in professional and technical skills related to the specialty.
• Demonstrate personal and professional attitudes consistent with a consultant physician role.
• Be willing and able to appraise accurately his or her own professional performance.
• Be willing and able to keep his or her practice current through reading and other modes of continuing medical education.
• Be able to critically assess the neurological literature as it relates to patient diagnosis, investigation and management.
• Be able to participate in clinical or basic science studies as a member of a research team.

These elements of competence are expanded as detailed objectives, for greater clarity, in the following pages. The terms “effective” and “appropriate” are used frequently in these statements. “Effective” is defined for the purpose of this document as “adequate to the efficient solution of the problem”. “Appropriate” is defined as “appropriate to the presenting problem(s) and patient attitudes and activity”. Throughout this document, the term “nervous system” is understood to refer to the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, the neuromuscular junction and skeletal muscle.

The detailed objectives describe minimal standards and in no way exclude the necessity for mastery of additional knowledge, skills or attitudes necessary for the most effective management of patients with nervous system disorders.