The Paediatric Neurology residency training program at The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto is a fully accredited program with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The program is committed to excellence in training individuals for careers in both academic and community-based practice. We accept trainees via the CaRMS R-1 match into our 5-year residency program and via the CaRMS paediatric subspecialty match into our 3-year program. The program has implemented a Competency by Design based curriculum that employs frequent work-based assessments, coaching and feedback to encourage development of each of the CanMEDS competencies throughout the following training experiences:

PGY-1

This year consists of one block of paediatric neurology at SickKids, one block of community-based paediatric neurology, one block of paediatric neurosurgery, one block of research and 9 blocks of training in general paediatrics (paediatric wards, emergency paediatrics, community paediatrics, care of the newborn, infectious diseases, immunology/allergy/dermatology). Residents attend PeRLS — the paediatrics academic half day, and participate in a monthly longitudinal continuity clinic in general paediatric neurology.

PGY-2

This year consists of 5 blocks of general and subspecialty paediatrics, 5 blocks of paediatric neurology, and 3 blocks of adult neurology, which take place at St. Michael’s Hospital, University Health Network and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Residents participate in a twice-monthly longitudinal continuity clinic in general paediatric neurology.

PGY-3 to 5

The PGY 3 through 5 years will complete the requirements for the RCPSC accredited program in paediatric neurology. This training will consist of rotations in ambulatory and inpatient paediatric neurology services, as well as rotations in epilepsy, electroencephalography, critical care, neuromuscular disorders, developmental paediatrics, neonatal neurology, neuroradiology, neuropathology, stroke, neuroinflammatory disorders and additional rotations in inpatient and ambulatory adult neurology. Ample selective experiences are available in disciplines such as headache, neuro-ophthalmology, neurogenetics, neurometabolics, and movement disorders. Residents are encouraged to explore elective experiences outside of Toronto, including in global health. Residents follow their own patients longitudinally in a weekly continuity clinic in general paediatric neurology.

Educational Program

All trainees benefit from an extensive curriculum in paediatric neurology with dedicated teaching rounds on Wednesday and Thursday mornings. A weekly academic half day in the principles of neurology is organized in conjunction with the adult neurology training program at the University of Toronto.

Research

Trainees pursue research projects throughout their training, which is supported by protected time, formal research mentorship and an annual research skills course. Trainees present their work at our annual Prichard research day.

The major foci of the clinical activities of the Division of Neurology at The Hospital for Sick Children are epilepsy, stroke, headache, neurometabolic diseases, neuromuscular diseases, sleep disorders, movement disorders, neuroinflammatory disorders, and neonatal neurology.

The Division has a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada accredited training program in Paediatric Neurology as well as fellowship training programs in epilepsy, stroke, neuromuscular disorders, neuroinflammatory disorders, neonatal neurology, and neurocritical care.

The Division, in conjunction with the Program in Neuroscience and Mental Health and the Centre for Brain and Mental Health, supports active clinical and basic science research programs in epilepsy, neurophysiology, stroke, dyslexia, autism, attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity, neuromuscular disorders, neuroinflammatory disorders, fatty acid oxidation disorders and molecular and cellular neurobiology.

The Division currently comprises 15 full-time physicians, 7 part-time physicians, and 12 scientific staff.