Certificate Programs
Our certificate programs offer key focused mentorship in major areas of academic interest to our residents. These innovative programs allow residents to easily benefit from the vast resources and experienced mentors in our institutions, and build on skills beyond clinical care that are essential to their future careers. Residents announce their interest in a certificate program in the fall of NM2 year. Each program provides a structured curriculum with frequent group meetings. Our dedicated certificate program leaders help each resident identify ideal mentors to guide the pursuit of an academic project within the field. In short, the certificate programs are a major way in which our residents accelerate their individual academic career development during residency.
Basic science, translational, and clinical investigation
Background
All Mass General Brigham (MGB) Neurology residents are expected to develop the skills to design, conduct and interpret clinical, translational, and basic science investigation regardless of their specific career focus. Currently MGB Neurology residents are exposed to research methodologies and critical interpretation through a multifaceted research program including didactics, workshops, mentored journal club, and elective research opportunities. Many residents participate in longitudinal research but with varying degrees of scholarly productivity and career development. Providing a framework for research will help to develop the careers of residents (and fellows) planning to devote a significant proportion of their professional time to grant-funded research.
Objectives
- To provide a structured framework for developing knowledge and skills in research design, grant-writing, and publication
- To provide mentoring for career planning, individualized learning plans, and development of a scholarly project
Structure
- Candidate must declare intent and identify a mentor by the end of the first year of Neurology Residency
- Candidate must meet with their mentor at least 4 times per year to discuss career development and steps toward significant academic achievement
- Candidate must pursue research (basic science, translational, clinical) under the guidance of a “lab” mentor (separate from program mentor)
- Candidate must submit at least one abstract and/or present at a conference
- Candidate must prepare at least one original research manuscript
- Candidate must submit at least one grant during residency (real or mock)
- Candidate must attend at least 4 small group sessions per year organized by residency and/or outside programs (Catalyst, etc.)
- Candidate must present their work to peer group as part of small group sessions
Directors
Dr. Sydney Cash, Dr. Andrew Stern
Medical Education
Background
All Mass General Brigham (MGB) Neurology residents are expected to develop the skills to be effective neurology teachers regardless of their specific career focus. Currently MGB Neurology residents are exposed to medical education principles and practices through a multifaceted Resident-as-Teacher Program including didactics, mentored presentations, teaching roles, and elective opportunities. Few residents participate in longitudinal medical education experiences, develop scholarly projects, or receive structured mentoring from appropriate faculty. Providing a framework for the development of knowledge and skills specific to medical education will help to develop the careers of residents (and fellows) planning to devote a significant proportion of their professional time to teaching, curriculum development, education administration, and/or education research.
Objectives
- To provide a structured curriculum for teaching skills, education theory, curriculum development, and medical education research
- To provide mentoring for career planning, individualized learning plans, and development of a scholarly project
Structure
- Candidate must declare intent and identify a mentor by the end of the first year of Neurology Residency or by August 1 for fellows
- Candidate must meet with their mentor at least 4 times per year
- Candidate must participate in at least two special teaching roles per year (in addition to current rotation requirements, e.g. neuroanatomy, medicine resident teaching, Harvard Medical School bedside teaching sessions, observer teaching)
- Candidate must serve on an education committee and attend 75% of meetings (ICTAL, clerkship, fellowship)
- Candidate must complete a scholarly project (curriculum, needs assessment, research project, educational product/module)
- Candidate must submit at least one abstract and/or present at a forum on medical education (Harvard Medical School Medical Education Day, AAN, AAMC, etc)
- Candidate must attend at least 4 medical education seminars/workshops per year organized by the residency and/or outside programs (MGB Centers of Expertise, Academy at Harvard Medical School)
- Candidate must present their scholarly work to the peer group
Directors
Dr. Christopher Doughty, Dr. Galina Gheihman
Patient Safety, Quality Care, and Health Policy
Background
All Mass General Brigham (MGB) Neurology residents are expected to develop the knowledge and skills to measure their clinical effectiveness, critically appraise the quality of care they provide, identify areas for improvement of patient safety, and participate in quality improvement projects regardless of their specific career focus. Currently MGB Neurology residents are exposed to patient safety and quality improvement through resident case conferences, departmental morbidity and mortality conference, and resident initiatives. Some residents also serve on the departmental Quality and Safety Committees. Providing a framework for developing expertise and specific projects in quality, safety, and policy will help to develop the careers of residents (and fellows) planning to devote a significant proportion of their professional time to patient safety, quality care, and healthcare policy.
Objectives
- To provide a structured framework for developing knowledge and skills in patient safety, quality care, and healthcare policy including:
- Efforts to support patient safety and quality care within our healthcare system
- Importance of effective interdisciplinary communication in order to achieve sustainable, meaningful change
- Appropriate process and outcome measures for Quality Assurance-related programs
- Process of Mortality and Morbidly case selection and planning
- Critical appraisal of health outcomes research - To provide mentoring for career planning, individualized learning plans, and development of a patient safety, quality improvement, or healthcare policy project
Structure
- Candidate must declare intent and identify a mentor by the end of the first year of Neurology Residency
- Candidate must serve on either BWH or MGH Q&S Committee and attend at least 6 meetings per year
- Candidate must meet with their mentor at least 2 times per year to discuss career development
- Candidate must develop and implement a quality, safety, or policy project
- Candidate must present their project to peer group
- Candidate must submit at least one abstract and/or present at a conference
- Candidate must help organize/present at 1 Mortality and Morbidity
- Candidate must attend 4 conferences on Quality and Safety/policy issues per year (Mortality and Morbidity, MGB Centers of Expertise, Harvard Business School, AAN, etc.)
Directors
Dr. Aneesh Singhal
Inclusive and Equitable Delivery of Neurologic Care
at Home and Abroad
Background
All Mass General Brigham (MGB) Neurology residents are expected to develop skills and attitudes to ensure that all patients receive equitable, universal access to high quality evidence-based neurologic care. We recognize that despite an increasing awareness of inclusivity in institutions and health care systems, barriers still exist for certain groups within neurology. Many residents participate in more significant experiences through global health electives or clinics serving the unhoused population, but few do so through an organized curriculum.
Objectives
- To provide a structured framework for developing knowledge and skills in assessing and promoting inclusive and equitable care locally, nationally, and/or globally, so the candidate will:
- Identify the challenges of neurology practice in resource-limited settings and contribute to the
development of strategies to address these challenges
- Appreciate the burden of neurological disease in communities with limited access to neurologic care - To provide mentoring for career planning, individualized learning plans, and development of a scholarly project
Structure
- Candidate must declare intent and identify a mentor by the end of NM1 Year
- Candidate must meet with their mentor at least two times per year
- Candidate must participate in Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) clinic for unhoused people at least twice per year OR participate in at least 2 clinical electives in a resource-limited setting
- Candidate must participate in neuro-infectious diseases elective during at least one elective
- Candidate must present their scholarly work to the peer group
- Candidate must submit at least one abstract and/or present at a forum related to this certificate program
- Candidate must complete a scholarly project
- Candidate must attend at least 4 curricular sessions per year through MGB Neurology, MGB Centers of Expertise, and/or Harvard Medical School
