Pediatric Neurology Fellowship
The Pediatric Neurology Fellowship, directed by Dr. Joann Cracco, is a fully accredited three-year program providing comprehensive training in the full spectrum of pediatric neurologic disorders in varied settings. The fellows may enter pediatric neurology training after two years of pediatric residency in an ACGME-accredited program, or one year of pediatrics and one year of medicine, or after one year of pediatrics and one year of basic research. In conjunction with the Department of Pediatrics, a joint residency program (2 years of pediatrics followed by 3 years of pediatric neurology) is also available.
Pediatric neurology fellows spend 12 months on adult neurology, and the rest of their time on pediatric neurology rotations and electives. The adult neurology ward and consultation exposure provides a strong foundation in basic localization and neuroanatomy. Fellows also participate in academic activities with adult neurology. There is ample elective time during the fellowship for standard electives in neuropathology, neurophysiology, neuroradiology, and rehabilitation, and residents may design electives around individual neurologic interests. The pediatric neurology schedule comprises inpatient and outpatient rotations.
Inpatient Experience
The pediatric neurology service handles consultations and admissions at the University Hospital of Brooklyn (UHB) and Kings County Hospital. The wide spectrum of neurologic illness seen at Kings County and University Hospital, combined with intensive hands-on teaching, provides a unique opportunity for training in pediatric neurology.
Inpatient service – a combined ward and consultation team consists of an attending neurologist, pediatric neurology fellow, pediatric and adult neurology residents, and medical students. Daily rounds include morning report, attending teaching rounds, and sign-out rounds.
Specialty inpatient units – epilepsy monitoring unit.
Outpatient Experience
Fellows maintain continuity clinic throughout their tenure, providing the opportunity to follow the course of neurologic diseases as patients grow and develop. Specialty clinics allow the fellows to obtain in-depth knowledge about specific disease entities.
Pediatric Neurology Specialty Clinics
- Gait Laboratory, Lamm Institute
- Spina Bifida and Neurosurgery Clinic, UHB
- Neurobehavioral Clinic: children with ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, UHB
- Psychopharmacology Clinic, Lamm Institute
- Epilepsy Clinic, UHB
Teaching Program
Neurology Grand Rounds are attended by pediatric neurology trainees. Several times per year the speaker is sponsored by the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities. Weekly or bi-weekly conferences are offered including case presentation conferences, conferences on clinical electrophysiology, epilepsy, neuromuscular disease, neuro-ophthalmology, neurobehavior, neuroradiology, and pediatric neurology journal club. Monthly conferences include morbidity and mortality and neuropsychology. Pediatric neurology board examination preparation consists of neuroscience lectures, practice sessions for the written and oral sections, and the yearly in-service examination.
Teaching Faculty
- Joan B. Cracco MD, Director
- Geetha Chari, MD
- Radha Giridharan, MD
- Arthur Rose MD
- Emily Kurlansik, Psy.D., BCBA NCSP, Pediatric Neuropsychologist
- Krystyna Wisniewski, MD, Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities
Contact Information
Joan B. Cracco, MD
Director, Division of Pediatric Neurology
e-mail: jcracco@downstate.edu
Tel: (718) 270-2042
Fax: (718) 270-3748
Director, Division of Pediatric Neurology
State University of New York
Downstate Health Sciences University
450 Clarkson Avenue, MSC 118
Brooklyn, NY 11203