UC Irvine Department of Neurology’s residency program is an integrated three-year program utilizing the facilities of UC Irvine Medical Center and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach (VAMCLB). The program matches four residents a year or 12 in the program.

The neurology residency program focuses on training excellent clinicians. Some highlights of our program include:

• Strong focus on clinical neurology training
• Expertise and training in all neurological subspecialties
• EMG and EEG rotations with availability of an accredited post-residency clinical neurophysiology fellowship
• One of the first Joint Commission certified primary stroke center in the nation
• Neuroscience intensive care unit
• Extensive teaching / training in neurological disorders
• Daily rounds on multiple neurology services
• Southern California is an attractive area to live with a superb climate, close proximity to beaches, mountains and the Mojave Desert. Recreational activities are available year-round. There are upscale outdoor shops and entertainment, some within walking distance from the hospital.

UC Irvine Department of Neurology utilizes the six competence areas identified by the ACGME for organization of educational objectives and assessment methods. The six general competencies are:

1. Patient care that is compassionate, appropriate and effective for the treatment of health problem and the promotion of health.   
2. Medical knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical and cognate sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care.
3. Practice-based learning and improvement that involves the investigation and evaluation of care for patients. The appraisal and assimilation of scientific evidence and improvements in patient care.
4. Interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families and other health professionals.
5. Professionalism, as manifested through a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles and sensitivity to patients of diverse backgrounds.
6. Systems-based practice, as manifested by actions that demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of healthcare, as well as the ability to call effectively on other resources in the system to provide optimal health care.

UC Irvine Medical Center

UC Irvine Medical Center is a 444-bed academic medical center and principal clinical facility for the School of Medicine's teaching and research programs. The following services are provided: medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, family medicine, pathology, radiology, ophthalmology, neurology, anesthesiology, and pain management and rehabilitation. In addition, he the medical center has cardiac, neonatal, respiratory, burn, and medical-surgical intensive care units. It is the designated countywide Level I tertiary trauma referral center.

UC Irvine Department of Neurology provides inpatient care, consultations and outpatient clinics in general neurology as well as in multiple subspecialties. Diagnostic tests are also performed through the department including electroencephalograms (EEG), nerve conduction studies and electromyography and sleep studies.

Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach

The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach (VAMCLB) is an approximately 200-bed facility. The neurology service operates an inpatient consult service at the VAMCLB as well as runs multiple clinics. There are two general neurology clinics a week in addition to subspecialty clinics in the areas of epilepsy, movement disorders and neuromuscular diseases.

PGY-2:  (subject to change)

• 4 inpatient ward months at UC Irvine Medical Center
• 2 consult months at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach (VAMCLB)
• 1 consult month at UC Irvine Medical Center
• 1 month of psychiatry
• 1 month of subspecialty clinics
• Neuropathology & EEG rotation are available

PGY-3: (subject to change)

• 2 consult months at VAMCLB
• 2 consult months at UC Irvine Medical Center
• 3 months of child neurology
• 2 months of subspecialty clinics
• 1 month of EEG (UC Irvine Medical Center)
• 1 month of EMG (UC Irvine Medical Center)
• 1 month of elective

 PGY-4: (subject to change)

• 4 months of inpatient ward at UC Irvine Medical Center
• 2 months of consult service at UC Irvine Medical Center
• 6 months of elective (divided between UC Irvine Medical Center and VAMCLB)

Training in each successive year is designed to increase the trainee’s responsibility and sophistication with regard to patient care.

The ward team consists of a neurology attending, senior resident (PGY-4), two junior residents (PGY-2) and medical students. The consult team at UC Irvine Medical Center consists of a senior resident (PGY-3 or PGY-4), usually a junior neurology resident and medical students.

The typical day on the wards consists of:

1. Bedside rounds - patients on the neurology inpatient services are seen by the team. Bedside teaching is emphasized as well as review of pertinent imaging and other diagnostic tests. Plans for patient care are reviewed.
2. Conferences - these are held every Wednesday and Friday at UC Irvine Medical Center.
3. Patient care - implement plans for patient care as discussed at rounds. See new patients in consultation or for admission to the inpatient neurology service.
4. Sign out - a detailed transfer of patient information from one resident to another at the end of a shift or rotation.

Residents at UC Irvine Medical Center and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach (VAMCLB) are supervised by board-certified neurology attendings most of whom have additional expertise in a specific subspecialty. An attending is available either on-site or by pager 24 hours 7 days a week. As they progress in the program, residents are delegated increasing responsibility for decisions related to patient care.

Each Wednesday morning, there are multiple scheduled didactic sessions. There is an interdisciplinary neuroradiology conference where films of inpatients and outpatients are reviewed primarily by senior neuroradiology attendings. The conference is attended by faculty from neurology and neurosurgery who actively engage in discussions regarding patient presentations, radiologic diagnosis and treatment plans. Residents are strongly encouraged to actively participate in this conference.

Grand Rounds are held each Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. Lectures are given by UC Irvine faculty as well as numerous outstanding visiting clinicians and researchers from all over the world in the field of neurology. Residents also have the opportunity to participate in Grand Rounds to present interesting or difficult cases as well as related literature. Attendance is required.

Each Wednesday morning, there is also a didactic and interactive lecture dedicated to residents. Topics for this lecture series include relevant clinical talks by faculty and board preparation type reviews. Attendance is required.

The Department of Neurosurgery also holds Grand Rounds each Wednesday morning and neurology residents are encouraged to attend.

There are also conferences at UC Irvine Medical Center each Friday at noon focused on either a topic related to epilepsy, neuromuscular diseases or sleep. These conferences are focused at the residents' level and are an excellent opportunity for exposure and learning about subspecialty neurology. Attendance is required.

Stroke Conference is held each Wednesday afternoon. This conference is interdisciplinary, attended by stroke attendings, neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons and neurointerventionalists. Films from all stroke patients from the previous week are reviewed. Neuroanatomy and localization are reviewed as well as treatment plans. All residents are strongly encouraged to attend.

Journal Club is held on a monthly basis at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach (VAMCLB). A neuroradiology conference is held weekly at the VAMCLB each Monday afternoon. Other clinical conferences are frequently arranged at the VAMCLB.

The department offers third and fourth-year UC Irvine medical students a four-week required neurology rotation. Medical students from outside schools can also elect to rotate through UC Irvine's neurology service. Residents actively participate in teaching activities with the students in the wards and during a special once-a-week class.

Although the emphasis of UC Irvine's neurology program is clinical neurology, residents are exposed to and may participate in research during their residency. It is an expectation of the program that each resident will develop a research project during the three years of their residency. An annual research day is held in the spring where all residents present their research. These presentations may include traditional hypothesis-driven research, as well as, case series or case reports.

The climate of Southern California is defined as semitropical and semi-arid; the temperature ranges from 50-75 degrees in the winter and 60-90 degrees in the summer. The climate and proximity of the mountains and the ocean allow for a wide variety of activities from skiing, which is available in the San Bernardino mountains, to windsurfing, sailing, and other water sports. Superb beaches are available within an easy drive. It is possible to swim in the ocean almost eight months of the year and boating, surfing, skin diving and fishing are year-round sports. The area abounds with jogging and bike paths, and there are numerous public golf courses and tennis courts in the metropolitan area.

The Los Angeles-Orange County area offers a wide choice of entertainment activities. The Los Angeles County, Norton Simon and Getty Museums and Huntington Library contain extensive art collections, and there are a number of smaller galleries throughout the two-county area. The Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa in Orange County and the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles are major theaters for symphony, drama and ballet. There are many smaller less well-known theaters offering diverse dramatic material within easy driving distance in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Pop concerts with well-known artists are given both indoors and outdoors throughout the year. For Ducks, Lakers, Angeles, Clippers sports fans, there are professional teams in baseball, basketball and hockey. The area is equally well-known for its collegiate teams and the hosting of the Rose Bowl game.

The extensive freeway system makes all of these activities readily available. San Diego and the U.S./Mexican border are only a two-hour drive away.

The current annual salary for residents as of July 1, 2009 is as follows:

• PGY2 $47,211
• PGY3 $49,095
• PGY4 $50,987

More information about housing »

On average, one to two graduating residents per year choose to pursue subspecialty fellowship training after residency. Many graduates choose to enter into private practice, group practice or join HMO organizations. Below is a list of recent graduates and where they have gone:

D	Yr Grad	Fellowship (if applicable)
Dion Fung, MD	09
Nastaran Rafiei, MD	09
Cyrus Dastur, M.D.	08	Neuro-intensive Care Fellowship at UT Southwestern in Dallas
David Brown, D.O.	08	Neuro-imaging Fellowship at Dent Neurological Institute in Buffalo	Movement Disorder & General Neurology
Karen Cheng, M.D.	07	Sleep Fellowship at Stanford
Naomi Lin, M.D.	07	Electrophysiology Fellowship at Cedars	General Neurology
Vinh Dang, M.D.	07	Electrophysiology Fellowship at UC Irvine	Staff Neurologist Kaiser Permanente
Shirisha Janumpally, M.D.	07		Private Practice
Ronnie Karayan, M.D.	06	Electrophysiology Fellowship at UC Irvine	Joined Kaiser Permanente
Beth Lo, M.D.	06		Director at Arizona Sleep Medicine Physician
Marcel Hungs, M.D. PhD	05	Sleep Fellowship at Stanford	Director of UCIMC Sleep Disorders Center
Karen Lee, M.D.	05	Electrophysiology Fellowship at UC Irvine	Joined HMO
Miracle Wangsuwana, D.O.	05		Private Practice
Norman Wang, M.D.	04	Epilepsy fellowship at Barrows Institute	Academic Position at Barrows Institute
Kim Madden, D.O.	04		Private Practice
Sonya Patel, D.O.	04		Joined Kaiser Permanente
Marwan Maalouf, M.D.	03	Fellowship in Behavioral Neurology and Dementia at UC Irvine	Academic Position at Barrows Institute

Q. What do the residents do when they finish their residency?

A. Many residents today pursue fellowships after graduation. Please see examples of fellowships that our residents have completed >> (link to Graduating Residents)

Q. Can visiting medical students do rotations at UC Irvine?

A. Yes, although the majority of our medical students come from UC Irvine, we have accepted medical students from all across the country who are interested in rotating through UC Irvine's neurology department when openings are available. Please contact Jean Gottbreht for more information.

Q. What is the salary for each year of residency?

A. The current salary for PGY-2 is $47,211 PGY-3 $49,095 and PGY-4 $50.987.

Q. What is the call schedule for residents?

A. Call can vary, but generally, PGY-2's take call on average every fourth night at UC Irvine Medical Center. PGY-3's and PGY-4's take one to two calls per month at UC Irvine Medical Center. The call schedule is devised in accordance with ACGME guidelines and policies. PGY-3's and PGY-4s take home call for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach (VAMCLB) for one week at a time. The frequency of this call, on average, is one out of every six weeks.

Q. How many days of vacation/education are allowed each year?

A. Residents have a total of 28 calendar days for vacation/education time.

Q. How is the ancillary support at UC Irvine Medical Center and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach (VAMCLB)?

A. We have excellent ancillary support services at both facilities. Blood-draws, respiratory therapists, EKG's, STAT radiology services and transport services are available 24 hours a day. Pharmacists are available to assist with dosing and other pertinent questions at both facilities.

Q. What is the pass rate on board exams?

A. Our cumulative three year pass rate is greater than 80 percent, which is significantly higher than the national average.

Q. Where do people live?

A. Residents choose to live in a variety of places throughout Southern California preferred within 20 minutes or near the hospital. Many live in Orange County, while others choose to live in the Long Beach area. In choosing a place to live, please consider the time commuting from home to the hospitals.

Q. What sets UC Irvine apart from other programs?

A. We believe that UC Irvine offers one of the best neurology residency experiences in California. Our program provides an excellent background in general neurology with numerous opportunities to learn more about all of the subspecialties in neurology. We augment our exceptional inpatient training with a variety of outpatient experiences. We hope you take the time to learn more about UC Irvine's neurology program by applying for a position.

UC Irvine’s Department of Neurology residency program again this year is a participant in both the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). The accredited resident training program is three years in length. Each trainee will enter the PGY-2 year after successful completion of an ACGME approved PGY-1 year (internal medicine preferred).

Applicants for July 2010 must apply through ERAS (Electronic Residency Application System) of the AAMC. ERAS information is available through your dean's office or through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

Our deadline for ERAS applications is December 5, 2008.  Interviews will take place on Wednesdays beginning November 5, 2008 through January 21, 2009. There will be no interviews the week of Thanksgiving, the week of and after Christmas. In 2009, the first date of interviews will be Wednesday, January 7. You will be contacted to schedule your appointment once you have accepted our invitation to interview.

The following should be provided through ERAS:

1. Completed application form (ERAS only), including personal statement
2. Curriculum vitae/resume
3. Dean’s letter
4. Medical school transcripts
5. Three letters of recommendation: one should be from a neurology rotation and the remaining letters from faculty chosen at your discretion
6. If you are not a U.S. Citizen, include a copy of your visa or resident alien card (both sides)

We must have your United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step I score to consider your application; however we do not have a formal screening cut-off for Step I scores. Please note: You must successfully pass Step II Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills to begin any UC Irvine residency training program. Employment is contingent upon passing both areas of Step II before entering your residency program.

After your application package is sufficiently complete, the Residency Selection Committee will review your file. We do not have set criteria for selection of candidates. Faculty will carefully review each application individually, recognizing that each applicant will have their own strengths. If you are selected for an interview, we will contact you to arrange an interview date. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Jean Gottbreht at 714.456.7707 or e-mail jlgottbr@uci.edu.

We are happy to consider applications from qualified international medical graduates (IMG). However, we accept applications only through ERAS. We do not sponsor visas. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents. All international graduates must have the Evaluation Status Letter issued by the Medical Board of California before an interview can be scheduled. There are no exceptions to this policy. Questions regarding status letters should be directed to the Medical Board of California at 1430 How Avenue, Sacramento, 95826-3236 or by calling 916.263.2383.

Clinical experience (with supportive letters) in the United States is very strongly recommended. There are special requirements for IMGs who wish to take post-graduate training in California. Further information can be obtained from the Medical Board and/or the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

Application for the preliminary program is also required through ERAS; for further information please contact:

Teri Lynn Wheeler at teri.wheeler@med.va.gov or
Robert A. Kaplan, M.D. at robert.kaplan@med.va.gov
Phone: 562.826.8000, ext. 3832

Interested applicants wanting to apply for a preliminary medicine year MUST apply through ERAS. For further information, please contact Teri Lynn Wheeler at teri.wheeeler@med.va.govor Robert A. Kaplan, M.D. at robert.kaplan@med.va.gov or by phone at 562.826.8000, ext. 3832.

• List of Residents
• Photos of Residents