Mission Statement

Our residency program:

• is dedicated to providing world class neurological pediatric care to our patients
• will formally educate residents and facilitate scholarly investigations in the areas of basic science, clinical science, educational, and quality improvement research
• will actively promote the personal and professional growth of the residents through mentorship, acknowledgement and promotion of work-life balance, and a supportive and challenging learning environment
• will promote the health and well-being of residents throughout their training through innovative ideas
• will provide multiple avenues for communication with the residency and department leadership and create a process for ongoing self-improvement as our program changes over time
• will foster an environment dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion that extends to our patients, trainees, and faculty through recruitment, education, and mentorship

General Program Overview

Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado School of Medicine's Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics offer a five-year categorical residency in child neurology. We train 4 residents per year.

The goal of the program is to train physicians in child neurology and prepare them for careers in clinical or academic medicine. As a residency training program, the program curriculum is designed to meet two objectives: to independently and competently attend to the neurological disorders of childhood and to prepare residents to sit for board exams at the completion of the program. The Child Neurology Residency Program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine has been training pediatric neurology residents since the 1960s. Formal ACGME accreditation has been continuous since guidelines for this program were established in 1988.

To date, more than 50 residents have trained here since the program’s inception. All child neurology faculty are certified by the ABPN with special qualification in child neurology and have diverse interests and skills to provide the breadth of teaching necessary. See "Our Patients” tab for more details. The main office and the majority of clinical services are located at Children’s Hospital Colorado, in Aurora, Colorado.

We also provide clinical services through Children’s Hospital Colorado Network of Care centers in Broomfield, Denver, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Wheat Ridge, Parker, and Colorado Springs. Additional outreach locations include: Durango, Grand Junction, Alamosa, and internationally in Guatemala.

We train physicians to provide compassionate, high quality, evidence-based care to children with neurologic disorders within today’s healthcare environment while supporting resident wellness. Child Neurology graduates are in high demand, both in Colorado and around the country. Residents graduating from our program enjoy continued success in a variety of different areas, including academic positions, fellowship training programs, and private neurology practice. Furthermore, in the past 10+ years, we have a 100% pass rate for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Child Neurology board examination.

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Curricul​um

Our program meets the requirements for categorical child neurology training as set by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), which are

• 24 months of general pediatrics training

• 12 months of adult clinical neurology

• 12 months of child clinical neurology with a minimum of four months of outpatient experience

• Participation in a resident longitudinal/continuity clinic at least one half day weekly

• 12 months of elective and specialty training including: neuropathology, neuroradiology, neuro-ophthalmology, psychiatry, rehabilitation, neurological surgery, neurodevelopment, clinical research, and the basic sciences

We are committed to education and work-life balance. Our schedule is compliant with all ACGME duty hour regulations and allows our residents the personal time to spend with loved ones and enjoy the beauty of Colorado. Patient care responsibilities are meant to ensure a balance between patient care and education that achieves for the trainee an optimal educational experience consistent with the best medical care. Patient care responsibilities include inpatient, outpatient and consultation experiences.

We now offer a 5-year longitudinal track system that will allow our residents to specialize in a specific area. During the second year of training, our residents will pick a specific track that will allow them 4 months (1 month per year) to focus on training in their area of interest.

PGY 1&2

• General Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Colorado

• longitudinal track experience in

PGY 3

• 6 months: adult neurology inpatient ward service at University of Colorado Hospital (UCH), & Denver Health Medical Center (DH)

• 2 months: adult neurology outpatient clinical adult neurology at UCH, VA, DH

• 2 months: blended pediatric/adult electives in subspecialty areas of neurology including neurophysiology, neuromuscular and pathology.

• 1 month: child neurology inpatient (primary and consult), ICU, & emergency consult services

• 1 month: Child neurology elective

• Continuity clinic in child neurology at CHCO; one-half day weekly

For more specific information regarding Adult Neurology training program, please visit the Adult Neurology website.

PGY 4​

• 3- 4 months: child neurology inpatient (primary and consult services), ICU & emergency consult services

• 3- 4 months: core electives in neurophysiology, neuroradiology, neuro-oncology

• 2 months: rotating outpatient clinics in child neurology, genetics, rehabilitation, neuromuscular, development, psychiatry, metabolic disease

• 1 month: blended pediatric/adult electives in pathology

• 2-3 months: elective in research and/or clinical setting

• Continuity clinic in child neurology at CHCO; one-half day weekly

PGY 5

• 3 months: child neurology inpatient (primary and consult services), ICU & emergency consult services

• 2 months: remaining core electives in neurophysiology, neuroradiology, neuro-oncology

• 1 month: inpatient psychiatry (3 weeks) & medical risk management (1 week)

• 2-3 months: rotating outpatient clinics in child neurology, genetics, rehabilitation, neuromuscular, development, psychiatry, metabolic disease

• 1 month: adult neurology outpatient clinical adult neurology at UCH

• 2-3 months: electives in research and/or clinical settings

• Continuity clinic in child neurology at CHCO; one-half day weekly

Longitudinal Interest Tracks

We currently support four resident interest tracks that span our 5-year training program; research, medical education, global health, and community neurology;

Research Interest Track – this track is designed for residents with a strong basic science background and in interest in pursuing a career as a physician scientist. We support one resident per year to forgo eligibility for general pediatric board certification and complete six months of basic science research during their PGY2 year in lieu of traditional clinical pediatrics rotations. We will match you with a mentor during your PGY1 year and can support additional longitudinal research months in the PGY4-5 years as desired.

Medical Education – this track is designed for residents interested in becoming clinician educators or improving their education skills. Residents will participate in the Medical Educators track as organized by the Pediatrics residency program throughout their five years which includes courses, didactics, journal clubs, and small group sessions. They will also participate in an educational research project or curriculum development project under the mentorship of one of our education faculty within neurology and/or pediatrics

Global Health – this track is designed for residents interested in the practice of medicine and neurology internationally. Residents will participate in the Global Health track through the pediatrics residency program in their PGY1-2 years, including an intro to global health course and an international elective at our sister clinic in Guatemala. Additional international experiences in the PGY3-5 years might include educational or quality improvement rotations in Ethiopia or Tanzania. Residents will complete a scholarly project in global health.

Community Neurology – this track is designed for residents interested in practicing general outpatient neurology either in a private community or primarily clinical academic setting. This track will incorporate a scholarly project related to outpatient neurology as well as outreach experiences at many of our rural locations throughout Colorado, in addition to a didactic component dedicated to general outpatient management and practice.

Night Coverage

Our program currently uses a modified night float system that combines an on-site evening shift with at-home call. Residents in their PGY4 and PGY5 years rotate through our nights system, for a total of 5-6 weeks over the course of each year. 

Internat​ional Experie​nces​

Our program has an established relationship with Trifinio (FUNSALUD) clinic in Guatemala where our residents can participate in education and research in collaboration with our general pediatrics program and the local training hospital in Guatemala City.

Educational Conferences​ and Didactic​s

Program Evaluati​on

Our residents are highly involved in decision-making processes. In our monthly resident meetings, we discuss all aspects on the program. An education committee comprised of the faculty and at least one of the child neurology residents meets bi-annually to review various aspects of the training program. In addition, we hold a yearly retreat and multiple off-site gatherings each year. More program details can be found online in our GME Program Handbook and Policy Manual Child Neurologyy. Additionally, information regarding the University of Colorado Graduate Medical Education Office, policies/procedures, and resident stipends/benefits can be found on the GME website. ​

The section of child neurology is nationally recognized for providing outstanding consultation, clinical care, and surgery for children and adolescents with neurological disorders. Our department is a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, neuromuscular diseases, pediatric stroke, and genetic disorders affecting the nervous system. Children's Hospital Colorado has an eight state referral area which ensures an incredibly rich educational experience for our residents.

The section of child neurology currently has over 60 faculty members including: physicians, neuropsychologists, researchers, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. The section of child neurology treats approximately 14,000 patients per year on the inpatient services and in our outpatient clinics.

As a resident in our program you will have the opportunity to evaluate and treat patients in our outpatient clinics including:

Rural Clinical Experienc​es

Our team regularly travels to locations throughout the Rocky Mountain Region giving patients access to specialty care in more remote locations. Residents participate in at least one outreach clinic trip in each of their PGY 4 and 5 years.​

Applications are accepted only through the Electronic Residency Application Service, and we participate in the National Residency Match Program.

Application Process

When applying to the University of Colorado Child Neurology Residency Program, please consider the following requirements:

• We only accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS).
• Please do not mail, e-mail, or fax any applications
• We welcome applications from Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine and International Medical Graduates

We are a categorical program and currently offer four categorical positions with pediatrics. All applicants must apply directly on ERAS to only the University of Colorado Child Neurology program and submit the requirements as specified below. A separate pediatrics application is not required.

• Your ERAS application must include the following minimum requirements:
• CV
• Dean's Letter or MSPE
• Medical School Transcript
• Personal Statement
• Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
• United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step I Scores
• Typically, our successful applicants have USMLE scores greater than the 90th percentile and outstanding letters of recommendation from pediatricians and child neurologists. Please review the Selection Criteria.
• Deadlines: The ERAS application opens up on September 29 and our deadline is November 1. New or incomplete application materials received after this date may not be reviewed.
• If you match with our program, you will spend 2 years as a pediatric resident at the University of Colorado before moving to the child neurology residency program in PGY3.

Interview Day

Once selected to interview you will work with Laura Konopka, program coordinator, to schedule your child neurology and pediatrics interview. Both programs will use Thalamus for the interview scheduling process. All interviews will be conducted virtually for the 2022-2023 recruitment season. 

Candidates with MD/PhD degrees will also meet with research faculty during their interview day.

There will be a virtual social event at the end of your interview day to provide all applicants a chance to interact with current residents.

A final agenda will be sent to you with interview/social logistics prior to your interview date.

Salary and Benefits

The University of Colorado offers salary and benefits packages that are competitive with other fellowship programs across the country. View current salary levels. In addition to the University provided benefits the program provides $200 to purchase books and $1250 a year to attend conferences.

Denver

The Mile High City is nestled at the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains and is the largest city in the region with a population of 2.8 million. Denver enjoys one of the best climates in the country, with 300 days/year of sunny skies. Although it snows in the winter, the snow melts quickly and temperatures are usually moderate. Hot summer days give way to cool summer evenings. The city is the home to dozens of highly rated restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. The city attracts many outdoor enthusiasts with its extensive system of hiking and bike trails and the largest city park system in the country. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is the largest performing arts complex under one roof in the country and attracts many of the top national theater tours each year. Red Rocks Amphitheater, a natural amphitheater in the foothills west of town attracts the nation’s top touring musical talent throughout the summer. Denver is home to the Denver Broncos (NFL), the Denver Nuggets (NBA), the Colorado Rockies (MLB), the Colorado Avalanche (NHL), the Colorado Rapids (MLS) and the Colorado Outlaws (MLL). The University of Colorado, the state flagship school and a world-class educational institution, is based in nearby Boulder. In addition, Denver is the gateway to the Rocky Mountains, which offer abundant recreational and sightseeing opportunities year round. The state of Colorado is home to over 20 major ski areas, many of which are within 2 hours of the city. For more information, please visit the Denver Travel and Visitor Bureau.

Contact Us

Please address any application questions to:
Laura Konopka
Education Coordinator for the Department of Child Neurology
Children's Hospital Colorado
Child Neurology Residency
13123 East 16th Avenue, B-155
Aurora, Colorado 80045
Tel: (720) 777-0595 Email Laura

Adam Finney
Education Coordinator for the Department of Child Neurology
Children's Hospital Colorado
Child Neurology Fellowships
13123 East 16th Avenue, B-155
Aurora, Colorado 80045
Tel: (720) 777-2704
Email Adam