A wide variety of elective opportunities are available for residents. In addition to the electives listed below, residents can construct a unique elective rotation that best meets their individual career goals with clinics and/or inpatient activities in any number of different subspecialties at the hospital.
Neuro-Oncology
Residents rotating on neuro-oncology will see patients with pediatric central and peripheral nervous system tumors as well as neurological complications of cancer and cancer therapy. Residents will also see patients with neurocutaneous conditions, specifically neurofibromatosis and tuberous sclerosis. During this rotation, residents are involved in the multi-disciplinary approach to care for these patients and interact with other subspecialists: neurosurgery, neuroradiology, radiation oncology, oncology, ophthalmology, pathology, physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Texas Children's has one of the larger neuro-oncology programs, with about 150 new CNS tumors diagnosed each year. We participate in many different consortiums and provide our patients unique clinical trial opportunities, in addition to a comprehensive multidisciplinary team approach to care. The Texas Children's Brain Tumor program is a leader in research and provides personalized medicine for all patients, with the potential for greater efficacy and fewer side effects.
Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology
Residents rotating on the Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology service will see patients with conditions such as ADEM, multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome, autoimmune encephalitis and other immune related CNS disease. Our service is unique in that we see and help manage these patients during their acute admissions and continue to follow them in our outpatient Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Clinic. The clinic is recognized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as a Comprehensive Care Center and Partner in MS Care. Residents will learn diagnostic criteria for these conditions and learn initial and chronic management of these patients. The elective offers time in the adult neuroimmunology clinic, as well, allowing residents to learn about the spectrum of conditions across the lifespan and aspects of transition care for these patients.
A fellowship is available at Texas Children’s Hospital for this subspecialty.
Neurogenetics
Residents rotating in neurogenetics can take advantage of the tremendous breadth of genetics expertise at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. Along with focused neurogenetics clinics, residents additionally attend clinical conferences and didactic sessions to provide them with a strong foundational knowledge in the basics of genetics, indication and interpretation of state-of-the-art genetic testing, and aspects of clinical diagnosis and care for patients with neurogenetic conditions.
Pediatric Movement Disorders
Working with subspecialty faculty, residents rotating in the Pediatric Movement Disorders Clinic will see patients with tics, dystonia, tremor, myoclonus and other involuntary movements, and learn how best to evaluate and treat them. Rotators will have exposure to treatment modalities including botulinum toxin injections and deep brain stimulation programming. They will have the opportunity to attend weekly video rounds and monthly multi-disciplinary clinic, during the latter of which they will have collaborative interactions with other services including Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neurosurgery and Orthopedics.
A fellowship is available at Texas Children’s Hospital for this subspecialty.
Comprehensive Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic
Working with our multidisciplinary TSC team, residents will familiarize themselves with the diagnostic workup and surveillance of children with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. This outpatient clinic includes an epileptologist, neuro-oncologist, neurogeneticist and developmental pediatrician. Residents will be introduced to the management of epilepsy and medically refractory patients including epilepsy surgical evaluations, utility of genetic testing and family implications and common comorbidities such as ADHD, Intellectual disability and Autism. We communicate closely with our nephrologist, cardiologist and ophthalmologist who see our patients off-site. This is an exciting clinic for anyone interested in how to coordinate multi-specialty care in a complex disease.
Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disorders
Residents rotating on this service will be able to see neonatal and pediatric patients with acute and chronic cerebrovascular disorders including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, cerebral sinovenous thrombosis, arterial dissection and other vasculopathies like Moyamoya disease. They will learn about the acute management, rehabilitation phase and long-term prognosis of these patients.
Pediatric Headache
Working with board certified headache specialists at Texas Children's Hospital, residents rotating on this service will learn and assimilate various outpatient preventive and acute therapies for pediatric headache management. Exposure includes: elements of a comprehensive headache history, diagnostic approaches to include history, physical exam, imaging, acute and preventive headache therapies, procedures including occipital nerve blocks, SPG blocks, and Botox therapy, and research opportunities. Tailored interests include Neuro-ophthalmology, Psychology, Physical Therapy, Adult headache, and Pain Clinic.
A fellowship is available at Texas Children’s Hospital for this subspecialty.
Pediatric Neuromuscular Disease
Residents work with pediatric and adult neuromuscular specialists at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. The MDA Care Center at Texas Children’s Hospital is one of the largest neuromuscular programs in the country with four large clinics per week to include a multi-disciplinary clinic where residents work alongside specialists from Cardiology, Pulmonary Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Palliative Care, Orthopedics, and Endocrinology as well as Neuropsychology, Nutrition Services, Social Work, and Physical Therapy. The Adult MDA Care Center at Baylor College of Medicine allows residents to learn the full spectrum of neuromuscular conditions across the lifespan to include the transition of care from pediatrics to adult care models. Residents will learn key aspects of taking a history and performing an examination on a patient affected with a neuromuscular disease as well as aspects of long-term care. Residents will learn about the prescription and management of various gene therapies and other treatments for patients with neuromuscular conditions, allowing them to become familiar with the indications and use for such therapies.
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Given the high prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders, the integration of neurological and developmental and/or behavioral manifestations of neurological disease, and the prominence of evaluation and management of these conditions in the typical general child neurology clinical practice, a rotation focused specifically on neurodevelopmental disabilities offers additional training in this critical area of our field.
Residents will have the opportunity to work with our enthusiastic faculty in neurodevelopmental disabilities, development and behavior pediatrics, neuropsychology, psychology, and psychiatry.
In addition to diagnosis and treatment of common neurodevelopmental disorders, this rotation will help guide critical thinking about more complex symptoms and patient courses. Learning simple developmental and behavioral assessment tools to better elucidate the proper diagnosis is incorporated into each clinical experience. A better understanding of “outcomes” (both clinically and as reported in the literature) is another important component of this rotation. Whether you work want to work in private practice or develop an academic center, focus on general neurology or a neurological subspecialty, confidence in the evaluation and management of neurodevelopmental disabilities will only enhance your ability to provide comprehensive care for your patients.
Epilepsy
Residents who rotate through the epilepsy rotation will gain experience with the diagnostic work up and management of children with refractory epilepsy in both an outpatient and inpatient setting. Outpatient settings include specialty clinics dedicated to patients with infantile spasms, Dravet Syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis clinic and those undergoing the ketogenic diet. Inpatient settings include elective admissions in the epilepsy monitoring unit, where patients undergo both spell characterization and evaluation for epilepsy surgery. Texas Children's Hospital features a 12-bed epilepsy monitoring unit, with real-time monitoring by a team of technologists 24 hours a day. Residents will be exposed to invasive (intracranial) monitoring with subdural grid/strip and stereo-EEG electrodes which aid in formulating surgical plans for laser ablation and/or resective epilepsy surgeries. Finally, through the epilepsy consult service, they will participate in the medical and surgical management of patients in the neurocritical care unit on continuous EEG-video.
A fellowship is available at Texas Children’s Hospital for this subspecialty.
Camp For All Neurology Camps
The Child Neurology Resident Elective at Camp For All offers an immersive, hands-on experience in a unique camp setting, focusing on epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, and cerebral palsy. Residents can spend any number of days that they would like at each of the weeklong specialty-related camps. Residents participate directly in the care and support of children with these conditions, gaining invaluable insights into their daily challenges and triumphs. Camp For All offers an environment that is inclusive for all individuals, regardless of their ability level. Activities include zip lines, rock walls, canoeing, archery, horseback riding, campfire sing-a-longs, and all the other outstanding activities of a typical summer camp. This elective fosters a deepened understanding of the psychosocial aspects of pediatric neurology and neurodevelopmental conditions, enhancing clinical skills in a real-world environment. Through collaborative care and interaction with a multidisciplinary camp medical team of faculty and staff from Texas Children’s Hospital, residents not only refine their medical expertise but also develop compassionate communication and patient-centered care approaches tailored to children with complex neurological conditions.
International Electives
Residents in the program have the opportunity for international clinical electives in child neurology. In past years, residents have spent one or more block months in the Caribbean, Malawi, and Asia. The elective offers residents a transformative experience, providing exposure to the practice of pediatric neurology in a global context. Through this elective, residents immerse themselves in diverse healthcare environments, often in resource-limited settings, where they encounter a wide range of neurological conditions, some of which may be rare in the United States. They work alongside local healthcare providers and have a faculty mentor at Texas Children’s Hospital. Residents gain insights into different medical practices, cultural approaches to care, and the challenges of delivering neurological care to underserved populations. This rotation enhances residents' adaptability, cross-cultural communication skills, and global health awareness, while also fostering a deeper appreciation for the social determinants of health. By the end of the elective, residents are equipped with a broader perspective on pediatric neurology, enriched by their experiences in addressing complex neurological conditions in varied international settings.
Clinical Research
Residents can request a block of time for a clinical research project during their senior year of training. A faculty mentor works with the resident to develop a formal research proposal for the elective, which is reviewed and approved by program leadership. The research elective block offers the resident a focused opportunity to engage deeply with research methodologies and the scientific process in the field of pediatric neurology. During this elective, residents collaborate with faculty mentors to conduct a study and and analyze data. They gain hands-on experience in data collection, statistical analysis, and manuscript preparation, while also learning about the ethical considerations in research involving pediatric populations. This elective fosters the development of critical thinking and investigative skills, empowering residents to contribute to advancements in the field through evidence-based practice and innovation. By the end of the rotation, residents will have a strong foundation in research principles and a greater appreciation for the role of clinical research in improving patient care.