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Child Neurology Residency Program

UCI Health School of Medicine offers a three-year ACGME-accredited Child Neurology Residency Program.

The Categorical Track is a five-year program that includes two years in the UC Irvine-CHOC Children's Pediatric Residency Program, followed by a three-year residency in child neurology. Applications for the categorical track must be submitted to the Child Neurology Residency Program and the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency categorical program. Candidates invited for interviews meet with representatives of the Pediatric Residency Program and the Child Neurology Program on separate days. There are two categorical-track positions available beginning July 1. 

How to apply

The Child Neurology Residency Program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). The Categorical Track is a five-year program that includes two years in the UC Irvine-CHOC Children's Pediatric Residency Program, followed by a three-year residency in child neurology Applications are accepted only through NRMP's Electronic Residency Application Service, also called ERAS®

Applications must be submitted to the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program and the UCI Child Neurology Residency Program.

Residency applicants must provide:

  • A dean’s letter (MSPE) from your medical school.

USMLE Step II CK and CS scores is required to begin any of our residency training programs- score reports are highly recommended prior to rank list due date. We also prefer those who passed their USMLE examinations on the first attempt.

Questions? Please email uci-choc-pedsneurofellowship@choc.org.

Learn more about the categorical pediatric residency program and UC Irvine salary and benefits at www.pediatrics.uci.edu/residency/index.asp ›

Program administration

Maija Steenari, MD

  • Program Director Child Neurology Residency Program
  • Site Director Pediatric Neurophysiology Fellowship
  • Assistant Clinical Professor, UCI Department of Pediatrics
  • Pediatric Neurology & Epilepsy Specialist

Deborah M. Liebold

  • Residency Coordinator, Child Neurology Residency Program
  • Academic Affairs Coordinator, CHOC Children's

Curriculum

The Child Neurology Residents complete rotations at three sites; Site 1 = UCI: Inpatient Adult Neurology includes management of patients admitted to the adult neurology service and neurology consultations on the wards and ICU at UCI (excluding stroke patients). Stroke Neurology includes the management of patients admitted to the inpatient stroke service or ICU. Night Float includes overnight management of neurology inpatient and consults service. Electives at UCI include Neuromuscular, Radiology, Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Pathology, Adult Neurology Outpatient. Note that Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is an ACGME requirement and can be done at UCI or CHOC. 2 months of Pathology are required through ACGME. Site 2 = CHOC: Inpatient Child Neurology includes consultation and management of children admitted to inpatient wards, ICU, and NICU (neonatal ICU). Outpatient Child Neurology

includes half-day sessions of outpatient clinics in General Child Neurology, Concussion Clinic, Epilepsy Clinic, Down's Syndrome Clinic, Muscular Dystrophy Clinic, and Developmental and Behavioral clinics. Electives include Metabolics, Neuromuscular, Genetics, EEG, Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU), Sleep Medicine, or an approved outside elective with a program agreement. Continuity clinic is every Tuesday afternoon in the CHOC Neurology Outpatient Clinic. 

Site 3 = VA: The Adult Outpatient Neurology at the VA consists of half-day outpatient clinics in General Adult Neurology, Telemedicine, ALS clinic, Stroke, and Movement Disorder Clinics. The residents evaluate and manage patients in the outpatient clinic setting, and are supervised by the Adult Neurology (General and Specialist) attendings.

Didactics

Year 3:
  • Monday morning report — 8-9 a.m.
  • Tuesday evening journal club — 6-7 p.m.
  • Wednesday lecture series — 7:30-9 a.m., Neuroradiology; 9-10 a.m., Neurophysiology
  • Thursday morning lecture — 8-9 a.m.
  • Friday grand rounds — 8-9 a.m.

Years 4 and 5:

  • Monday morning sign out rounds — 8-9 a.m.
  • Tuesday afternoon professor rounds — 2-3 p.m.
  • Wednesday core lecture series — 1-2 p.m. (While on electives, residents can attend the Adult Neurology Lecture series from 7:30-10 a.m.)
  • Thursday case conference — 12-1 p.m.
  • Friday grand rounds — 8-9 a.m.

Previous graduates

Virginia B. Liu, MD, PhD, 2020 graduate
Epilepsy Fellowship at UCSF, San Francisco, California

Rachel Pearson, MD, 2019 graduate 
Fellowship in Neuro Trauma at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 

Desiree Levyim, MD, 2019 graduate 
Locum Tenans, Sacramento and Long Beach, California 

LeAnn Hoang, MD, 2018 graduate 
Progressive Neurology & Sleep Medicine Associates, Riverside, California  

Rita Marshall, MD, 2018 graduate 
Pediatric Neurology private practice, Kaiser Permanente, Fontana, California 

Megan Waldrop, MD, 2016 graduate
Neuromuscular Medicine Fellowship, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University

Monika Garg, MD, 2015 graduate
Private practice, Los Angeles, California

Suman Ghosh, MD, 2014 graduate
Assistant Professor of Pediatric Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine

Maija-Riikka Steenari, MD, 2013 graduate
UC Irvine/CHOC Epilepsy Fellowship, 2013-2014
Faculty member, CHOC Children's Hospital of Orange faculty, 2014

Rohini Coorg, MD, 2012 graduate
Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship, Washington University
Assistant Professor of Pediatric Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine

Anjalee W. Galion, MD, 2012 graduate
Sleep Medicine Fellowship 2012-2013, Cedars Sinai-UCLA
Assistant Program Director, Child Neurology Training Program, UC Irvine Department of Pediatrics
Assistant Clinical Professor, UC Irvine/CHOC Children's Hospital of Orange County

Guojun Zhang, MD, 2012 graduate
Neurophysiology Fellowship 2012-2013, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Pediatric neurology private practice, San Antonio, Texas

Sharon Kim, MD, 2010 graduate
Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship 2010-2011, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Assistant Clinical Professor, UC Irvine/CHOC Children's Hospital of Orange County

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