Neurology residents score highest in nation

by Sue Campbell
59th Medical Wing Public Affairs

6/3/2010 - LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Neurology residents at Wilford Hall Medical Center here are scoring among the highest of all residency programs in the United States.

"During the past two years, our residents scored in the 98th percentile on their residency in-service training exams. This year they scored in the 100th percentile," said Lt. Col (Dr.) Patrick Grogan, the neurology department program director. "This is the first time we've had such high scores over three consecutive years."

The 59th Medical Wing's neurology residency program is a three-year program, with two new residents entering the program each year, totaling six residents being trained at any given time. New residents are preselected after a one-year internal medicine internship.

The residents learn standard neurology sciences and care of routine neurological illness such as strokes, seizures, headaches, Parkinson's disease, neuropathies and Alzheimer's disease.

"Our program produces neurologists of quality and character equal to that of the top academic institutions in the country," Doctor Grogan said . "I feel the main reasons are our mission and the way we approach resident education."

The neurology staff physicians work directly with the residents as they work through inpatient ward service, routine clinics, and electromyography and electroencephalography rotations.

"The residents all work directly with us and come to us any time they need us. Our residents work hard and I feel we can facilitate their learning better this way," Doctor Grogan said. "This is often not the case at other programs where the staff work in one area and the residents are off in another section."

Capt. (Dr.) Scott Heller, a third year neurology resident, scored 100 percent on his RITE, putting him in the 100th percentile out of more than 2,200 residents.

He and Capt. (Dr.) Nathan Sumner, another WHMC neurology resident, scored first and second in the U.S., respectively, on their annual electromyography examinations out of 280 individuals at their level who took it.

"This includes fellows and other individuals with far more advanced training than they have received," Doctor Grogan said . "The resident scores reflect another unique aspect of our residency; they receive more training on performance and interpretation of electrophysiologic studies than most civilian programs, particularly electromyography. This design is out of necessity, as our residents need to be prepared for independent performance of these procedures once they graduate and move on to other Air Force medical centers. Thus, our residents receive hands-on experience with EMG under direct supervision from fellowship-trained staff."

Maj. (Dr.) John Sladky, the head of EMG and neuromuscular training and associate program director, also took the exam this year and received the top score in the country, scoring higher than more than 650 individuals. During his residency at WHMC in 2003, Doctor Sladky scored 100th percentile on the neurology RITE.

"I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to train as a neurologist here at Wilford Hall," Captain Hellersaid . "Throughout my time here, I've been surrounded by attendings who are not only outstanding clinicians, but also extremely devoted to resident education. I've been surrounded by a group of residents who are not only bright and driven, but also a group that gets along extremely well with one another and understands the team concept.

"The environment in our department is one that is highly conducive to working and learning. It is one in which everyone involved -- attendings, residents, technicians, our administrative support staff and our program coordinator -- does their part and does it well. Most importantly, collegiality and respect for one another are central to our department, and this mindset has made coming to work easy and enjoyable."