Child Neurology Training via the Research Pathway: Outcome Study

Abstract

This article describes a residency training track that was developed by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology to promote the career development of child neurologists who wanted to become researchers. In this pathway, 1 year of research in the basic neurosciences replaces 1 year of pediatrics or internal medicine. Since 1992, 38 residents from more than 20 training programs have been accepted into this pathway. Of the 28 who have completed residency training, 22 are in academic positions as faculty or fellows, and 6 are working in nonacademic hospital settings. Of these 22, 6 describe their research as basic, and 12 describe their research as being both basic and clinical; 15 have been successful in obtaining external funding. Thus far, these trainees have published more than 125 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Although small in scope, this training track has met its objective of producing clinician-scientists. ( J Child Neurol 2004;19:142—144).