OHSU Neurology Residency Program
Train with neurology leaders to build your future
Advance your career at Oregon's only neurology residency program. You’ll find rigorous academics, flexible electives, leading-edge research and devoted faculty to guide you.
Our accredited four-year residency program welcomes six categorical residents each year. The intimate training environment helps you connect with peers, work alongside faculty and pursue your career goals.
Flexible curriculum
Our four-year curriculum is flexible and supportive so you can pursue your own path. Training begins with a year-long internal medicine internship followed by three years as a neurology resident. You will get experience treating complex and rare neurologic disorders—plus have 20 electives to explore clinical subspecialties and academic research.
Leading-edge training sites
Train at OHSU Hospital, OHSU South Waterfront, the Portland VA Medical Center, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and Shriners Children’s facilities. Skybridges and an aerial tram connect all hospitals, clinics and campuses.
Facilities include:
- State-of-the-art interventional neuroradiology suite
- Oregon’s only Level 4 comprehensive epilepsy center
- A 17-bed neurocritical care unit recognized with the AACN Beacon Award for Excellence
- Emerging diagnostic and therapeutic modalities
- OHSU’s comprehensive Stroke Center with widespread telestroke services
- Well-established EMG laboratory and intraoperative neuromonitoring capabilities
Faculty mentorship and research
Many OHSU neurology faculty are nationally recognized. We mentor residents all four years through clinical, teaching and research rotations.
Most faculty also participate in research programs, making OHSU one of the top institutions for neuroscience research funding. You will work with faculty mentors to pursue research projects and teach trainees.
Why choose OHSU
As a neurology resident, you’ll find exceptional support to achieve your goals in neurologic care and research.
- Train with leading neuroscientists at Oregon’s only academic health center.
- Gain expertise in neurologic subspecialties, from complex and rare disorders to common cases.
- Build research skills at one of the top-funded neuroscience research centers in the nation.
- Work with faculty advisors who mentor you all four years.
- Meet requirements from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
- Join a welcoming, inclusive community that prioritizes life-work balance and wellness.
- Learn and live in Portland, known for its vibrant culture and natural beauty.
“When I first interviewed at OHSU, I was struck by the kindness and closeness of the people. The program's flexibility allows us to pursue our passions and provides a unique learning environment.”
"Neurology residency at OHSU prepared me well for life as an attending, striking a balance between autonomy and academic structure I needed to be successful."
How to apply
Apply through ERAS.
Questions?
Email education manager Kelsey Klem at klemk@ohsu.edu.
Find faculty
Meet our team.
Meet our residents
Find current and past trainees.
Graduate medical education
Find tools and resources for graduate medical students.
Life in Portland
Be part of something bigger
How to apply
Follow these steps to join us as an OHSU neurology resident.
Meet requirements
Gather materials before you apply:
- Curriculum vitae
- Medical school, USMLE and COMLEX transcripts
- Medical school performance evaluation (MSPE)
- Personal statement
- Three letters of recommendation
- Photo
- ECFMG certificate (international graduates)
Submit your application
Apply by October 1 through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) site.
• Positions filled by the National Residency matching program (NRMP).
• Select the OHSU neurology residency program.
• Matched residents are guaranteed onsite training for four years.
Interview
If invited, you’ll interview virtually with residency program leaders, faculty and residents.
- Interviews are held Mondays and Fridays, late October through mid-January.
- The day includes a program introduction, multiple interviews and a resident lecture.
- Optional weekly virtual happy hours connect you with residents to discuss the program and life in Portland.
Resident wellness and benefits
Our goal is to help you balance work with life. You’ll have access to a range of health benefits for you and your family, plus wellness services whenever you need support.
Our inclusive culture promotes well-being by creating a safe, respectful space where everyone feels they belong.
Program leadership
Our faculty and chief residents treat you as a junior faculty member. We offer an inclusive and challenging training environment for you to shape your future in clinical and basic neuroscience research. You'll also find mentors who guide you through clinical, teaching and research rotations all four years.
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- Vijayshree Yadav, M.B.B.S., M.C.R., FANA, FAAN
- Accepting new patients
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- Elizabeth Silbermann, M.D.
- Accepting new patients
Neurology residency FAQ
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Resident selection
How many applicants do you interview?
We interview about 100 applicants each year for our residency program.
How many residents do you select?
We offer six residency positions through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) each year.
How long after graduation do you accept medical students into your residency program?
There is no strict cut-off. We strongly prefer that you have graduated within 5 years from medical school.
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Benefits and culture
Do residents get health benefits?
Yes. As OHSU employees, residents can choose medical, dental, vision, prescription and life insurance, with optional disability and family coverage. OHSU pays most of the monthly premium costs for residents and part of the monthly premium costs for your family. Get details about resident employee benefits.
What is the salary for residents?
OHSU Graduate Medical Education bases salaries on a resident’s level of postgraduate training. See salary and pay levels for this fiscal year.
How inclusive is the program culture?
The School of Medicine and its departments foster a respectful culture where everyone is welcome — faculty, residents, fellows, staff and interns. We proudly embrace diversity, including economic background, race, sexual orientation, gender, culture and belief system. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
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USMLE and COMLEX requirements
Is there a minimum score for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)?
No, we do not have a strict USMLE minimum or cut-off score to apply to our program.
Do I have to complete Step 2 of USMLE before applying?
No, you don’t need to complete Step 2 of USMLE before applying. You do need to complete it before we can offer you a residency appointment.
What are the requirements for USMLE Step 3?
You must complete USMLE Step 3 by the end of the first year of the program (PGY-1).
Do you accept Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) scores for D.O. candidates?
Yes, we accept COMLEX scores.
Are D.O. candidates required to submit USMLE scores?
Yes. D.O. applicants are required to take and pass USMLE Step 1 and 2 in addition to COMLEX.
Do you have a minimum COMLEX score requirement?
No, we do not have a minimum COMLEX score requirement.
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International medical graduates (IMGs)
Do you accept international medical graduates (IMGs) into your residency program?
Yes, we accept IMGs into our program.
How many IMGs are in your program?
Our most recent IMG completed training in 2024. We have graduated two IMGs in the last 10 years.
Is U.S. clinical experience required to apply for your residency program?
We prefer that candidates have some U.S. clinical experience. Documentation should be self-reported as part of the ERAS application.
What types of visas do you offer?
The most common visas we sponsor are J1 and H1B. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must be legally able to work in the U.S. or eligible to obtain authorization to work. For more information or to request a visa application, contact OHSU Graduate Medical Education.
Do I have to be fully ECFMG-certified before applying?
You do not need your Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification to apply, but it is required before we can offer you a residency appointment.