• Train pediatricians through the Pediatric Neurology Residency Program to become leaders who provide expert patient care with a strong foundation of basic and clinical neurosciences and who have the skills to pursue diverse career pathways, clinical and/or academic.
• Train Pediatric Neurology residents through a self-directed educational model established within the departments of Pediatrics and Neurology to become expert in managing diagnoses such as epilepsy, headache, neuromuscular, tone and movement disorder, and stroke.
• Train Pediatric Neurology residents in the diagnosis and management of the pediatric neurology spectrum, including neuroimmunology, neuro ophthalmology, motor disorders, neuroradiology, neuropathology, and other related subspecialties in conjunction with the OHSU Adult Neurology fellowship program.
• Train self-directed residents in the methods of research to develop a particular area of research interest with the goal of development of one research presentation and/or quality improvement project during the course of training and the long term contribution of research to the field of Pediatric Neurology during or after completion of training.

Please see the Department of Pediatrics fellowship page for departmental benefits available to all pediatric fellows, and the OHSU GME page for Employment and Benefits information, including salary, transportation, and insurance.

Clinical training

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Doernbecher Children's Hospital (DCH) is a referral center serving children from Portland, the expanse of Oregon, southern Washington, and western Idaho. Neurology faculty and trainees provide inpatient care to primary neurology patients including those on video EEG telemetry, as well as consultation services to the inpatient ward, emergency room, and neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. Outpatient care is provided in general neurology and subspecialty clinics, some of which are at the adjacent Shriner's hospital: 

• Doernbecher Childhood Epilepsy Program clinic (including surgical, Vagus nerve stimulator, and ketogenic diet management) - Drs. Colin Roberts, Jason Coryell, Ittai Bushlin & Laura Bliss; Wendy Herrick, DNP, CPNP & Angela Liberatore, MS, RN, CPNP
• Neuromuscular clinic - Dr. Erika Finanger & Meganne Leach, MSN, PNP 
• Neurooncology clinic - Dr. Yoon-Jae Cho
• Headache clinic - Drs. Kaitlin Greene & Emily Riddle 
• Tone management/spasticity clinic - Drs. Jenny Wilson & Daniel Crowder 
• Neuroimmunology clinic - Dr. Maria Xiang (multidisciplinary pediatric neuroimmunology clinic with pediatric neuro-ophthalmology & Dr. Gillian Paton (pediatric neuroimmunology)

Close clinical and curriculum relationships are maintained with other disciplines including Neurodevelopmental Disabilities/Child Development and Rehabilitation Center, Child Psychiatry, Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology, and Adult Neurology. Clinical experiences occur at DCH, OHSU, and Shriner's Hospital, which are all on the OHSU campus.

The curriculum fulfills the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Child Neurology program requirements.

The first two years of the program are completed as part of the pediatrics residency program, but with a slightly different set of rotations to meet the Training Requirements for General Pediatrics for the Pediatrics-Child Neurology Pathway. 

All three years are divided between adult and child neurology. The first neurology year (PGY-3) is spent primarily on ward services. The trainee becomes facile at the neurologic examination and develops a strong foundation in neuroanatomic localization. Six months of the PGY-3 to -5 time is spent in adult neurology inpatient rotations. Six other months are spent on adult outpatient rotations, including selected elective rotations such as neuroradiology, EEG, and neuropathology. In the third neurology year (PGY-5), more time is spent on elective rotations, as well as a required rotation in child psychiatry. The curriculum may be organized to allow for research activities. Example of Pediatric Neurology Block Diagram

Weekly half-day outpatient continuity clinic occurs throughout the three years.

Call frequency

In-house call is required during pediatric residency, and on adult neurology ward rotations, on an average of every fourth night. There is NO in-house call during child neurology rotations, during which the trainee acts as a fellow taking call from home. Call is on average two nights per week and one or two weekends per month.

Didactics

The Weekly Pediatric Neuroscience Seminar is predominantly faculty lead, and jointly organized by Child Neurology and Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics, and is a forum for journal club, case discussions, or interdisciplinary didactic presentations.  

Weekly resident-led conference by Child Neurology and Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics trainees, including the general pediatrics residents, adult neurology residents, and medical students on service. 

Trainees are expected to attend: 

• weekly Department of Neurology Grand Rounds
• weekly Pediatrics Grand Rounds
• weekly Department of Neurology clinical neurosciences conference
• twice a month Pediatric Neuroradiology Conference
• quarterly stroke clinical case conference

Trainees are encouraged to attend the monthly Department of Pediatrics All-Fellows Conference Series. 

Both Pediatrics and Neurology morning report and noon conferences offer opportunities for the Child Neurology resident to present and teach colleagues.

Scholarship and mentorship

Although the emphasis of all Pediatric Neurology residency programs is to provide a strong foundation in clinical neurology, our residents are encouraged to pursue and complete a project, in order to take advantage of resources to learn about the academic process. The exact format is open-ended and may range from submitting a topic review to clinical research or basic science projects. Mentorship from Pediatric or Adult Neurology faculty, or staff in other collaborating divisions is available. 
 
While there is no formal research requirement, most of our residents have published either case reports or scholarship that is part of work done by faculty in our division. We do not have a formal research track to do one year of training in general pediatrics and one year of basic neuroscience research, but are open to discussing this possibility with the right applicant.

Teaching opportunities

Each pediatric resident spends a three-week rotation on Child Neurology seeing clinic patients and inpatient consults. Pediatric interns and residents also care for subspecialty patients admitted on the pediatric neurology ward service. There is an adult neurology resident on the pediatric neurology service each month as well. Some months there may also be neurosurgery resident, fourth-year pediatric elective medical student, and fourth-year student on his/her neurology rotation. 

Our pediatric neurology residents are expected to teach their general pediatric counterparts about neurology through both informal sessions and in the didactics listed above. They also educate their adult neurology colleagues about neurologic conditions in children. 

Trainees interested in formal education are encouraged to teach medical students in their second-year Nervous System and Function course, which is directed by Dr. R. Jason Coryell.

Upcoming Residents

Seva Khambadkone, M.D., Ph.D (Starting July 2024)
Child Neurology 

Shaily Patel, D.O. (Starting July 2025)
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

Alumni

Max Perelman, M.D.
Child Neurology, 2022
Current position: Assistant Professor, Oregon Health & Science University  
Why I chose OHSU: Portland is just as fun as everyone says it is, and only half as rainy. As far as OHSU itself, I can't say enough good things about the people who work (and teach, and go to school) here. Whether on the pediatric or adult side, people are friendly, approachable, and interested in teaching. I would choose it again in a heartbeat. 

Mandie Wiebers Jensen, M.D., OT
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, 2020 
Current position: Assistant Professor, Oregon Health & Science University  

Sophia French, M.D.
Child Neurology, 2020 
Current position: Provider at Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL  
Why I chose OHSU: I ranked OHSU highly because it is a collaborative and nurturing center of excellence in a beautiful location. During my 2 years of pediatric training I formed lasting friendships with my co-residents while building a solid foundation of general pediatric knowledge. The 12 months of adult neurology training is integrated over 3 years and offer an excellent breadth of training in areas ranging from neuromuscular disease to neuro-ophthalmology. The pediatric neurology faculty was passionate in their teaching and were all incredibly invested in me. They allow progressively greater levels of autonomy and by the end of training I feel confident in my ability to practice independently. 

Daniel Crowder, M.D.
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, 2019 
Current position: Assistant Professor, Oregon Health & Science University  

Ittai Bushlin, M.D., Ph.D.
Child Neurology, 2018 
Current position: Assistant Professor, Oregon Health & Science University  
Why I Chose OHSU: I immediately fell in love with OHSU the first time I visited, and am grateful for the high quality and hands-on training that I received here. Portland is a beautiful and vibrant city, and OHSU is the academic hospital for the state of Oregon, which means there are a large variety of cases here, from the bread and butter to the highly unusual. Staff, residents, and faculty at Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital have created a tight knit, close, supportive community that works together day and night to take care of kids. There are so many opportunities to pursue your niche interests, clinically or research-wise or both, and the residency program emphasizes your individual needs. By the end of my training I felt more than fully prepared to be a pediatric neurology attending. 

Alison Christy, M.D., Ph.D.
Child Neurology, 2017  
Current position: Clinical Director of Pediatric Neurology, Providence Health and Services, Portland, OR  
Why I Chose OHSU: I chose OHSU primarily for the location in Portland, Oregon – but I was really glad I did, because I found a small program that gave me a lot of personal attention, supportive faculty, and an excellent exposure to a wide variety of patients and diagnoses. 

Melissa Svoboda, M.D.
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, 2014 
Current position: Director, Autism Clinic; Chief of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine/The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio  
Why I chose OHSU: My training in the NDD program at OHSU was top notch! I am a very well-rounded clinician and have a strong foundation for clinical child neurology – more so than many of my friends who trained at other programs when we started out. I feel this is due to the amount of clinic exposure we are given during training and the excellent attendings who staff those clinics. I also received good research exposure and now have my own research grants because of the training I received there. The teachers at OHSU were not just limited to attendings – I learned as much from the excellent ancillary services such as the experienced speech therapists, physical therapists, etc. If it weren’t for my family being in a different place, I’d be back there now as an attending. It was a wonderful, rich, diverse place to train.  

Jason Coryell, M.D.
Child Neurology, 2011  
Current position: Associate Professor, Oregon Health & Sciences University  
Why I Chose OHSU: I chose OHSU because it is the most collegial place that I have worked/trained. There has never been bad blood between any of the divisions or faculty, and it makes a difference in the quality of the workday to really like the people with whom you surround yourself. And, oh yeah, Portland: great restaurants, close to coast, most affordable West coast metropolitan area, skiing, mountain biking, wineries, and evergreens!! 

Michael Kruer M.D.
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, 2011  
Current position: Director, Pediatric Movement Disorders Program, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children’s Hospital; Associate Professor, Child Health, Neurology, Genetics and Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Why I chose OHSU: I chose OHSU because of the fantastic faculty and the well-balanced interdisciplinary training I received in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. NDD training at OHSU was instrumental in providing me with the skills I needed to become a successful physician-scientist   

Kit Yeng Lim, M.D.
Child Neurology, 2010  
Current position: Providence Pediatric Neurology – St. Vincent, Portland, OR  

Amy D. Harper, M.D.
Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, 2006 
Current position: Associate Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University 
Why I Chose OHSU: OHSU offers broad array of multidisciplinary neurodevelopmental clinics providing learners with an in depth teaching experience from many perspectives.

View more details about the faculty of the Department of Pediatrics and the pediatric residency program. 

Learn about the faculty of the Department of Neurology and the adult neurology residency program.

How to apply

The Pediatric Neurology Program accepts applications through Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Main Residency Match and Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) for selecting our incoming residents each year. For the current application cycle, we ask that all items in the checklist below be submitted through ERAS.

• Personal Statement: Please discuss why you have chosen Child Neurology and, specifically, why OHSU might be a good fit for you and your career goals. This can be included as a brief addendum to the end of your personal statement. 
• Letters of recommendation; minimum of 3  (we do not require a letter from the Chair of the department) 
• Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) from medical school
• Categorical applicants: USMLE and/or COMLEX scores (our program requires at least Step 1/Level 1 of USMLE/COMLEX exam to apply; Step 2/Level 2 scores must be uploaded by January 31*)
• Reserved applicants: USMLE and/or COMLEX scores (Step 3/Level 3 scores must be uploaded by January 31*)

Applicants are invited for an interview based on holistic review of their application, and will be notified of their invite via email. We will use the Thalamus scheduling system to set up our interviews. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applications, we are unable to interview all applicants.

Please also see the OHSU GME information on Applying to OHSU Residencies and Fellowships.

Oregon Health and Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Office of Civil Rights Investigations and Compliance at 503-494-5148 or ocic@ohsu.edu.

Interview Day

All interviews will be conducted virtually to allow equitable access for all applicants. Interview dates will range from November 2023 through January 2024. The virtual interview day will be approximately four hours in length with opportunities to meet our faculty and fellow as well as a chance to participate in one of our weekly educational experiences.

Rank order lists will be submitted by February 28, 2024, through the NRMP Main Residency Match. Match Day will follow on March 15, 2024.

International graduates

For graduates of a foreign medical school, at least one year of clinical training in the US or Canada must have been completed in order to apply. Applicants must be legally able to work in the US, or eligible to obtain work. Applicants must also provide a copy of a valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, participate in the National Residency Match Program and apply through ERAS. Our program supports H1B and J1 visas.

Please also see the OHSU GME information on Applying to OHSU Residencies and Fellowships.