Children's National Hospital/George Washington University Program

The Child Neurology Residency Categorical Track (four positions) is an ACGME-accredited categorical residency position offering a two-year pediatric and a three-year neurology training program to achieve board eligibility and full qualification for a career in child neurology including board eligibility in pediatrics.

The first two years of training are spent in Pediatric Residency and include a variety of clinical rotations preparing you for your career in pediatrics and child neurology. Trainees in their second year have an option to start their Child Neurology Continuity Clinic in their PGY-2 year in a non-board eligible track. This is followed by the child neurology residency which includes 12 months of adult neurology and two years of child neurology. Training is coordinated with the adult neurology programs at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Georgetown University School of Medicine. Rotations in adult neurology include six months of inpatient training on general neurology, stroke and epilepsy services, in addition to four months of outpatient and elective training in a variety of subspecialty clinics. Two months of child neurology rotations occur during the third year of training on both ward and neuro-critical care teams to develop skills to prepare for your career in neurology and provide an opportunity to return to Children’s National. There is a 2-week child neurology outpatient subspecialty elective during the third year of training to allow for greater exposure to subspecialties in the third year before having to decide on applications for subspecialty fellowship programs early in the fourth year of training. Adult neurology trainees from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Georgetown University School of Medicine, along with those at the Armed Forces Program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital, complete their child neurology training at Children’s National.

The second year of the neurology program focuses on clinical child neurology and occurs in both the inpatient and outpatient settings rotating between the Child Neurology Ward Team, Consult Team, Neuro-Critical Care Team, Neonatal Critical Care Team, and Night Float team in addition to electives. Electives can be used to fulfill requirements for board certification or may be used to further develop research projects. The final year of training is primarily electives in child neurology which could include neuropathology, neuroradiology, neurophysiology, epilepsy, neuro-oncology or others. Three to four months are spent on inpatient services or as a senior resident, taking on increasingly supervisory roles, including daytime and overnight “pre-tending” blocks, and preparing for independent practice. Most residents complete research projects during the final year as well (including abstracts and publications), participate in national neurology meetings and seminars and finalize plans for future academic pursuits. In the first year of the Child Neurology program residents participate in a half-day per week continuity clinic in child neurology. Starting in 2026, we have moved to an X+Y (4+1) schedule for continuity clinics in the 2nd and 3rd years of the Child Neurology program. The clinic is held in the neurology outpatient clinic at Children’s National.

We are now offering one position each year for an applicant interested in the Basic Neuroscience Research Pathway. This pathway differs from the common categorical pathway in that it requires only 1 year of Pediatrics training before starting in the three-year Child Neurology program which is structured the same as above. It also requires one year of research in the basic neurosciences with at least 80% time commitment to basic neuroscience during that year of training, to complete the five-year training program. We collaborate with PIs from Children’s National, the NIH, Georgetown University, George Washington University, and other nearby research institutes to tailor research mentorship to the interests of that resident.

Regular conferences during the child neurology training include the following weekly lectures:

• Weekly half-day education afternoons – subspecialty conference by all staff members within their area of expertise from epilepsy to neuro-psychology, from neuro-radiology to neuro-surgery. We also sponsor special series including boot camp, board review, EEG conference, neuro-anatomy and localization throughout the year. We collaborate with the University of Michigan and Nationwide Children’s for a case-based neurogenetics curriculum. Many of the half-days are arranged around one subspecialty or theme, including an advocacy themed day. The entire didactic curriculum was re-created in 2023 to match the ABPN board topics and to best prepare trainees for successful completion of the board examination. Residents sign out to their attending on service so that they have no clinical responsibilities for the rest of the day, and their education time is truly protected.

• Thursday Intake rounds – fellow-led conference with all staff in attendance every week to critically analyze interesting and difficult cases

• Monthly education day, including “Formal Intake,” Clinical Neuroscience Lectures and Journal Club or M&M

The Center for Neuroscience Research at Children's National is focused on determining the molecular underpinnings of childhood neurologic diseases, and many opportunities for trainees exist to participate with this center. Residents are partnered with mentors early in training to develop research projects, ensuring long term success at the highest levels. The division works closely with the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute. The division focuses on translational research and offers patients in the region access to a number of clinical trials with an emphasis on innovative biologic-based therapy. These divisions collaborate with multiple laboratories investigating the neurobiologic basis of childhood illness and lead national and international clinical trials, giving patients access to the newest therapies through:

• Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium

• Epilepsy Trials in Neuroimaging, Cognition, Medications, and Basic and Translational Research

• Childhood Stroke Network

• Neurofibromatosis Clinical Trial Consortium

• CINRG network for treatment of Muscular Dystrophy

• Leukodystrophy and Myelin Disorders Program

• Neurometabolic diseases (including mitochondrial diseases and urea cycle diseases)

• Neurocognitive conditions (including Autism Spectrum Disorders)

• Fetal Neonatal Neurology

• Neonatal Neurology

• Concussion

• Migraine

• Movement disorders

We plan to match five categorical positions for the combined pediatrics and child neurology residency in the 2026-2027 Match and one reserve positions.

• All candidates applying to the categorical positions will be eligible to match to a five-year position in both the pediatrics and child neurology residencies at Children’s National Hospital. All applications for the five five-year positions are reviewed through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS) by the Child Neurology and Pediatrics residency programs. You should only apply to the child neurology categorical track to be considered for the categorical position. 

• One of our five categorical positions will be designated for a Basic Neuroscience Research Track applicant. Applicants for this position should have a strong background in basic science research and a desire to make neuroscience research a significant part of their future career. The basic neuroscience pathway was created as an alternative track for residents who are planning a research career in academic child neurology. It consists of one year of training in general pediatrics in an ACGME-accredited program, one year of research in the basic neurosciences (at least 80% protected), and the same three years of child neurology training provided to the other categorical Child Neurology residents. More information on this pathway is available here.

• We will offer one reserve positions in this year’s match. All candidates applying to the reserve position will be eligible to match to a three-year position in the child neurology residency. Applicants for the reserve positions must be in their PGY-3 year of pediatrics training. 

• If you are invited to interview for the categorical positions, your interview day will include both the Child Neurology Residency Program interviews and the Categorical Pediatrics Residency Program interviews. You will only need to schedule your interview day with the Child Neurology residency program and you will automatically be added by the Pediatrics residency program. Interviews will be available virtually; however, we plan to allow optional in-person second looks which we brought back in 2024. Program leadership will not be aware of who chooses to participate in a second look, making it truly optional. More information will follow.

Please submit your application to the following track for the 2026-2027 Match if interested, based on your eligibility:

• Categorical Child Neurology Program – NRMP code 1070185C0

• Categorical Neuroscience Research Track – NRMP code 1070185C1

• Reserve Child Neurology Program - NRMP code 1070185R0

You must apply to the Children’s National Medical Center/George Washington University Program (Accreditation ID 1851021048).

Categorical candidates must also plan to take steps I and II of the USMLE before beginning their residency. International Medical Graduates must have completed USMLE steps I and II prior to applying and must demonstrate that they have had significant exposure to medicine in the United States.

Eligible candidates will be invited for interviews by the department of Neurology for a combined interview with the pediatrics program.

You will receive more information about our interviews if invited.

Rachel Bealle - Program Coordinator: [email protected]