The Ultimate Guide to Building a Residency CV for DO Graduates in Neurology

Understanding the Role of Your CV in the Neurology Residency Match

A strong CV is one of the most powerful tools you have as a DO graduate applying to neurology residency. Programs use your CV not only to screen applicants but also to shape their overall impression of your professionalism, focus, and trajectory in neurology.

Your CV will be:

• The backbone of your ERAS application content
• A reference document during interview days and rank meetings
• A roadmap for interview questions about your experiences and interests
• Evidence that you’re ready for the demands of neurology residency

For DO graduates, the osteopathic residency match landscape has evolved significantly since the single accreditation system. Neurology programs are increasingly DO-friendly, but you still need to show—clearly and confidently—that you’re competitive, focused, and ready. A polished, strategically constructed CV helps overcome outdated biases and highlights your strengths.

This article will walk you through how to build a CV for residency in neurology, with a specific focus on DO graduates: what to include, how to structure it, and how to position osteopathic-specific experiences to your advantage.

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Core Principles of a Strong Neurology Residency CV

Before diving into sections, know the fundamental principles that make a medical student CV or recent graduate CV work for you rather than against you.

1. Clarity and Readability First

Your CV may be skimmed in under 60–90 seconds the first time someone reads it. Make that time count.

• Use a clean, professional format (single-column, no graphics or colors).
• Stick to a standard readable font (e.g., Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, 10.5–12 pt).
• Use consistent formatting for dates, headings, and bullet points.
• Limit bold/italics to section headings and your role titles.

For neurology specifically, attention to detail is non‑negotiable. Typos, inconsistent date formats, or messy organization can unconsciously signal sloppiness—exactly the opposite of what you want in a specialty that hinges on precision.

2. Relevance to Neurology and Residency Training

Your CV should tell a clear story: “I’m a DO graduate with sustained, credible interest in neurology and the skills to succeed in residency.”

That means highlighting:

• Neurology‑related rotations, electives, and sub‑internships
• Neurology and neuroscience research
• Case reports, QI projects, or posters with neurologic content
• Leadership that reflects maturity, responsibility, and teamwork
• Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM/OMT) applied to neurologic or pain syndromes

Items can stay on your CV even if they aren’t neurology-specific, but your most relevant experiences should be the most detailed and most visible.

3. Honesty and Verifiability

Residency programs can and do verify information. Never:

• Exaggerate your role in research
• Inflate hours, titles, or responsibilities
• List future or hypothetical publications as “accepted”

If something is “submitted” or “in preparation,” label it clearly. Integrity is far more important than an extra bullet point.

4. Adapted for ERAS But Still Standalone

ERAS has its own Activities section, but you should still maintain a standalone CV:

• ERAS entries are short and rigid; your CV can show the full arc of your experiences.
• Some programs still request a separate CV by email or upload.
• Faculty mentors and letter writers often ask for your CV to write stronger letters.

Your residency CV tips should always align your CV content with your ERAS entries: no contradictions, similar wording, identical dates.

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Ideal Structure and Sections for a Neurology Residency CV (DO Graduate)

Here’s a commonly used and effective structure for a neurology-bound DO graduate’s CV. You don’t need every section, but you should consider each one.

1. Contact Information
2. Education
3. USMLE/COMLEX Scores (optional section)
4. Clinical Experience (including neurology-specific work)
5. Research Experience
6. Publications, Abstracts, and Presentations
7. Leadership, Teaching, and Service
8. Honors and Awards
9. Professional Memberships
10. Skills and Certifications
11. Personal Interests

1. Contact Information

Keep this simple and professional at the top of page 1:

• Full name (match ERAS exactly)
• Professional email (e.g., firstname.lastname@domain.com)
• Phone number
• City/State (you can omit full address if desired)
• LinkedIn or professional website (optional, only if updated and consistent)

Avoid:

• Nicknames (unless you commonly use a preferred name in clinical settings)
• Multiple phone numbers or non‑professional emails
• Photos, icons, or personal demographic data

2. Education

List in reverse chronological order:

• DO degree:

  • School name (spell out completely)
  • City, state
  • Dates (e.g., 08/2020 – 05/2024)
  • Graduation distinction if applicable (e.g., cum laude)

• Undergraduate degree:

  • Major, institution, city/state, dates
  • Honors (e.g., magna cum laude, dean’s list) as a sub-bullet

If you completed a post-baccalaureate or master’s program (especially relevant to DO graduates who improved their academic trajectory), include it between undergraduate and medical school. Briefly highlight improved performance or relevant neurosciences coursework if applicable.

3. USMLE and COMLEX Scores (Optional Section)

The role of this section is nuanced:

• Some applicants prefer to leave scores to ERAS only.
• Others include them if they significantly strengthen the application (e.g., strong USMLE Step 2 CK or COMLEX Level 2-CE).

As a DO graduate in the neurology residency space:

• If you have both COMLEX and USMLE, and your USMLE performance is at or above the neurology average, a brief line is fine:

  • USMLE Step 1 – Pass
  • USMLE Step 2 CK – 24X (MM/YYYY)
  • COMLEX Level 1 – Pass
  • COMLEX Level 2-CE – XXX (MM/YYYY)

• If your scores are weaker or more nuanced, omit this section and let ERAS handle it; your CV will focus on strengths instead.

The key is consistency—dates and pass/fail status must match ERAS exactly.

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Presenting Clinical and Neurology-Specific Experiences

This section is where your neuro match story starts to become convincing. Your goal is to show sustained exposure to neurologic patients and clear enthusiasm for the field.

4. Clinical Experience

You can organize this in one of two ways:

• Option A: Clinical Rotations (if your experiences are mostly rotations)
• Option B: Clinical Positions (if you have meaningful pre-med or gap-year clinical jobs)

For neurology applicants, a hybrid often works: list major rotations, then separate “Additional Clinical Experience” for jobs.

4.1 Neurology-Focused Rotations and Sub‑Internships

Highlight neurology experiences prominently, even if you don’t list every rotation.

Example structure:

Clinical Rotations

• Neurology Sub‑Internship, University Hospital
  City, State | 07/2023 – 08/2023

  • Completed 4‑week sub‑internship on inpatient neurology service, managing stroke, seizure, and neuro-oncology patients under supervision.
  • Independently performed focused neurologic exams and presented patients on morning rounds.
  • Participated in weekly EEG and EMG interpretation sessions.

• Neurology Elective, Community Hospital
  City, State | 02/2023 – 03/2023

  • Evaluated patients in neurology clinic with headache, movement disorders, and neuropathic pain.
  • Collaborated with residents on patient counseling and care coordination.

• Required Core Rotations

  • Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Psychiatry, etc. (you can summarize these if space is limited, unless they are particularly achievement-heavy).

For other rotations, brief entries are fine. The neurology residency reviewers mainly want to see that you’ve had enough exposure to be making an informed choice.

4.2 OMM/OMT Experiences Relevant to Neurology

As a DO graduate, you can differentiate yourself through your osteopathic training—especially if you’ve applied OMT to conditions neurologists see frequently (e.g., chronic pain, tension headaches, low back pain with radiculopathy).

You might add a subheading:

Osteopathic Clinical Experience

• Student Physician, OMT Clinic – Musculoskeletal and Headache Patients
  Institution Name | City, State | 09/2022 – 05/2023
  • Evaluated and treated patients with chronic neck pain, tension headaches, and low back pain using OMT under faculty supervision.
  • Collaborated with neurology and pain management services for complex cases.

Explicitly linking your OMT experience to neurologic symptom management shows you bring a unique perspective to the team.

4.3 Non‑Neurology Clinical Positions

If you worked as a scribe, EMT, medical assistant, or nurse before or during medical school, it still counts—especially if it demonstrates professionalism, reliability, and longitudinal patient care.

Example:

Clinical Experience (Pre‑Medical School)

• Medical Scribe, Emergency Department – City Hospital
  City, State | 06/2017 – 05/2019
  • Documented patient encounters for attending physicians in a high-volume ED.
  • Gained exposure to acute neurologic emergencies including stroke, status epilepticus, and head trauma.

This helps connect your earlier work to your neurology interests.

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Research, Scholarship, and Academic Productivity in Neurology

Neurology is a specialty that values curiosity and scholarship. You do not need a PhD or multiple first-author papers to match, but thoughtful research and presentations can significantly strengthen a DO graduate residency application—especially at more academic programs.

5. Research Experience

Separate “Research Experience” from “Publications and Presentations.” In research, you describe the project and your role; in publications, you list the outputs.

Structure:

Research Experience

• Student Researcher, Department of Neurology
  Institution | City, State | 01/2022 – 06/2023
  Mentor: Dr. [Name]

  • Project: “Predictors of functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving thrombectomy.”
  • Responsibilities: Data abstraction from EMR, REDCap entry, basic statistical analysis, preparing abstract for national conference.

• Research Assistant, OMM and Chronic Pain Study
  Osteopathic Medical School | City, State | 09/2021 – 12/2022

  • Assisted in randomized controlled trial assessing OMT for chronic low back pain with radiculopathy.
  • Conducted patient follow-ups and recorded pain and function scores at scheduled intervals.

Include research even if outside neurology (e.g., quality improvement, internal medicine), but emphasize neurology or neuroscience if possible.

If your research is ongoing or hasn’t yet produced a publication:

• Label outputs as “manuscript in preparation” or “abstract submitted.”
• Don’t predict acceptance; just be transparent about the stage.

6. Publications, Abstracts, and Presentations

This is where you list concrete scholarly outputs in standard citation format. Divide them by type:

Peer‑Reviewed Publications

1. Lastname AB, Lastname CD, Your Name EF. Title of article. Journal Name. 2024;12(3):123–130.

Abstracts and Poster Presentations

1. Your Name EF, Lastname AB. “Case of new-onset refractory status epilepticus in a young adult.” Poster presented at: American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting; 2023; Location.

Oral Presentations

1. Your Name EF. “Neurogenic causes of dizziness in primary care.” Invited talk at Family Medicine Grand Rounds, [Institution]; 2023; City, State.

For osteopathic residency match and neurology alike, even local institutional posters and case presentations matter—they show follow-through and engagement.

If you lack publications:

• Focus on posters, local talks, QI projects, or case reports.
• Ask neurology faculty if there are small projects you can help with—retrospective reviews, simple case reports, or helping finish existing data sets.

For a DO graduate, being strategic and persistent with research is often more realistic and still impressive.

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Leadership, Teaching, and Service: Showing You’re a Future Neurology Resident

Programs are not just selecting test scores—they are choosing future colleagues. Leadership, teaching, and service demonstrate maturity, teamwork, and commitment to patients and learners.

7. Leadership and Organized Activities

Avoid listing every minor club membership. Instead, spotlight roles where you took responsibility and created impact.

Examples:

Leadership Experience

• President, Neurology Interest Group – [Medical School]
  05/2022 – 05/2023

  • Organized monthly case conferences with neurology faculty and residents.
  • Coordinated student attendance at regional neurology conferences.

• Vice President, Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) Chapter
  05/2021 – 05/2022

  • Led initiatives on wellness and board preparation for DO students, integrating resources relevant to neurology applicants.

This ties your leadership to neurologic themes and to the broader DO community.

8. Teaching Experience

Neurology is a teaching-heavy specialty—neurologists often educate primary care physicians, residents, and patients. Any teaching or mentoring signals you’re comfortable in that role.

Examples:

Teaching Experience

• Peer Tutor, Neuroanatomy and Neuroscience – [Medical School]
  09/2021 – 05/2022

  • Provided weekly small‑group reviews for first-year students; focused on clinical correlation of neurologic pathways and lesions.

• OMT Lab Teaching Assistant
  09/2022 – 04/2023

  • Assisted faculty in demonstrating techniques for musculoskeletal and neurologic pain syndromes.

Teaching that combines neurology and osteopathic principles is especially compelling for a DO graduate.

9. Community Service and Advocacy

Neurologic illness often intersects with disability, health disparities, and long-term care needs. Service work in these areas shows empathy and alignment with neurology’s realities.

Examples:

Service and Volunteering

• Volunteer, Stroke Support Group – University Hospital
  01/2023 – 12/2023

  • Helped facilitate monthly support meetings for stroke survivors and caregivers; provided education on risk factor modification.

• Volunteer, Free Clinic – General Medical Care
  08/2021 – 05/2023

  • Provided basic health screenings and education in an underserved community; referred patients with possible neurologic symptoms to local clinics.

When possible, highlight neurologic relevance (stroke, dementia, disability, chronic pain, etc.).

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Honors, Memberships, Skills, and Personal Interests

These sections may seem secondary, but they round out your story and sometimes provide easy talking points for interviews.

10. Honors and Awards

Include academic, leadership, and research awards with brief context if not self‑explanatory.

Examples:

• Neurology Clerkship Award, [Medical School], 2023
• Outstanding Peer Tutor Award – Neuroscience, 2022
• Sigma Sigma Phi Honor Society (if applicable to your DO school)

For DO graduates, osteopathic-specific honors are perfectly valid and respected. If an award is unfamiliar or local, a one-line explanation helps (e.g., “Awarded to one student per year for excellence in neurologic patient care.”).

11. Professional Memberships

This is where you demonstrate engagement with professional communities:

• American Academy of Neurology (Medical Student/Resident Member)
• American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
• [State] Osteopathic Medical Association
• Specialty neurology societies (e.g., AAN subspecialty groups)

Memberships alone won’t win you a spot, but they reinforce your identity as a future neurologist and DO physician.

12. Skills and Certifications

Include:

• Languages (with proficiency levels: native, fluent, conversational, basic)
• Technical skills:
  • REDCap, SPSS, R, Excel for data analysis
  • Basic EEG/EMG interpretation exposure (if truly applicable)
• Certifications:
  • BLS, ACLS
  • NIHSS certification (highly relevant to vascular neurology)
  • CITI research training

Do not list generic skills like “hard worker” or “team player” here—those are for your personal statement and interviews, not your skills list.

13. Personal Interests

This section seems optional, but many program directors use it to connect with you on a human level. List 3–5 genuine, specific interests:

• Distance running; have completed two half‑marathons
• Classical piano with interest in music and the brain
• Volunteering at animal shelters

Avoid controversial topics and overly vague entries (“travel,” “reading”) without details. Personal interests can become memorable interview talking points.

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Practical Residency CV Tips for DO Neurology Applicants

To pull everything together, here are actionable residency CV tips tailored to DO graduates targeting neurology:

1. Start Early and Maintain a Living CV

Begin your medical student CV in first year and update every 3–6 months:

• Add new rotations, projects, posters, and leadership roles
• Refine bullet points as your responsibilities evolve
• Remove outdated or minor items as your CV grows

By fourth year, you won’t be scrambling to reconstruct your history.

2. Use Strong, Action-Oriented Bullet Points

Each bullet should start with a strong verb and convey scope and impact:

• “Conducted neurologic examinations on 5–7 inpatients daily and presented on rounds.”
• “Developed patient education handout on stroke warning signs distributed to ~200 clinic patients.”

Avoid vague bullets:

• “Helped with patient care.”
• “Assisted with research.”

3. Prioritize and Trim Ruthlessly

Your CV for residency is not a life biography. It’s a curated document designed to help you match.

• Keep it typically to 2–4 pages for a new graduate.
• Put the most relevant neurology content earlier and with more detail.
• Combine minor roles (“Member, Internal Medicine Interest Group, 2020–2021”) into one line or remove them.

4. Connect Your DO Identity to Neurology

As a DO graduate, make your osteopathic training an asset:

• Emphasize OMT exposure in headache, back pain, and musculoskeletal complaints.
• Show how holistic history-taking improved care in neurology clinics.
• Highlight any integration of osteopathic principles in research or QI.

This differentiates you from MD applicants and underscores the value you bring.

5. Seek Feedback from Neurology and DO Mentors

Before finalizing your CV:

• Ask a neurology faculty member or resident to review it for content relevance.
• Ask a DO mentor (or your school’s career advising office) to check for clarity, professionalism, and alignment with osteopathic residency match expectations.
• Incorporate their feedback, especially about which experiences resonate most with neurology programs.

6. Align CV, ERAS, and Personal Statement

Inconsistencies between your CV, ERAS entries, and personal statement can be red flags.

• Use similar titles, dates, and descriptions across platforms.
• Make sure the story your CV tells—sustained interest in neurology, growth, and responsibility—matches what you write in your personal statement.
• Avoid emphasizing an entirely different specialty in your CV history without explaining your transition thoughtfully (if applicable).

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How long should my neurology residency CV be as a DO graduate?

Most DO graduates applying to neurology will have a 2–3 page CV.

• Two pages is typical if your experiences are more focused and recent.
• Three pages is reasonable if you have substantial research, prior careers, or multiple leadership roles.

Anything beyond four pages for a new graduate is usually excessive—trim older or less relevant content.

2. Should I include both COMLEX and USMLE scores on my CV?

You’re not required to list scores on your CV; ERAS will report them. However:

• If you have strong USMLE and COMLEX scores, a small section can reinforce your competitiveness.
• If you have scores you prefer to contextualize (e.g., lower Step 1 but stronger Step 2), it’s usually better not to highlight them on the CV and instead address them in advising and possibly your personal statement.

If you choose to include them, make sure dates, attempts, and pass/fail status exactly match ERAS.

3. I don’t have neurology research. Can I still build a strong CV for neurology?

Yes. Many matched neurology residents did not have formal neurology research. To strengthen your CV:

• Highlight neurology electives, sub‑internships, and case presentations.
• Emphasize strong clinical evaluations and any teaching in neuroscience.
• Seek small, achievable scholarly projects—case reports, QI projects on stroke protocols, or clinic-based initiatives.

Programs look for genuine interest and potential, not just publication counts.

4. How is a DO graduate residency CV different from an MD applicant’s CV?

Content-wise, they’re similar, but as a DO graduate you can:

• Showcase OMT experience relevant to neurologic and pain conditions.
• Highlight involvement in osteopathic organizations and leadership roles.
• Emphasize holistic, patient-centered care that aligns well with chronic neurologic disease management.

Your goal isn’t to hide your DO background—it’s to demonstrate how it enhances your future practice as a neurologist.

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By treating your CV as a strategic, evolving document—and not just a list—you’ll present yourself as a focused, capable DO graduate ready to thrive in neurology residency. Align your experiences, highlight your osteopathic strengths, and let your CV tell a clear, compelling story that supports your neurology residency match goals.