Department of Neurology
Residency Program
December 13, 2007
Dear Applicant:
We appreciate your interest in the George Washington University Medical Center Neurology program. Our program is a strong clinical one in the heart of Washington, D.C. We pride ourselves on the level of our clinical care and teaching. Our Department is relatively small compared to some but we feel that its size is an advantage since it allows us to get to know our trainees well and they to know us.
The most important aspect of neurology residency training is learning to think and reason like a neurologist. Neurologists are set apart from most specialties by the purity of our clinical consultations. We take a detailed history, perform a rigorous clinical examination and reach a diagnostic conclusion before sophisticated testing. In this era of test first, then diagnose, we are relatively unique in our insistence on clinical diagnosis first. The role of laboratory testing is then to clarify, not to make the diagnosis. The rigorous nature and clarity of our reasoning process sets neurology apart from other specialties and appeals to those who aspire to neurology.
As a resident, we will teach you the most important aspects of the art and science of neurology. You will learn how to use sophisticated tests to clarify your clinical diagnosis. You will leave our program as a skilled diagnostician. The superb quality of our training is reflected by the excellent fellowships our residents obtain.
If this philosophy and method appeals to you, I hope you will consider GW and check us out. I believe you will like what you see.
John J. Kelly, M.D.
Chairman & Professor
Department of Neurology
