School of Medicine

Neurology Clerkship

The clinical clerkship, arranged in the third year, consists of a two-week period on the wards at Georgetown University Hospital.  Emphasis is on performance and interpretation of the neurologic examination, and developing knowledge of clinical localization. Since many common diseases have an affinity for certain specific nervous system areas, localization of the involved area is helpful in arriving at a differential diagnosis.

Daily rounds and case presentations are held in order to emphasize the application of this basic approach to the total field of clinical neurology. Categorical topics also are considered so that the student may have an overview of the entire clinical field of neurology, and conferences are held on neuroimaging, EEG, and correlative neuropathology.

The student usually performs routine and special diagnostic studies where practical, and consequently, becomes familiar with performance and uses of lumbar puncture, visual field examination, electroencephalography, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and radioactive scans. Special clinics in general neurology and muscle disease provide students the opportunity to see problems that maybe handled on an ambulatory basis. A fully accredited residency program gives the students the advantage of a preceptorship with neurological residents who are assigned to wards and consultations.