Specialty: Neurology

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MD2B Connect Physician ID # 169

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Where will this rotation take place: This outpatient US clinical experience will take place in Chicago. Please note that the preceptor clinic and hospital are approximately twenty-seven  miles apart. You will be responsible for arranging your own transportation to these locations. 

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Hours: Monday to Friday 8 AM to 7 PM (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri at one location; Wednesday at the other location)

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Hours have been provided by the preceptor. Hours are subject to change at the preceptor’s discretion, but the minimum total hours will remain approximately the same.

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What you will do: You will be under the supervision of a physician who is board-certified in seven specialties and subspecialties including neurology, psychiatry, brain injury medicine, behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry, pain medicine, addiction psychiatry, and geriatric psychiatry. For 25 years, this physician served as a faculty member at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and Rush University Medical College. This preceptor is currently an attending physician at the Mercy Hospital and Medical Center and AMITA Health Saint Joseph Hospital.

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During a distinguished career, this preceptor has published over 300 articles in such journals as JAMA, Neurology, Archives of Neurology, and Headache. This preceptor has also served as a reviewer for multiple academic journals, including JAMA, Neurology, Journal of the Neurological Sciences and the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry.  Of note, this physician is an inventor who has been named on 25 patents in multiple countries. 

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This attending has educated hundreds of medical students throughout the course of a very long career and believes in having students take an active role in patient care. Your morning will typically begin with a one-hour didactic given by the preceptor on a topic or journal article followed by new patient evaluations and follow-ups during the rest of the day.

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Please note that the case mix is 80% psychiatry and 20% neurology. Among the conditions you will encounter in the practice (please note that this is not an exhaustive list):

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• Tremor

• Unstable gait

• ADHD

• Memory impairment

• Parkinson's disease

• Alzheimer's disease

• Headache

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Schizophrenia

• Substance abuse

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After a few days of observation, you will take on an increasing role in patient encounters and learn the following under the preceptor’s supervision:​

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• Taking patient histories.

• Performing exams under the physician's supervision.

• Presenting patients.

• Writing notes (no EMR).

• Researching the literature to answer clinical questions at the point of care.

• Educating patients.

• Gaining an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of other healthcare professionals.

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The activities above will mostly take place in the outpatient setting. As a result of hospital policies, inpatient activities will be more observational.

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Please note that there are typially 4-5 students at a time. However, during peak periods (Apr-Aug), there may be up to 10 students. 

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Please note that students rotating through this practice may have opportunities to take part in research projects such as case reports and other articles. If you are interested, please let the preceptor know as early as possible. The availability of these projects is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of the preceptor. 

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​Who should consider this rotation: International medical graduates (IMGs) and students seeking US clinical experience in neurology.  

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How to obtain a letter of recommendation: The rotator should ask the preceptor for a LOR near the conclusion of the rotation. Dr. Desai has provided the physician with guidelines about best practices in letter writing that meet residency program requirements. In some cases, the preceptor may ask the rotator to write a letter of recommendation draft. 

 

​During the rotation: Our team will be checking in periodically with you to ensure that you are having an optimal experience. We encourage you to contact us if you have any questions during the rotation.

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Wondering how to do well during your neurology rotation? Read Dr. Desai's Article - How To Succeed in Your Neurology Rotation