A Different Kind of Brain Mapping: Creating a Curriculum Map for the Neurology Residency Program Academic Half-Day
Saatvika Nair1, Hayoung Ahn2, Katherine Fu3
1University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 2David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 3Department of Neurology, UCLA
Objective:
This project aims to identify and address the potential gaps in the current neurology residency program academic half-day (AHD) at our institution by creating a curriculum map based on data from 2018-2024. By examining the breadth and depth of topics covered, we aimed to gauge whether the curricula of the prior years adequately represented the diverse aspects of neurology training.
Background:
Curriculum mapping is a valuable tool that can facilitate iterative improvement to curricula and determine whether relevant educational objectives are being met. While more prevalent in graduate medical education programs for specialities such as internal medicine, there is limited literature on its use in neurology residency programs.
Design/Methods:
Referencing the AAMC curriculum map guidebook, we created a curriculum map encompassing topics of the didactic sessions held from 2018-2024 at our institution. The distribution of subspecialty topics of 342 lectures were then compared to those recommended by the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry (ABPN) certification examination content blueprint.
Results:
We demonstrated significant differences across multiple subspecialties, highlighting areas for improvement. Movement disorders (11.3%) and stroke (10.4%) were overrepresented compared to the ABPN content blueprint during the 6-year time frame (p < 0.05). Conversely, pediatric neurology (2.8%), sleep disorders (2.5%), and neurobehavior (5.8%) were underemphasized (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
This curriculum mapping project has identified strengths and weaknesses in the neurology residency program's academic half-day curriculum, highlighting the need for targeted enhancements to align with ABPN certification standards. It provides a framework for ongoing curriculum improvement and serves as a model for other specialties. Future efforts will focus on developing a two-year curriculum that aligns with ABPN content percentages, tailored to our mapping results and institutional resources. By addressing these gaps, we aim to enhance the educational experience of our neurology residents and ultimately improve patient care outcomes.
Disclaimer: Abstracts were not reviewed by Neurology® and do not reflect the views of Neurology® editors or staff.