Trends in Neurology Education at U.S. Medical Schools

Because medical student training in neurology is not uniform among U.S. medical schools, researchers conducted surveys in 2005 and 2012 completed by about 75% of 134 U.S. neurology clerkship directors (CDs). The surveys were sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the Consortium of Neurology Clerkship Directors.

In 2012, neurology was a required course at 93% of medical schools with responding CDs. The percentage of schools with a 4-week neurology clerkship decreased from 85% to 75% from 2005 to 2012, whereas the proportion requiring the course in the third year increased from 45% to 56%. Educational technology, including online curricula and smartphone applications, was assessed for the first time in 2012 and offered in 64% of cl…