Stanford Neurology & Neurological Sciences Education

Adult and Child Neurology Residencies and Fellowships

The Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences at Stanford offers ACGME-accredited adult and child Neurology residency training programs as well as multiple adult and pediatric post-residency fellowship training programs in multiple neurologic subspecialties. A vast array of clinical and research training programs are available at the Graduate Medical Education level at Stanford.

A large and dynamic academic Neurology Program

This is a vibrant and exciting time for clinical neurosciences at Stanford. With over 140 faculty with primary appointments within the Department, Stanford is considered one of the larger programs nationally, yet still retains a close-knit and collegial training environment. Stanford Neurology faculty are among the world leaders in many areas within the clinical and basic neurosciences. Many of our subspecialty divisions and programs are the largest on the West Coast, and are at the top nationwide in terms of clinical activity, cutting-edge research, and influence within their respective fields. Every significant subspecialty within Neurology is well-represented. Certain areas are unique strengths, including our Neurology-based neuro-oncology group and our neuro-autonomic program.  Stanford boasts a world-renown Comprehensive Epilepsy CenterMovement Disorders CenterAlzheimer’s Disease Research CenterUdall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research, the country’s first Comprehensive Stroke Center, the largest Child Neurology division of the West Coast, a large and well-developed intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM) program, a model multidisciplinary Headache (Pain) Clinic, and the pioneering Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine. Our trainees have a vast array of clinical, research, and other academic opportunities available to them. Prospective applicants are invited to explore this website (and those of each subspecialty division) and its many links to gain an appreciation for the incredible scope and quality of experiences that are available at Stanford Neurology with post-graduate training in the clinical neurosciences.

A world class medical center with state-of-the-art facilities

Stanford Neurology attracts patients with serious and complex neurologic disorders from all over the world, but primarily the Western United Stated and the Pacific Rim. The tremendous population growth of the metropolitan area around Silicon Valley ensures a steady source of diverse patients with a wide range of neurological diseases. Stanford Hospital is nearly always at full capacity with an average daily census that typically exceeds 700 patients. The richness of inpatient clinical experiences leads to a dynamic training environment. Neurology outpatient volumes are tremendous, with over 60,000 annual patient visits in our multiple clinics at Stanford Healthcare, Stanford Children’s Health, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and the VA. We have beautiful state-of-the-art facilities including two new multi-billion dollar hospitals and the Stanford Neuroscience Health Center, a first of its kind “one stop” outpatient neuroscience center. This is all to say that despite the ample research and academic opportunities available (see below), our training programs remain patient-focused and clinically intensive. Trainees should expect a broad exposure to a large volume of complex patients while on their clinical rotations. First and foremost, we are looking to train top-flight physicians with excellent clinical skills.

The world’s leader in neuroscience research

Our excellent clinical training in Neurology at Stanford is complemented by exposure to the facultyresources, and facilities of one of the world’s leading neuroscience research institutions. Stanford sits on the cutting edge of 21st Century neuroscience and translational research. Stanford’s multidisciplinary neurosciences institute brings together clinicians and scientists in the School of Medicine and many other Stanford University Schools and Departments who share a common interest in clinical and basic neuroscience. With several hundred faculty participants dedicated to expanding the frontiers of neuroscience, the institute builds on Stanford's expertise in Medicine, Humanities and Sciences, Engineering, Law, and Business to form a world-class interdisciplinary program to provide innovative solutions to clinical medicine. This distinguished group of Stanford neuroscientists includes multiple members of the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine, and Nobel Prize laureates. Our trainees have direct access to these investigators and thought leaders as most are physically located on the School of Medicine campus. The Stanford academic community has a great tradition of innovation, along with a spirit of openness and collaboration. Along with an extensive and vigorous clinical experience, our residency program includes a neuroscience research track  and Investigator Training Pipeline that allow our trainees to fully leverage this remarkable research setting. Stanford also participates in the Biohub physician-scientist fellowship program for additional mentored biomedical and clinical research that does not require prior research experience. Opportunities for pushing the boundaries in neuroscience research, both basic/translational and clinical, exist at Stanford like nowhere else.

An array of opportunities within the Stanford community

Multiple unique experiences are available at Stanford for the consideration of our Neurology trainees, in addition to the neuroscience research opportunities listed above. The Stanford biodesign program, for example, takes advantage of our exceptional institutional resources in engineering, computer science, and medical device design, as well as our long history of successful collaboration with industry in Silicon Valley. Trainees also have access to colleagues in the Stanford Health Research and Policy Department, which also provides a popular master degree program in epidemiology and clinical research methodology. Fellowships and collaboration are possible with the Clinical Excellence Research Center (CERC).  This cutting edge program organizes research teams from multiple Stanford Schools to design and test new methods of health care delivery that substantially reduce population-wide disability and annual per capita health spending in the near term. New initiatives in international health are available to our Neurology trainees. The Center of Innovation in Global Health(CIGH) is currently one of the most comprehensive and active in the country. Stanford neurologists have been active leaders in pioneering opportunities for residents with an interest in global health in Africa and beyond. Residents and clinical fellows at Stanford have access to another valuable resource in the  Stanford Center for Translational Research and Education (SPECTRUM).   Programs through SPECTRUM are one of many that  spans major clinical departments and brings together talented residents and clinical fellows in order to train tomorrow’s medical leaders through scholarship and innovation, create a collaborative community, and foster mentoring opportunities between faculty and residents and between residents and medical students. The Advanced Residency Training at Stanford (ARTS) Program offers the opportunity to combine clinical training with advanced research training to complete a PhD degree during or upon completion of residency or clinical fellowship.

Building world-class educators

Stanford Neurology thrives on a culture of teaching and learning. Our faculty devote their time to educate and mentor trainees with an emphasis on career development and close faculty-trainee interactions. Our trainees graduate as leading medical educators while working closely with students from the Stanford School of Medicine, one of the top medical schools in the United States.  In fact, recently the Neurology Department has won the Association of University Professors of Neurology (AUPN) “Successful Recruitment” award two years in a row by having the highest percentage of medical students matching into Neurology of any school in the U.S. In addition, the AAMC annual survey of US medical students has identified the Stanford Neurology core rotation as the top rated core rotation at Stanford for 10 or the last 12 years. This remarkable track record is largely a testament to the dedication, enthusiasm and focus on the development of teaching and mentoring skills of our residents and fellows who interact with these excellent student on a daily basis.  Professional development for trainees in medical education include novel training courses at the Stanford Faculty Development Center (SFDC) for Medical TeachersStanford Medicine Teaching and Mentoring Academy, and Clinical Teaching Seminar Series.

 Stanford is an innovator in medical education research. Trainees may earn an honors certificate in medical education after completion of a scholarly project and receive intramural grant funding to support their work. These projects may involve Stanford’s cutting-edge medical simulation programtrainee-focused diversity program, or our leading wellbeing curriculum.