DEPARTMENT OF NEUROLOGY
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Medical Student Education

Medical Student Education

The Department of Neurology is involved at all levels of University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Medicine and Public Health’s medical student training. The teaching of Neurology is incorporated into several areas of Phase 1 (Mind and Motion) and Phase 2 (Acute Care and Chronic and Preventative Care) of the UW SMPH MD ForWard Curriculum. UW Phase 3 medical students and 4th year visiting medical students who have an interest in Neurology as a specialty will have the opportunity to spend focused time in inpatient and ambulatory settings.

PHASE 3 NEUROLOGY ELECTIVES

  1. Neurology Individualized Clinical Elective (676-919) – UWSMPH and visiting medical students only

UWSMPH medical students: During this 2-week or 4-week clinical rotation medical students will have the opportunity to develop knowledge in a subspecialty of neurology (inpatient and/or ambulatory settings, adult and/or pediatric focused). UWSMPH students can enroll on OASIS/AcuityOne45. Please work with the UW SMPH medical student coordinator for the Department of Neurology, Olivia Lefevre at lefevre@neurology.wisc.edu on course enrollment, schedule creation/specifics and all other questions regarding this elective.

4th year visiting medical students: Those who are interested in applying for this opportunity can do so on the AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) platform. Unfortunately, the VSLO does not accept international medical students (those enrolled at a medical school/intuition that is outside of the United States at the time of the submitted application). Visiting medical students MUST meet UWSMPH criteria, VSLO’s criteria and be approved at the departmental. The visiting student must obtain approval at the departmental level before applying in VLSO. To obtain departmental approval, send an e-mail introduction to Jerdan Ruff, MD at ruff@neurology.wisc.edu for Adult Neurology applications and Kristin Seaborg, MD at seaborg@neurology.wisc.edu for Pediatric/Child Neurology applications. To guide visiting medical students, include in your 1) name and e-mail, 2) the origins (in brief) of your interest in neurology, 3) the name of the introductory neuro-clinical course you have had or will have had at your medical school/home institution, 3) your USMLE Part I score 4) your CV and 5) anything other points you think are pertinent to your application.

After visiting medical students receive departmental approval from Dr. Ruff or Dr. Seaborg, they can now apply for the elective on VSLO. Please note that VSLO does not open to visiting students until late April for the upcoming academic year. Departmental approval from Dr. Ruff or Dr. Seaborg prior to that time will be honored but you still must obtain departmental approval in order to rotate with us. We ask that you plan to begin your visiting rotation with us on a Monday and end on a Friday. However, given the circumstances, we will adjust to your medical school/home institution’s course calendar. Below is a quick snapshot of the VSLO timeline for this 2025-2026 visiting medical student season:

  • Catalog Opening for Medical Student viewing: March 14, 2025
  • Medical Students can begin submitting VSLO applications: April 25, 2025
  • UWSMPH Coordinators can begin approving medical students for visiting rotations: May 12, 2025

For more general information about the UWSMPH visiting medical student application process visit: https://www.med.wisc.edu/education/md-program/visiting-students/. UWSMPH reserves the right to immediately terminate the enrollment of any visiting medical student who violates any policy or procedure regarding misconduct or professional behavior. If you have questions, please contact the visiting medical student coordinator for the Department of Neurology, Olivia Lefevre at lefevre@neurology.wisc.edu.

  1. Independent Reading and/or Research in Neurology (676-910) – UW SMPH medical students only

The Department of Neurology offers an independent research elective under the direct supervision of a single Neurology attending/faculty. Each medical student’s independent research elective/research project(s) are individualized to meet the clinical research goals of the medical student within the context of the Neurology attending/faculty’s research. The medical student is responsible for contacting the Neurology attending/faculty member to inquire about conducting an elective under their supervision, developing goals and a concrete learning plan prior to enrolling in the course. UWSMPH students can enroll on OASIS/AcuityOne45. Please work with the UW SMPH medical student coordinator for the Department of Neurology, Olivia Lefevre at lefevre@neurology.wisc.edu on course enrollment, schedule creation/specifics and all other questions regarding this elective.

  1. Inpatient Neuro ICU Elective (678-921) – UW SMPH medical students only

During this 2-week or 4-week clinical rotation medical students will round on the Neuro Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the University Hospital. This elective is housed under “Neurological Surgery – 678” but remains a part of both the Neurology Department and Neurological Surgery Department. UWSMPH students can enroll on OASIS/AcuityOne45. Please work with the UW SMPH medical student coordinator for the Department of Neurology/Neurological Surgery, Olivia Lefevre at lefevre@neurology.wisc.edu on course enrollment, schedule creation/specifics and all other questions regarding this elective.

Goals:

  • To begin to recognize the breadth of neurologic emergencies and their common presentations
  • To start to understand the vital interactions between the nervous system in pathophysiologic states and other vital organs and systems

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the principles of cerebral, cardiac, and pulmonary monitoring and the interpretation of monitored data
  • Learn how to examine and interpret a coma examination
  • Acquire experience in navigating complex team dynamics including patient families by observing interactions
  1. Acting Ambulatory Internship (AAI) in Neurology (622-902) – UWSMPH medical students only

The Department of Neurology offers UWSMPH medical students to complete their 4-week Phase 3 Acting Ambulatory Internship (AAI) in Neurology. For general AAI questions, please contact the AAI Faculty Director and AAI Course Coordinator. For specific AAI Neurology questions, please contact the UW SMPH medical student coordinator for the Department of Neurology, Olivia Lefevre at lefevre@neurology.wisc.edu.

PHASE 3 NEUROLOGY BASIC SCIENCE SELECTIVES

  1. Neurology, Diet and Neurological Disorders (676-914) – UWSMPH medical students only

Gain insight into the role of diet and nutrition in neurological disease while utilizing analytical and evidence-based-medicine research skills. Gain understanding of the role of diet and nutrition in the exacerbation and the treatment of neurological disorders (e.g. Epilepsy, Autism, Fragile X Syndrome, Phenylketonuria (PKU), Multiple Sclerosis). UWSMPH students can enroll on OASIS/AcuityOne45. Please work with the Faculty Instructor and/or UW SMPH medical student coordinator for the Department of Neurology, Olivia Lefevre at lefevre@neurology.wisc.edu on course enrollment and all other questions regarding this elective.

  1. Cognition and Neuroanatomy (676-913) – UWSMPH medical students only

Basic science concepts will be integrated to examine the relationship between neuroanatomy and cognition (e.g., learning and memory, executive function, visual perceptual abilities, etc.). Utilize stroke, epilepsy, dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders from clinical practice to demonstrate the connection between brain structure and cognitive function. Hands on experience in neuropsychological test administration and interpretation will be integrated into learning. Brain imaging correlates for clinical cases will be presented by a clinical neurologist. UWSMPH students can enroll on OASIS/AcuityOne45. Please work with the Faculty Instructor and/or UW SMPH medical student coordinator for the Department of Neurology, Olivia Lefevre at lefevre@neurology.wisc.edu on course enrollment and all other questions regarding this elective.

UW-MADISON UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT EDUCATION

  1. Directed Research in Neurology (676-699) – UW-Madison undergraduate students only

The Department of Neurology offers UW-Madison undergraduate students majoring in the life sciences (including biology, chemistry psychology, or related fields) and with interest in preparing for advanced coursework in graduate or medical school, an opportunity to participate in basic and translation research in neuroscience and neurological disorders. UW-Madison undergraduate students can use their online MyUW application/portal using the “Course Search and Enroll” tab to view each academic semester’s available sections. This course is only available for 1-3 academic credits per semester. If you have questions, please contact the UW undergraduate Neurology 699 coordinator for the Department of Neurology, Olivia Lefevre at lefevre@neurology.wisc.edu (Please note that all undergraduates wishing to enroll in this course must be granted permission to enroll from the coordinator. Please connect/work with the coordinator on required materials before enrollment).

Updated 2/18/25