Clinical Neurology Electives
Neurology Electives for McMaster Medical Students
Dr. Rathbone offers general neurology electives throughout the year, depending on his call schedule. Most students do block electives rather than horizontal outpatient electives, and to spend at least one month on the service. The electives provide the medical students with an opportunity to be involved in a wide spectrum of clinical problems in the outpatient and inpatient settings. Dr. Rathbone’s service welcomes students from other Canadian and Foreign medical schools.
The educational experience involves patient contact, self-directed learning and close supervision by Dr. Rathbone, as well as formal education sessions in neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology and neuropathology.
The clinical elective will assist a student to establish a solid foundation in clinical skills and approaches that they will carry throughout their medical career. By the end of their elective, the student will have learned:
- A patient-centred approach to clinical neurological care.
- Comprehensive and concise history taking.
- Competent skills in completing a full neurological physical examination.
- Dictation and report writing.
- Ability to plan appropriate neurological investigations.
- Access to latest neurological resources.
- How to effectively and efficiently care for inpatients and outpatients.
Suggested texts or reading materials include the following:
- Clinical Neuroanatomy Made Ridiculously Simple (3 rd Edition; Book & CD-ROM), by Stephen Goldberg, ©2005 (Amazon.com $19.95).
- Neurological Examination Made Easy (3 rd Edition); A Made Easy Series title, by Geraint Fuller, MA,MD,FRCP, Consultant Neurologist, Dept. of Neurology, © 2004 (April); Churchill Livingstone, (Paperback).
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Illustrated (4th Edition), by Kenneth W. Lindsay & Ian Bone © 2004 Churchhill Livingstone (Paperback, 608 pages). Recommended if you want a more comprehensive text.
- Neurology for the House Officer (6th Edition) by Howard L. Weiner & Lawrence P., Levitt, Alexander, D ©2004 Williams & Wilkins (Paperback).
- The Four Minute Neurologic Exam (MedMaster Series) by Stephen Goldberg © 2004.
- The Diagnosis of Stupor and Coma (3rd Edition), by Fred Plum & Jerome B. Posner ©2000 Oxford University Press Inc.
- Principles of Neurology (7th Edition) by Maurice Victor & Allan H Roppr © 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.
- Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain, by Antonio R. Damasio ©1994, 2005 Penguin Putman (New York) (Paperback edition, 2005)
- DeJong's The Neurologic Examination (6th Edition) by William W. Campbell © 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Localization in Clinical Neurology (4th Edition), by Paul W. Brazis, Joseph C. Masdeu & Jose Biller ©2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Prior to the commencement of a neurology elective, the student is required to bring their own neurological tools including:
- Reflex hammer – Queen’s Square type (not a “Tomahawk”)
- Tuning fork, 128 Hz
- Stethoscope
- Penlight
- Ophthalmoscope (optional)
- Mini Snellens eye chart
To apply contact Dr. Rathbone - mrathbon@mcmaster.ca.
Neurology Electives for Medical Students from other Canadian Medical Schools
Medical students from other Canadian universities are welcome on the service. Prospective students should contact Dr. Rathbone to discuss the elective – mrathbon@mcmaster.ca and then apply through the Undergraduate Electives MD Program Office.
Neurology Electives for Medical Students from Medical Schools outside Canada
We welcome elective students from Medical Schools out of Canada. The students should be fluent in English, because all work is in English. The students often spend two months on the clinical service. Those interested may also apply to do research electives. Electives should be arranged well ahead of time. Contact mrathbon@mcmaster.ca to discuss the opportunities. All foreign students need to be approved by, and register with, the Undergraduate Electives MD Program Office. We can guide you in this process.
This is your opportunity to learn neurology in a world-class neuroscience service, at a medical school known world-wide for its innovative education programs (http://www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/) and to stay in a beautiful area of Canada with an infinite number of tourist attractions.
Hamilton Tourism
Niagara Tourism
Ontario Tourism
The Neurology “Boot Camp” Elective : Yes – it’s tough – but great fun.
This is a unique educational experience - a month-long intensive and comprehensive general neurology rotation on Dr. Rathbone’s service. The rotation takes place the last four weeks prior to the Christmas holidays annually. This elective establishes a solid foundation in clinical skills and approaches that the participants will carry throughout their medical career. As a prerequisite, it is encouraged students who want to participate in the Neurology Bootcamp to complete a two week horizontal elective first.
The “Boot Campers” learn neurology through active participation in the inpatient and out patient services, through formal and informal teaching and through self-directed learning. Students participate in the structured neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology and neuropathology teaching sessions. Students are exposed to a wide spectrum of neurological problems encompassing all types of neurological disorders.
Suggested texts or reading materials include the following:
- Clinical Neuroanatomy Made Ridiculously Simple (3 rd Edition; Book & CD-ROM), by Stephen Goldberg, ©2005 (Amazon.com $19.95).
- Neurological Examination Made Easy (3 rd Edition); A Made Easy Series title, by Geraint Fuller, MA,MD,FRCP, Consultant Neurologist, Dept. of Neurology, © 2004 (April); Churchill Livingstone, (Paperback).
- Neurology and Neurosurgery Illustrated (4th Edition), by Kenneth W. Lindsay & Ian Bone © 2004 Churchhill Livingstone (Paperback, 608 pages). Recommended if you want a more comprehensive text.
- Neurology for the House Officer (6th Edition) by Howard L. Weiner & Lawrence P., Levitt, Alexander, D ©2004 Williams & Wilkins (Paperback).
- The Four Minute Neurologic Exam (MedMaster Series) by Stephen Goldberg © 2004.
- The Diagnosis of Stupor and Coma (3rd Edition), by Fred Plum & Jerome B. Posner ©2000 Oxford University Press Inc.
- Principles of Neurology (7th Edition) by Maurice Victor & Allan H Roppr © 2001 McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.
- Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain, by Antonio R. Damasio ©1994, 2005 Penguin Putman (New York) (Paperback edition, 2005)
- DeJong's The Neurologic Examination (6th Edition) by William W. Campbell © 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Localization in Clinical Neurology (4th Edition), by Paul W. Brazis, Joseph C. Masdeu & Jose Biller ©2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Prior to the commencement of a neurology elective, the student is required to bring their own neurological tools including:
- Reflex hammer, Queen’s Square type (Not a “tomahawk”)
- Tuning fork, 128 Hz
- Stethoscope
- Penlight
- Ophthalmoscope (optional)
- Mini Snellens eye chart
Availability is limited as a maximum of six students will be accepted, so we encourage you to apply early.
Neurology and Neuro-Oncology Residency Experience
We provide rotations in neurology and neuro-oncology for residents in the Neurology, Internal Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology and Rehabilitation Medicine programs.
Residents have the same excellent experience and opportunities as the undergraduate MD students, including: busy inpatient and outpatient services, formal education sessions in neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology and neuropathology, close supervision and teaching by Dr. Rathbone, as well as self-directed learning.
Dr. Michel Rathbone