Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry Fellowship Curriculum

The Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry (BNNP) curriculum includes a diverse array of clinical rotations, didactic experiences and research opportunities. 

Clinical rotations will include:

  • Neurobehavior service (SBYVAMC; Dr. Bateman)
  • TBI Clinic (SBYVAMC; Dr. Hurley)
  • Multidisciplinary Cognitive Neurology Clinic
  • Neuropsychiatry Clinic
  • Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Clinical Research Evaluations
  • Neuropathologic Assessment of Dementia

Opportunities for electives across neurology and psychiatry to complement the individual fellows skillset and to help develop expertise in particular areas of BNNP.

Conferences and didactics that fellows will be expected to attend include:

  • ADRC Diagnostic Consensus Conference
  • Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry Fellows Seminar
  • Stitch Center Aging Seminar
  • Brain Aging and Alzheimer’s Interest Group (BRAAIN)
  • Neurology Grand Rounds
  • Psychiatry Grand Rounds

Research opportunities exist primarily at the Wake Forest Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC; aging, vascular and metabolic contributions to aging, neurodegenerative dementias) and the Salisbury VA Mental Illness, Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC; post-deployment mental health, TBI, PTSD). Fellows will have the opportunity to develop a skillset that complements their own interests within the context of well-established research programs. For fellows who wish to pursue an academic career, there are opportunities available to extend training for an additional 1-2 years with a focus on research.

Clinical Training Goals

Development of patient care skills in BNNP include, but are not limited to, clinical expertise in the evaluation and treatment of individuals with focal neurobehavioral syndromes, major neuropsychiatric conditions and neurological conditions in which cognitive, emotional and behavioral problems arise commonly.

Acquisition of an expert level of medical knowledge in BNNP through extensive exposure to the core literature in neuropsychiatry, neuropsychology and behavioral neurology, with an emphasis on the neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of cognition, emotion and behavior.

Development of practice-based learning and improvement through participating in a structured educational curriculum consisting of bedside teaching, case conferences, individual supervision, didactic lectures and other courses or seminars relevant to training in BNNP, and through guided self-directed learning that complements clinical and didactic experiences.

Understanding of research methodology in BNNP by involvement in faculty-guided activities including, but not limited to, clinical or basic research endeavors, the scholarship of synthesis, and/or the scholarship of educational programming.

Development of interpersonal and communication skills, professional ethics and behaviors and systems-based practices required to perform competently as a subspecialist in BNNP.