Pediatric Neurology Research in the Twenty-First Century: Status, Challenges, and Future Directions Post-COVID-19

Adult Neurology Rotations for Child Neurology Residents: A Survey of Program Directors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

We aimed to identify how child neurology and neurodevelopmental disabilities residency program directors (PDs) implemented revised Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requirements for adult neurology training for child neurology residents. Prior to 2014, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certification for child neurology required an "adult year," with no specified rotation requirements. At that point, programs scheduled a median of 10 months of adult neurology rotations during the third postgraduate year (PGY-3). In 2014, the adult neurology requirements were modified to include 6 months of hospital-based, 3 months of outpatient, and 3 months of other elective (may include neurophysiology, neuropathology, and/or neuroradiology) rotations. However, the effects of these changes on child neurology residency training nationally have not been characterized.

METHODS

A 16-item online survey was emailed to 79 PDs in the United States in September 2020. Survey responses were collected from September to October 2020. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and associations with departmental affiliation (pediatrics/neurology), graduate medical education (GME) funding source, and program size were compared using non-parametric tests.

RESULTS

Response rate was 72% (53 pediatric neurology, 3 neurodevelopmental disabilities). Programs' median adult months per year were: 9 PGY-3, 2 PGY-4, and 1 PGY-5. Nearly all had both hospital inpatient and consult rotations with night and/or weekend shifts. 57% included neurocritical care and 36% epilepsy monitoring units. 48% of programs scheduled night and weekend shifts (including 25% that scheduled 24-hour call) for residents on outpatient and elective rotations. Few programs required adult neurophysiology (20%), neuropathology (32%), or neuroradiology (25%). Programs with children's hospital GME funding (for either 2 or 3 years) tended to be larger (p = 0.008). Otherwise, departmental affiliation, funding source, and program size were not associated with rotation timing.

DISCUSSION

Most child neurology residency programs still consolidate adult training in the PGY-3 year, and often schedule additional hospital shifts during outpatient and elective months. However, there is a small shift toward adult neurology rotations occurring in the PGY-4 and PGY-5 years. Departmental affiliation, funding source, and program size do not consistently affect training practices. Few programs mandate adult neurophysiology, neuropathology, or neuroradiology rotations.

The Pediatric Neurology 2020 Research Workforce Survey: Optimism in a Time of Challenge

BACKGROUND

The past decades have seen a transformational shift in the understanding and treatment for neurological diseases affecting infants and children. These advances have been driven in part by the pediatric neurology physician-scientist workforce and its efforts. However, pediatric neurology research faces substantial challenges from internal and external forces including work-life balance demands, COVID-19 pandemic effects, and research funding. Understanding the impact of these challenges on the perceptions, planning, and careers of pediatric neurology physician-scientists is needed to guide the research mission.

METHODS

Our objective was to survey the research challenges, goals, and priorities of pediatric neurologists. In 2020 we conducted a cross-sectional, 28-question survey emailed to 1,775 members of the Child Neurology Society.

RESULTS

One hundred fifty-one individuals responded to the survey. Most respondents were grant investigators (52%) and conducted clinical research (69%). Research areas included epilepsy (23%), neurodevelopmental and autism (16%), neurocritical care and stroke (11%), neurogenetics and neurometabolics (9%), neonatal neurology (8%), and others. The most common funding source was the National Institutes of Health (37%). Shared major research concerns were funding, utilization of remote technology, overcoming disparities, natural history and multicenter studies, global neurology, and diversification of the research portfolio. Commitment to continuing and increasing research efforts was evident.

CONCLUSIONS

Our survey demonstrates obstacles for physician-scientist researchers in pediatric neurology, but it also shows optimism about continued opportunity. Creative approaches to address challenges will benefit the research mission, maximize the current and future pool of researchers, and help improve the lives of children with neurological disorders.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2-Induced Neurological Complications

Our review aims to highlight the neurological complications of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the available treatments according to the existing literature, discussing the underlying mechanisms. Since the end of 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has induced a worldwide pandemic that has threatened numerous lives. Fever, dry cough, and respiratory symptoms are typical manifestations of COVID-19. Recently, several neurological complications of the central and peripheral nervous systems following SARS-CoV-2 infection have gained clinicians' attention. Encephalopathy, stroke, encephalitis/meningitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and multiple sclerosis are considered probable neurological signs of COVID-19. The virus may invade the nervous system directly or induce a massive immune inflammatory response via a "cytokine storm." Specific antiviral drugs are still under study. To date, immunomodulatory therapies and supportive treatment are the predominant strategies. In order to improve the management of COVID-19 patients, it is crucial to monitor the onset of new neurological complications and to explore drugs/vaccines targeted against SARS-CoV-2 infection.