Neurology Residency Program

About Our Residency Program

The Department of Neurology at Barrow Neurological Institute is home to a vibrant and expanding neurology residency program that offers both adult and child neurology tracks.

Our residents get deep exposure to neurology subspecialties like neuro-ophthalmology, neuro-otology, epileptology, movement disorders and DBS, multiple sclerosis and neuroinflammatory diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. The size and prominence of our institution ensure that neurology residents receive exposure to a variety of complex and challenging cases in all of these areas, and this breadth of clinical experience has resulted in a 95% board passing rate for our graduates over the last three years.

% Board Passing Rate

Our graduates have a 95% board passing rate over the past three years

Health Equity in Neurology

The Barrow Department of Neurology is committed to ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to attain optimal neurological wellbeing, regardless of their social determinants of health. We recognize that avoidable health disparities exist among different population groups and we hope to eliminate these disparities in neurological care by addressing the underlying social and structural factors that contribute to them.

Our faculty and trainees advance this mission through innovative and transformative clinical and outreach programs. Through the work of Glynnis Zieman, MD, we have become a leader in caring for traumatic brain injuries in victims of domestic violence. Additionally, the faculty and staff of our Movement Disorders Division have long been exemplars of effective community care and outreach, including in the Spanish-speaking population. Building on this example, our clinicians in the Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders Division have built a robust video outreach and patient education program that caters specifically to the aging population.

Neuroscience Research

Clinical and laboratory research programs will be the key to solving the intractable problems facing patients with a neurological diagnosis. Neurology residents at Barrow have access to, and are encouraged to take advantage of, a wealth of research opportunities across the Institute. Some of these opportunities can be found in clinical research laboratories led by our own faculty, including:

Our residents also can pursue collaborative and interdisciplinary research with our faculty in the Department of Translational Neuroscience. In addition, residents who wish to initiate their own research projects can apply for funding through the Barrow Neurological Foundation.

View Our Published Papers

Global Neuroscience

The Franke Global Neuroscience Education Center was established in 2021 to help address the health care needs of underserved populations around the world. Within the Department of Neurology, this mission is borne out by our residency-based service and education efforts in South Africa. Through our global neurology efforts, we hope to:

Teach the next generation of neurologists to understand the challenges of practicing neurology worldwide
Develop a generation of neurologists committed to global neurology
Foster interest in global neurology research
Lead U.S. neurology residencies in providing an innovative global experience
Provide enduring, impactful neurologic care to an underserved community

Barrow neurology residents are an integral part of making this plan a reality, both through travel abroad to conduct research and provide care, and by mentoring and teaching foreign observers at home. The end result of this bidirectional exchange of knowledge and experiences will be the empowerment of international physicians to return home and establish specialty practices to meet the needs of underserved populations.

Barrow Neurology Residency Program: In the Residents' Words — Barrow Neurology Residency Program: In the Residents’ Words

Barrow Neurology Residency Director Courtney Schusse, MD

The Barrow Difference for Neuroscience Residency and Fellowship Programs

From the Program Directors

Dear Neurology Residency Applicants,

We welcome you to the Neurology Residency Program at Barrow Neurological Institute. Our Neurology Residency Program continues to grow, and consistently ranks as one of the top programs in the country. The success of our Neurology Residency Program is largely attributable to the outstanding qualities of our residents and excellent instruction by our faculty.

Since the opening of the new neuroscience patient tower in July 2006, inpatient services have grown steadily. The increased volume of our patients has broadened the clinical disease spectrum seen by our residents and enhanced their educational experience. The number of faculty has also significantly grown in many subspecialty areas as well as in our neuroscience research department. Our institutional sponsor, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, is currently building other centers of excellence modeled after the Barrow Neurological Institute.

We take great pride in our Neurology Residency Program. The primary goal of our program is to provide an environment conducive to comprehensive learning, career development, academic achievement, and clinical excellence.

Sincerely,

Courtney Schusse, MD
Director, Neurology Residency Program
Barrow Neurological Institute

Daniel Gonzalez, MD
Associate Director, Neurology Residency Program
Barrow Neurological Institute

Leadership

Department of Neurology

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Our Faculty

Neurology Faculty

Important Application Dates

The Department of Neurology at Barrow Neurological Institute provides two residency tracks:

Adult Neurology – Categorical
Child Neurology

The application deadline for both tracks is on November 1st of every year.

Get to Know Our Residents

Ayushi Chintakayala, MD – Intern

Hello, I’m from Dallas, Texas! In addition to my love for local coffee shops and amazing sunsets, I’m addicted to nearly impossible jigsaw puzzles and Netflix rom coms. I’m also a Christmas movie fanatic and a proud collector of fall-themed candles. I enjoy getting to know my patients and taking a holistic approach to neurology. The brain is the epitome of nuance and variety, as it affects not only our minds but also other body parts. I am excited to learn new ideas and help improve access to care locally and internationally as I work with our multidisciplinary faculty.

Alyssa Bowlsby, MD – PGY2

I was born and raised in Northern California and so far I’m a big fan of Phoenix. It has funky artistic moments and the resident groups bring so much joy to my life. Barrow is an impressive place: The sheer size, with 64 neuro ICU beds, the Ivy Brain Tumor Center, Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, brand new Neuroplex, and two mobile stroke units, was much more than I imagined during my zoom interview. I don’t think I could be in a better place as a neurology resident.

Alexa Rothenberg – PGY3

I love traveling, reading, and live music. My ideal travel destination has beaches and jungles, like Nicaragua (where I lived for 3 years before medical school). I love being able to read by the pool on my days off and explore Phoenix—there is a great farmer’s market and free sunset outdoor yoga classes. One thing I love about Barrow is that even as an intern, we have felt like part of the family since day one!

DeJarra Johnson, MD – PGY4

I love going to museums, especially natural history museums where I can play out my fantasy of being a paleontologist. If I am not exploring museums, I’m out and about finding new restaurants and desserts to try around Phoenix. We have some great parks to visit when the weather isn’t too hot, perfect for rollerblading, dog walks, or simply enjoying the outdoors. The people at Barrow are what makes this place so special: I couldn’t have asked for better co-residents!

Olivia Gellerson, MD – Intern

I grew up traveling overseas for my father’s career, living in places like Egypt, India, and Thailand. Before moving to Arizona, I had been an East Coaster, living around Washington, D.C. and New York. In my free time I enjoy working out, horseback riding, and cooking. On a day off you can find me exploring new restaurants with my husband or binging crime and cult shows. I’m excited to complete my residency at Barrow and be part of a community that not only focuses on providing exceptional patient care but also fosters research, innovation, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Josiah Chang, MD – PGY2

I’m a huge San Diego Padres fan and want to visit every MLB stadium. I grew up loving detective books like Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. I admired how they used their observational powers to solve puzzles. I still love solving puzzles, and the diagnostic challenge is what I love about medicine and neurology. My main criteria in a residency program weren’t pay or prestige. I wanted to be somewhere enjoyable. The people here seemed like a great group to work and form friendships with, and that’s certainly proved true so far.

Brandon May, MD – PGY3

I like exploring the varied landscapes that Arizona has to offer. Sedona’s beautiful hiking trails, Flagstaff’s cool summer weather, the trout fishing in the Mogollon Rim lakes, or my favorite, Mt. Graham, are all less than four hours from Phoenix by car. The strengths of our program stem from the caliber of our faculty, the mixture of straightforward and complex cases, and the sense of kinship among the residents. The healthy balance of consulting service work with primary service work and the ample opportunity for early elective blocks before fellowship applications are also great.

Allison Martin, MD – PGY4

I served in the Navy for more than 7 years in the surface warfare community, sailing in multiple oceans and crossing the equator to become a “shellback”. I later specialized in aircraft carrier nuclear propulsion plant operations. Eventually, I found my way to neurology and I could not be happier with Phoenix. My fiancé and I have embraced hiking, camping, and even alpine skiing, in Arizona. We are working on transforming our house into the quintessential Arizona indoor-outdoor living space. I have found an amazing and supportive group of friends and co-workers at Barrow.

Neurology: Training by Year

Each academic year begins on July 1. That marks the official start date for PGY-1 residents and the graduation date for PGY-4 residents. Residents progress to the next PGY on that date as well. Expand the tabs below for a year-by-year breakdown of the neurology residency program curriculum.

PGY-1

The first year of categorical neurology training provides the foundation of clinical exposure and knowledge necessary for neurology education. The intern year of residency training (PGY-1) emphasizes exposure to the internal medicine department, including the faculty and most of the educational rotations. Under the direction of the Department of Neurology, training during the intern year facilitates a smooth transition into the residency program and provides an educational experience tailored to neurology residency. Rotations are scheduled on a weekly basis.

Rotations include:

6 weeks of ICU
18 weeks of internal medicine inpatient service
2 weeks of infectious disease
2 weeks of cardiology
4 weeks of neurology (1 week of orientation activities)
2 weeks of endocrinology
2 weeks of hematology-oncology
4 weeks of emergency medicine
2 weeks of palliative
2 weeks of pulmonology
2 weeks of nephrology
3 weeks of neuroradiology

PGY-2

The first year of neurology-specific residency training (PGY-2) emphasizes the evaluation and management of patients. It includes rotations in inpatient and outpatient neurology, as well as neurosurgery. Residents participate in outpatient clinics, where they gain experience with patients who have a variety of neurological disorders. Formal lectures covering the areas of neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, and neurophysiology are given annually. Outpatient experiences include neuro-immunology, neuro-otology, traumatic brain injury and sports neurology, cognitive impairment and dementia, epilepsy, neuromuscular medicine, and movement disorders.

Rotations include:

Inpatient service: six 4-week blocks
Outpatient service/electives: six 4-week blocks
Neurosurgery: one 4-week block

PGY-3

The second year of neurology-specific residency training (PGY-3) complements the clinical experience of PGY-2 by providing advanced instruction and experiences in the neurosciences. Residents participate in outpatient clinics, where they gain experience with patients who have a variety of neurological disorders. Electives include neuro-immunology, neuro-oncology, cognitive impairment and dementia, epilepsy, neuromuscular medicine, movement disorders, neuro-otology, neurorehabilitation, neuroradiology, neuropathology, sleep disorders, sports neurology and traumatic brain injury, telestroke, vascular neurology, electroencephalography (EEG), epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU), electromyography (EMG), and headache. Formal lectures covering the areas of neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, and neurophysiology are also provided.

Rotations include:

Inpatient service: five 4-week blocks
Outpatient service and electives: four 4-week blocks
Child neurology: two 4-week blocks (completed at Phoenix Children’s Hospital)
Psychiatry: one 4-week block

PGY-4

During the final year of neurology residency training (PGY-4), the neurology resident completes clinical training as senior/supervising resident for the clinical services and assumes a greater role in the conference and teaching activities of the program. Each senior resident can choose an elective schedule pursuing either clinical or research activities consistent with their future career plans. Residents participate in outpatient clinics, where they gain advanced experience with patients who have a variety of neurological disorders. This finalizes their training to act independently. Electives include neuro-immunology, neuro-oncology, cognitive impairment and dementia, epilepsy, neuromuscular medicine, movement disorders, neuro-otology, neurorehabilitation, neuroradiology, neuropathology, sleep disorders, sports neurology and traumatic brain injury, telestroke, vascular neurology, electroencephalography (EEG), epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU), electromyography (EMG), and headache. Formal lecture series covering the areas of neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, and neurophysiology are also provided.

Rotations include:

Inpatient service: three 4-week blocks
Consult service: one 4-week block
Outpatient service and electives: six 4-week blocks
Child neurology: one 4-week block
EEG/EMU: one 4-week block

Learn More About Our Neurology Residency Program

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Take a 360-degree Tour of Our Facility

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The Neuroplex

Opened in 2021, the Neuroplex serves as the “front door” of Barrow Neurological Institute and is home to the Petznick Stroke Center, neuro-infusion suite, and neuro-oncology clinic.

The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Atrium in the first floor of the Neuroplex.

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