Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Program

Program Identity & Fit

VCU Neurology is a university-based academic program anchored by a comprehensive stroke center, Level 4 epilepsy center, and Level I trauma center, giving residents exposure to high-acuity tertiary neurologic disease alongside a broad continuity-clinic population and additional graded-autonomy experience at the Richmond VA. Research is embedded in the department's identity through NIH/DOD-funded programs in stroke, ALS, movement disorders, and neuromuscular disease, with formal faculty mentorship and structured "Neuro Family" mentoring groups supporting resident scholarly and career development. The program is fellowship-oriented, reporting that a majority of graduates subspecialize (neurovascular, epilepsy, neuro-oncology, movement disorders, neurophysiology, neuromuscular) with strong placement success, and it houses its own movement disorders and neurocritical care fellowships, reflecting a subspecialty pipeline. The program values flexibility and individualized development, encouraging residents to pursue interests in research, education, advocacy (e.g., Neurology on the Hill), or international medicine alongside core clinical training, and it explicitly requires residents to complete an internal internship year via a linked Med-Prelim/Neurology track.