Letter from the Chiefs

On behalf of the neurology residents, welcome to the UNMC Neurology residency! 

Here in Omaha, you will find a group of residents with highly diverse educational and personal backgrounds and a deep passion for neurology, patient care, dedication to hard work, and a desire for learning. Our program is continuously evolving and growing, and there is not a better time to join us in our department.  

Although our class sizes continue to increase and our faculty numbers are ever-expanding, we remain a close-knit operation where all residents know that they can approach their colleagues and faculty without hesitation. Our wonderful program coordinator is always there for support, reminding us of upcoming deadlines, and does everything within her power to make resident life better.

The life of a neurology resident varies from year to year. As an intern (PGY-1), you will primarily be rotating with our internal medicine colleagues as a categorical resident but will also get the opportunity to spend four months with us on neurology rotations. This is unique amongst most neurology programs and is an opportunity to hit the ground running as a PGY-2. PGY-2s spend most of their year on the inpatient neurology wards (either on the General Neurology or Stroke teams), but there is still ample elective time to allow for exploration of the various specialties. PGY-3s enjoy a less inpatient-heavy schedule, starting the year off with an eight-week neuroanatomy course and including six weeks of Pediatric Neurology as well as more in-depth exposure to neurophysiology with a combined EMU/ EEG rotation. Second half of your PGY3 year you will be responsible for supervising inpatient neurology teams. PGY-4s continue to serve as supervisors for inpatient neurology teams and finish their Pediatric neurology requirements. In addition, they will have more elective time to prepare them for either fellowship or practice as a general neurologist. We have transitioned to a pure night float system and no longer have traditional 28-hour calls. In addition, have created a rotating long call system amongst the 6 inpatient day team neurology residents. These techniques allow for resident growth but help avoid overwhelming clinical responsibilities and burn out. Our primary site is UNMC, though we also rotate through the Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and Methodist Hospital, a local community hospital. 

Education is a top priority at UNMC. The design of our program is that of an apprenticeship, and our faculty are composed of highly enthusiastic educators. Our core curriculum is presented during weekly protected 3-hour didactic sessions comprised of Grand Rounds and lecture series that rotate on an 18-month basis. We have dedicated courses to help residents transition from each PGY level. For example, a neurology bootcamp course at the end of PGY1, and a neuro-anatomy course at the beginning of PGY3. We also have several supplemental monthly sessions including resident-led journal clubs, morning reports, patient safety/quality improvement conferences, and faculty-led procedural review sessions focused on monthly EEG and EMG/NCS. All residents are expected to participate in quality improvement projects and at least some form of scholarly activity, anything from case reports to prospective/retrospective reviews to basic science research. Residents have many opportunities to present their work at conferences on the departmental, national, and institutional levels. We receive monetary support from the residency program to buy books, tools, and travel expenses for conferences as well. 

Health and well-being are considered not only important but also imperative. To facilitate this, we have made the following improvements to our program. Addition of new chief resident positions focusing on wellness activities and quality improvement. Starting a short and long call system to help inpatient teams leave by 5 PM and assist with busy night call. Finally continuing to grow our peer mentorship program. On a day-to-day level, you will spend time amongst your fellow residents in our dedicated workrooms complete with ample computers, a large-screen TV in each work room used for academic (and non-academic) purposes, a couch, mini-fridges, and an ever-expanding beverage bar (soda stream, Nespresso, Keurig, to name a few). Also, we have a very comfortable private on-call room for night-float. For days off, our department takes work hour regulations and vacation rules by GME very seriously. Additionally there is a GME provided wellness lounge for house officers in the main building of the hospital with a multitude of resources.

Omaha is a medium-sized Midwest metropolis in eastern Nebraska that has something to offer everyone. Here, you will find a breadth of opportunities for outdoor recreation with many parks and trails, area lakes, and the Missouri River. There are several distinct neighborhoods with unique selections of entertainment, dining, bars, nightlife, and shopping. Omaha is host to the NCAA College World Series and home to the world-famous Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. The Omaha metro area offers an affordable cost of living on a resident salary and is a wonderful place to raise a family, with excellent schools and child-friendly attractions. 

Our residency program offers exposure to a wide range of neurological pathology and robust potential for research opportunities. Under the guidance of our dedicated faculty and hard-working residents, UNMC has shown time and time again that every graduating resident will feel well-rounded and prepared to independently practice in the field of neurology. 

We are proud of our department and look forward to getting to know you! 

Mark Jedras, MD, Resident Chief of Operations
Mitchell Floura, MD, Resident Chief of Education
Hannah Safranek, MD, Resident Chief of Recruitment