Message From the Director

Child neurology took shape here, and I'm honored to carry that legacy forward. Our residents are brilliant, compassionate, and relentless advocates for children and their families. They are the heart of this program and a constant source of inspiration to me and to our faculty.

Jennifer M. Bain, MD, PhD, Child Neurology Program Director

From the Program Director

Child neurology as a distinct specialty grew up at Columbia. The Neurological Institute of New York opened in 1909 as the nation's first hospital devoted to nervous system disorders, and it was here in 1933 that Bernard Sachs became the first chief of pediatric neurology. In 1951, Dr. Sidney Carter took the helm of the pediatric neurology service. Over the next three decades, he built the field. He secured the first NIH pediatric neurology training grant, established the nation's first formal child neurology training program, helped found the Child Neurology Society, and was instrumental in creating board certification in the specialty. He also insisted that child neurology be recognized as a branch of neurology in its own right. The AAN's Sidney Carter Award in Child Neurology bears his name today.

The generations of child neurologists trained here, many of them now leaders and innovators across the country, are the truest measure of that legacy. Today, our residents train at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital and across Columbia University Irving Medical Center, in the largest and most diverse city in the nation. They learn alongside colleagues in genetics, neonatology, critical care, cardiology, epilepsy, neuromuscular disease, movement disorders, and neurodevelopment.

It is an extraordinary time to enter this field. Advances in genetic diagnosis, neuroimaging, and targeted therapies are transforming what we can offer children with neurological conditions, and the need for well-trained, compassionate child neurologists has never been greater. Our program is built to prepare you for that future while honoring the tradition that made it possible.

As the leaders of this program, we are committed to:

• Creating a welcoming, inclusive environment that promotes the wellness and success of every resident
• Delivering innovative, mentorship-centered education that upholds our long tradition of academic excellence
• Training graduates who become exceptional child neurologists, clinician-investigators, educators, neuroscientists, and leaders, and who partner with families in everything they do

Please explore the site to learn more about our campus, our division, and our residents. We hope you will consider joining us.

Jennifer M. Bain, MD, PhD
Child Neurology Residency Program Director