Emerging Subspecialties in Neurology: Cortical Career as Neurology Program Director

The responsibility of a residency program director (PD) is to oversee the short-term and long-term goals of the training program and to ensure that they meet the guidelines set forth by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or other governing body. In conjunction with the program coordinator, they are responsible for recruiting successive residency classes, designing curricula that prepare residents for independent practice, and serving as a liaison between residents and faculty. In this article, we introduce paths to a career as a PD, using several overarching themes. Importantly, we outline important qualifications and personality traits frequently found among PDs. We incorporate responses from interviews with Drs. Edward Yu, Noah Rosen, and Asaff Harel who served as former and current PDs of adult neurology programs. Dr. Yu was appointed director of a newly formed residency program, currently serving his fourth year. Dr. Rosen completed his 12-year term as PD in 2022, with Dr. Harel subsequently assuming the position. We conclude by providing resources that would inform potential aspirants about the position. We hope that the information can serve as a guide for neurology trainees interested in pursuing education leadership roles.