2W: Movement Disorders/Deep Brain

School of Medicine

Students must complete the Neurology clerkship prior to this elective. The overall goal of this elective is to immerse students in the evaluation and treatment of patients with movement disorders with a focus on those treated with deep brain stimulation. Students will spend time with these unique patients from diagnosis to advanced stages. The elective will include brief didactics on the most commonly followed disorders including Parkinson's disease and Essential Tremor. Clinical time will be spent in the Neurology clinic diagnosing and medically treating patients. Students will be involved in the selection of patients for surgical intervention and observe key components of pre-surgical evaluation. In the operating room, student will participate in all stages of deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery from the Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Neurophysiology perspectives. Students will assist with post-operative DBS programming. Students may also attend the multi-disciplinary DBS conference, which occurs once a month, if the course overlaps with the timing. At the end of the two-week rotation, the student will feel confident in the presentation, examination, diagnosis, and treatment options for patients with movement disorders. Students will be expected to demonstrate a focused history and neurologically focused physical exam and will be able to articulate the indication for DBS, expected benefit, and potential risks.