Neurology
Contacts
Clerkship Director
Residency Program Director(s)
MSH: Dr. Michelle Fabian
Moun Sinai West/Union Sq: Dr. Vicki Shanker
Specialty Interest Group Faculty Advisor
Specialty Interest Group Email
Specialty Overview
A neurologist specializes in the evaluation and treatment of all types of disease or impaired function of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles and autonomic nervous system, as well as the blood vessels that relate to these structures. The disorders include: stroke, brain and spinal tumors, muscular dystrophy, headache and other pain, meningitis, encephalitis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders, multiple sclerosis and effects of systemic diseases, like high blood pressure and diabetes, on the nervous system.
Neurology | Careers in Medicine (AAMC CiM log in required)
How long is this specialty's residency?
Residency training for this specialty is three years, plus PGY-1 transitional/preliminary, so four total years. Some programs require applying for a separate preliminary year and some programs do not and the preliminary year is included in the program.
Websites for Reference
American Academy of Neurology: Neurology Resources | AAN
American Neurological Association
Program Director's Association Guide for Residency Applicants
Away Electives
Away Electives
Not required, away electives can be helpful for exploring a program or geographic location other than Mount Sinai/NYC. They can also be an excellent way for a program to get to know an applicant more deeply than they would through an interview alone. That said, students are still able to match at even a highly competitive residency without doing an away elective there.
Programs where ISMMS students have completed away electives.
CO
University of Colorado
1
MD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
1
MO
University of Kansas School of Medicine
1
NY
NYU
1
NY
Weill Cornell Medicine
1
Match Statistics
Information provided by the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) Charting Outcomes in the Match, last updated August 2024
Mean Number of Contiguous Ranks
13.1
Mean USMLE Step 2 CK Score
250
Mean Number of Research Experiences
3.5
Mean Number of Abstracts, Presentations and Publications
8.8
Competitiveness
Source: 2025 Match Advanced Data Tables
In the 2025 Match there were 932 categorical positions in 159 programs, 52.8% of positions were filled by U.S. MD Seniors.
In the 2025 Match there were 228 advanced positions in 37 programs, 61.4% of positions were filled by U.S. MD Seniors.
Application Information
Application System
ERAS
Match System
NRMP
Signaling
Source: ERAS Signaling and 2025 ERAS Data
How Many?
8
Signal Home Program?
MSH: No MSW: Yes
Signal Away Program?
Check with program(s)
Average Number of Applications Submitted
40.77
Letters of Recommendation
Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE)?
No
Departmental/Chair Letter?
Not required but can be provided if desired. Meet with Dr. Swan and Chair regarding Departmental letter of recommendation if you choose to ask for one.
Who should letters come from?
3-4 strong clinical letters (at least 1 should be from a neurologist; it’s ideal if all 3 are from a neurologist, though it is preferable to have a thoughtful letter from a non-neurologist than a superficial letter from a neurologist. Internal medicine is an excellent alternative if available).
1 research letter if the applicant has a substantial research experience
1 departmental letter if requested by a program or if the above cannot be met otherwise
Interviewing and Post Interview Communication
Applications are downloaded by programs...
On the first date they are available- students should submit everything prior to that date
This specialty’s MSH program interviews all ISMMS students who apply.
No
Interviews are sent out...
any time after applications are available
Thank You Emails
Definitely a good idea
Letters of Intent
Yes, a letter of intent is primarily helpful to indicate an applicant's #1 choice (and should only be sent to the program an applicant is sure will be first on their rank list). Letters to programs below #1 may introduce ambiguity into the rank process; may falsely indicate that a program will be ranked higher than it will; or may be read to indicate that a program, while valued, is not the applicant's first choice. Consult with an advisor before sending.
ISMMS Match Data 2020-2025
B I Deaconess Med Ctr-MA
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Barnes-Jewish Hosp-MO
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Brigham & Womens Hosp-MA
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
Hosp of the Univ of PA
0
1
0
1
0
0
2
ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital-NY
1
2
1
0
1
1
6
Johns Hopkins Hosp-MD
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Mass General Brigham-MA
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
Montefiore Med Ctr/Einstein-NY
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
NYP Hosp-Columbia Univ Med Ctr-NY
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
NYP Hosp-Weill Cornell Med Ctr-NY
0
0
0
0
1
1
2
NYU Grossman School Of Medicine-NY
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
Possible 'At Risk' Identifiers
Students who have failed more than one course are at high risk of not matching in neurology. Students who failed one course may or may not be at risk - this depends on the circumstances, and these circumstances should likely be proactively addressed in a personal statement to provide context to reviewing programs. The median number of programs ranked for unmatched applicants tends to be around 5 - so receiving fewer than 5 interview invitations suggests a student who is at risk for not matching.
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