Neurology Residency
Mission & Vision
Our mission is threefold—to provide unparalleled patient care; to develop a deeper understanding and expanded knowledge of neurological disease, including epidemiology, pathophysiology and therapeutics and to foster the development of the next generation of neurologists and neuroscientists into competent and exemplary independent practitioners and academicians.
Mission & Vision
Our mission is threefold—to provide unparalleled patient care; to develop a deeper understanding and expanded knowledge of neurological disease, including epidemiology, pathophysiology and therapeutics and to foster the development of the next generation of neurologists and neuroscientists into competent and exemplary independent practitioners and academicians.
Program Director’s Welcome
We would like to thank you, on behalf of the Department of Neurology at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, for your interest in our program. As part of the University of Miami/Jackson Health System, we are one of the largest neurology residency programs in the United States, with 45 residents and 25 fellows. We provide training in a nationally and internationally utilized referral center, with 100+ clinical and research faculty serving Miami, South Florida, the Caribbean, Latin America, and beyond. All clinical subspecialties of neurology are well represented in our department, offering clinical and research exposure as well as mentorship to our residents, fellows, and medical students, from world-class teachers and clinicians. We prepare our graduates for all career paths in neurology, ensuring they are ready to handle anything.
Residents, fellows, and rotating medical students train across three hospitals: Jackson Memorial Hospital, UHealth Tower, and the Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The strategic location and diverse patient population of South Florida, along with the unique neurological conditions seen at Jackson Memorial Hospital, provide our trainees with a comprehensive range of nervous system pathologies from bread-and-butter cases to “zebras.” Jackson is home to Ryder Trauma Center – the leading adult and pediatric Level I trauma center in Miami-Dade County. Our neuroscience intensive care unit has 27 beds and is housed in the state-of-the-art Jackson Critical Care Pavilion. The unit cares for many neurological emergences; including, cerebral and spinal trauma; cerebrovascular disease; neuromuscular crises, and status epilepticus. Graduating neurologists from our program are well-equipped to tackle any clinical challenge. The depth and breadth of clinical exposure make our hospital system an ideal place to train.
Educating neurology residents and medical students is one of the pillars of our program. We are recognized annually by the medical school, voted for by the students, for the quality of education provided by our medical student clerkship. We provide a formalized teaching curriculum, which includes a weekly “morning report” where residents are given the opportunity to present difficult cases to faculty renowned for their teaching style and clinical pearls, a bimonthly “neuromuscular case conference.”, and an academic half-day didactic paradigm with parallel lecture series for junior and senior residents. Numerous additional learning opportunities and conferences are available throughout the workweek. We are proud of our team’s contributions to our education program, reflected in our consistently excellent board pass rate and fellowship match records.
Program Director’s Welcome
We would like to thank you, on behalf of the Department of Neurology at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, for your interest in our program. As part of the University of Miami/Jackson Health System, we are one of the largest neurology residency programs in the United States, with 45 residents and 25 fellows. We provide training in a nationally and internationally utilized referral center, with 100+ clinical and research faculty serving Miami, South Florida, the Caribbean, Latin America, and beyond. All clinical subspecialties of neurology are well represented in our department, offering clinical and research exposure as well as mentorship to our residents, fellows, and medical students, from world-class teachers and clinicians. We prepare our graduates for all career paths in neurology, ensuring they are ready to handle anything.
Residents, fellows, and rotating medical students train across three hospitals: Jackson Memorial Hospital, UHealth Tower, and the Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The strategic location and diverse patient population of South Florida, along with the unique neurological conditions seen at Jackson Memorial Hospital, provide our trainees with a comprehensive range of nervous system pathologies from bread-and-butter cases to “zebras.” Jackson is home to Ryder Trauma Center – the leading adult and pediatric Level I trauma center in Miami-Dade County. Our neuroscience intensive care unit has 27 beds and is housed in the state-of-the-art Jackson Critical Care Pavilion. The unit cares for many neurological emergences; including, cerebral and spinal trauma; cerebrovascular disease; neuromuscular crises, and status epilepticus. Graduating neurologists from our program are well-equipped to tackle any clinical challenge. The depth and breadth of clinical exposure make our hospital system an ideal place to train.
Educating neurology residents and medical students is one of the pillars of our program. We are recognized annually by the medical school, voted for by the students, for the quality of education provided by our medical student clerkship. We provide a formalized teaching curriculum, which includes a weekly “morning report” where residents are given the opportunity to present difficult cases to faculty renowned for their teaching style and clinical pearls, a bimonthly “neuromuscular case conference.”, and an academic half-day didactic paradigm with parallel lecture series for junior and senior residents. Numerous additional learning opportunities and conferences are available throughout the workweek. We are proud of our team’s contributions to our education program, reflected in our consistently excellent board pass rate and fellowship match records.
The greater metropolitan area of Miami and surrounding Miami-Dade County has a population of more than 2.75 million. The area boasts cultural and sporting facilities expected in large population centers and more, including symphony, ballet, opera, theaters, concert venues, and museums. There are professional teams in baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey, and soccer. The University of Miami also has outstanding college teams in baseball, basketball, and football.
The area offers diverse restaurants, stores, and services. Popular destinations include Bayside Market Place, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, the Miami Design District, South Beach, and Wynwood. You are just a car ride away from top vacation areas such as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the Florida Gulf Coast, the Florida Keys, and Orlando-Walt Disney World.
Jason Margolesky, MD, FAAN
Program Director
Erika Marulanda, MD, MS, FAAN
Associate Program Director
Leticia Tornes, MD, FAAN
Associate Program Director
Description
The area offers diverse restaurants, stores, and services. Popular destinations include Bayside Market Place, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, the Miami Design District, South Beach, and Wynwood. You are just a car ride away from top vacation areas such as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the Florida Gulf Coast, the Florida Keys, and Orlando-Walt Disney World.
Jason Margolesky, MD, FAAN
Program Director
Erika Marulanda, MD, MS, FAAN
Associate Program Director
Leticia Tornes, MD, FAAN
Associate Program Director
Fast Facts
Accreditation
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
Total Residents
45
Duration of Residency?
4 years
(Year 1 is an internship in internal medicine)
Dr. Walter Bradley
Prior chair of department was Dr. Walter Bradley author of “Bradley’s Neurology in Clinical Practice”
Ralph L. Sacco, MD, MS, FAHA, FAAN
Department Chairman from 2007-2023
Past President of the AAN
First Neurologist to be AHA President
Resident Research Track
1 resident per year is selected
Formalized curriculum
Increased education stipend
Program Curriculum
Each year, residents progress towards autonomy and leadership roles through clinical experiences across the inpatient and outpatient spectrum. In addition to scheduled rotations with teaching rounds, educational conferences are held throughout the week. Attendance is expected for all “academic half-day” (AHD) didactics (topically organized in blocks), Grand Rounds, Journal Club, and our quarterly M&M conferences. Other educational offerings can be attended when available: weekly “morning reports” and ICU conferences, biweekly neuromuscular and neuroimmunology conferences.
Year 1 (Internship)
Trainees will predominantly rotate with our internal medicine colleagues through inpatient and outpatient settings. Two months will be spent on Neurology rotations including the inpatient consult service, the inpatient stroke service and the neuroscience intensive care unit. During this year, trainees should develop a strong foundation in internal medicine which is very important in being a successful neurology resident.
Year 2
The second year represents your first year as a full-time neurology resident. Residents rotate through the Jackson Memorial Hospital’s stroke service, inpatient general neurology service and neuroscience intensive care unit as well as through UHealth Tower and the Miami VA Healthcare System general neurology services. Focused subspecialty exposure will begin this year with Epilepsy, both an inpatient (EMU) and outpatient experience, Neuromuscular, and Headache rotations. Residents will start working in their outpatient continuity clinics at the Jackson Memorial Hospital Ambulatory Care Center and at Miami VA Healthcare System outpatient clinics.
Year 3
This year is dominated by the Jackson Memorial Hospital neurohospitalist consult service. The PGY3 resident will cover the stroke service at UHT and will complete 2-week Neuro-oncology and Cognitive Neurology rotations. Most residents will have their first exposure to Child Neurology in the clinic and hospital setting, in addition to elective time (e.g. movement disorder, neuroimmunology, sleep medicine, neuro-ophthalmology). Residents will continue to see patients in the Jackson Memorial Hospital Ambulatory Care Center and Miami VA Healthcare System outpatient clinics.
Year 4
Fourth-year residents serve as chief residents with a greater degree of independence in formulating plans for patients encountered and have a primary responsibility for the education of the junior residents and students on the team. Residents will complete their pediatric neurology rotations, a rotation in psychiatry, neuro-oncology, and epilepsy. The PGY4 will complete 1-2 weeks of UHT night float and the remaining time will be elective rotations. Residents will continue to see patients in the Jackson Memorial Hospital Ambulatory Care Center and Miami VA Healthcare System outpatient clinics.
Your Faculty
Professor and Chairman
Jason Margolesky, MD, FAAN
Program Director
Erika Marulanda, MD, MS, FAAN
Assistant Professor, Clinical Neurology
Associate Director, Neurology Residency Program
Letica Tornes, MD, FAAN
Associate Professor, Clinical Neurology
Chief, Neurology, Miami VA
Associate Director, Neurology Residency Program
Terry Crugnale
Program Manager
Residency Program
305-243-4323
Andrea Ruiz, BGS, C-TAGME
Program Manager
Fellowship Program
305-243-2742
Your Faculty
Professor and Chairman
Jason Margolesky, MD, FAAN
Program Director
Erika Marulanda, MD, MS, FAAN
Assistant Professor, Clinical Neurology
Associate Director, Neurology Residency Program
Letica Tornes, MD, FAAN
Associate Professor, Clinical Neurology
Chief, Neurology, Miami VA
Associate Director, Neurology Residency Program
Terry Crugnale
Program Manager
Residency Program
305-243-4323
Andrea Ruiz, BGS, C-TAGME
Program Manager
Fellowship Program
305-243-2742
Notable Alumni
Joseph R. Berger, MD
1981
Chief, Multiple Sclerosis Division, Perelman School of Medicine
Professor, Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Jose G. Romano, MD, FAAN, FAHA
Professor and Chairman
Department of Neurology
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Alejandro A. Rabinstein, MD
2001
Professor, Neurology, Mayo Clinic
Leticia Tornes, MD, FAAN
2010
Neurology Chief, VA Medical Center
UM/JMH PD 2012-2022
Karlo Lizarraga, MD
2016
Chief, Movement Disorders Division
University of Rochester
Joseph R. Berger, MD
1981
Chief, Multiple Sclerosis Division, Perelman School of Medicine
Professor, Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Jose G. Romano, MD, FAAN, FAHA
Professor and Chairman
Department of Neurology
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Alejandro A. Rabinstein, MD
2001
Professor, Neurology, Mayo Clinic
Leticia Tornes, MD, FAAN
2010
Neurology Chief, VA Medical Center
UM/JMH PD 2012-2022
Karlo Lizarraga, MD
2016
Chief, Movement Disorders Division
University of Rochester