Neurology asks us to understand the part of a person that allows them to think, speak, move, remember, and engage with the world. The clinical examination remains at the heart of that work. Today, better imaging, diagnostic tools, and treatments give us more ways to understand what is happening and to help. Sometimes that means preventing disability or treating a disease directly. Sometimes it means helping someone return to the activities that make life their own, whether that is walking independently, writing poetry, or playing the violin.

At Hopkins, our first goal is to train outstanding clinicians. We want our residents to examine patients carefully, reason through uncertainty, use the best available evidence, and care for people with skill and compassion. Those habits are the foundation for every path a resident may take.

The part of our program I am most proud of is our mentorship team. David Hale guides residents in clinical excellence and ambulatory care. Michael Kornberg mentors residents interested in basic science and research projects. Elisabeth Marsh guides residents in clinical research and education. Together, we can help residents with a wide range of interests build a path toward the career they envision. A resident does not need to arrive knowing exactly what that path will be. Part of our job is to help them discover it.

Residents train at both The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Across inpatient services, consultations, and outpatient clinics, they care for patients with a broad range of neurological conditions and learn from faculty who bring different clinical and scholarly perspectives. Our patients shape the questions we ask as clinicians, teachers, and investigators. In turn, what we learn through research and teaching improves the care we provide.

What I value most about our residents is their curiosity and camaraderie. They challenge each other’s thinking, share responsibility for patients, and make this a place where faculty and residents genuinely enjoy working together. We welcome people with different backgrounds, interests, and ambitions. You will find high expectations here, along with colleagues committed to helping you meet them.

I hope you will visit, get to know our residents and faculty, and see for yourself what it feels like to train with this group. 
 
​Rafael Llinas, MD, FAHA

Professor of Neurology
Director, Neurology Residency Program