Meet the Residents

Dear Prospective Candidates,

Welcome! Thanks for your interest in the UT Southwestern Austin Neurology Residency Program. Please browse this website to learn more about us.

This program is unique and exceptional in many ways. Being a relatively young program, as residents, we have had the privilege of shaping its direction. We are fortunate that our faculty are enthusiastic, receptive, and approachable. The hospitals boast top-notch facilities, and cutting-edge clinical trials are conducted here with a strong basic science collaboration with UT Austin. With UT Southwestern being nationally recognized in neurology, our didactics are definitely superb. This all makes an excellent and friendly atmosphere; where residents can learn neurology in optimum conditions.

Our program is located in the wonderful and lively city of Austin which is a much added perk. It is a health-conscious, green, music and art centered, multicultural, tech-savvy city with a college-town feel. There is never a dull moment in the city; there is much to do in Austin for both singles and the married alike! And as residents, we definitely have enough time to not only enjoy the city but our lives outside residency as well.

Most of our clinical duties take place at tertiary hospitals- University Medical Center at Brackenridge (UMCB) and Seton Medical Center (SMC); this is in addition to Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas (DCMC) for our pediatric neurology. All of these hospitals give a different and unique perspective of neurology which gives residents here a distinct advantage when leaving this program to practice. Our curricula is setup in what I like to call the "see one, do one, teach one" approach. PGY2 is centered around the VA and UMCB. Here we "see" the field in its true sense; we learn the basics of neurology from the get-go and see both the horses and the zebras. And as a resident, I can say that I have seen some pretty rare zebras! We are heavily exposed to neuroradiology, neurocritical care, and eletroencephalography during this first year to build a strong foundation. By then end of PGY2, we are well-exposed to the multi-subspecialties and are ready to hone in our skills. PGY3 is where we get to "do" and practice neurology; it is centered around SMC as a consult service in addition to excellent exposure to outpatient neurology, neurophysiology, electives, pediatrics, and neuropathology. PGY4 is where we get to "teach" and is centered back around UMCB as senior residents on service for two blocks. Ample amount of time for electives, outpatient neurology, advanced neurophysiology, psychiatry, pediatrics, and neurocritical care make up the remainder of the last year. Residents can get involved in cutting edge research, take part with endovascular procedures and other modalities from the first day of training. Upon leaving this program, residents are more than confident to practice neurology in all its aspects!

Residents have had significant input in the direction of the program. A night float system has been added for the past year and has created a better environment to learn neurology in. We are fortunate to have an excellent balance between education and service. The faculty are very supportive and are definitely driven by an education centered system. In addition, being a moderate size program, we are a very close-knit group and enjoy activities outside residency.

I truly hope you will consider UT Southwestern here in Austin! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,
Hanul Bhandari, MD