Surreal illustration of a neurologist navigating a complex maze of medical education and career decisions.

Navigating Neurology Residency: A 2017 Snapshot of Training, Debt, and Future Plans

Beau Callahan in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 3 min read.

"Explore the key findings from a 2017 survey on neurology residents, revealing insights into their training experiences, financial burdens, and career aspirations."

The field of neurology is rapidly changing, requiring continuous adaptation in graduate medical education to ensure highly skilled professionals are well-prepared. National survey data can guide educational policies, helping programs optimize resources despite various constraints. Understanding trainee perspectives through national data is crucial for shaping effective training.

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) conducts triennial surveys to gather insights from graduating neurology residents, aiming to improve training standards. Previous surveys focused on student loan debt, future plans, business management training, comfort with procedures, and interpretation of investigations.

Building on past research, a 2017 survey of AAN member graduating neurology residents explored key aspects of graduate training. The study focused on student loan debt, the timing of fellowship applications, and business/practice management.

Key Findings: Debt, Fellowships, and Preparedness

Surreal illustration of a neurologist navigating a complex maze of medical education and career decisions.

The 2017 survey had a response rate of 23.4%, with most respondents from adult neurology programs. A significant 57% reported student loan debt, with a median of $180,000. Notably, there was a correlation between loan debt and its influence on career choice, highlighting financial pressures on young neurologists.

Fellowship plans were common, with 90% intending to pursue further training. Most aimed to stay at their home institution. Key areas of interest included general neurology, epilepsy, movement disorders, neurohospitalist medicine, and vascular neurology. However, over half of adult neurology residents felt the fellowship application process started too early.

Educational Debt: High debt levels influence career choices.
Fellowship Timing: Many feel the application process is premature.
Specialty Choices: General neurology, epilepsy, and movement disorders are popular.
Practice Preparedness: Significant gaps exist in business management training.

Only a minority reported receiving business management training, and many felt unprepared for tasks like billing, coding, contract negotiations, and malpractice insurance. This indicates a need for improved curricula in these areas. Residents expressed interest in additional training for board preparation, contract negotiation, and billing/coding.

Addressing the Gaps in Neurology Training

The 2017 survey highlights critical issues in neurology residency, including high educational debt, the timing of fellowship applications, and inadequate business management training. These findings suggest the need for reforms in training programs to better prepare neurologists for the challenges of modern practice. Addressing these gaps can lead to more confident and well-rounded neurology professionals.

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Everything You Need To Know

What were the primary areas investigated in the 2017 survey of neurology residents?

The 2017 survey of neurology residents, conducted by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), primarily investigated key aspects of graduate training. These included student loan debt, the timing of fellowship applications, and the level of business/practice management training. The survey aimed to understand the experiences and challenges faced by graduating neurology residents to inform improvements in neurology training programs.

How did educational debt impact the career choices of neurology residents, according to the survey?

The survey revealed a correlation between high student loan debt and its influence on career choices among neurology residents. A significant 57% of the residents reported having student loan debt, with a median of $180,000. This financial burden could potentially influence decisions about specialty choices or practice settings. The survey highlighted the financial pressures faced by young neurologists and the need to address these challenges in training programs.

What were the common fellowship choices among neurology residents, and where did they often plan to pursue them?

The survey showed that a substantial 90% of neurology residents intended to pursue further training through fellowships. The most popular areas of interest included general neurology, epilepsy, movement disorders, neurohospitalist medicine, and vascular neurology. The majority of these residents planned to stay at their home institution for their fellowship training, suggesting a preference for continuing their training in a familiar environment.

What concerns did the 2017 survey raise regarding business management training for neurology residents, and what implications did this have?

A significant concern highlighted by the 2017 survey was the inadequacy of business management training for neurology residents. Only a minority of residents reported receiving such training, and many felt unprepared for tasks like billing, coding, contract negotiations, and malpractice insurance. This indicated a gap in the curriculum and the need for improved training in these areas to better prepare neurologists for the practical challenges of modern practice. Addressing these gaps could lead to more confident and well-rounded neurology professionals.

What is the significance of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) conducting triennial surveys of neurology residents, and what impact does it have?

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) conducts triennial surveys to gather insights from graduating neurology residents with the aim of improving training standards. These surveys provide valuable national data that can guide educational policies and help programs optimize resources. The insights gathered from surveys like the 2017 one on graduating neurology residents offer valuable data on important areas such as student loan debt, fellowship timing, and preparedness for practice. This information allows the AAN to assess the state of neurology training, identify areas needing attention, and implement reforms to ensure that future neurologists are well-prepared for the challenges of modern practice.