Neurological Foundation of New Zealand

Training Positions: 2
Elective Training Positions: 1 Neuropsychology, 1 Stroke
Fellowships: 1 Clinical or Research Stroke Fellowship

Core Position Descriptions

Two Advanced Trainees in neurology will take part with 2 rotating medical registrars (generally advanced trainees in other specialties gaining neurology experience) in a rotation over a year which includes 12 weeks of managing the 10 bed inpatient neurology unit, 12 weeks of stroke (12 bed stroke unit and assessing acute referrals), 18 weeks of closely supervised outpatients in which each patient is reviewed by a consultant, and 6 weeks of full-time neurophysiology which together with weekly clinics is sufficent to gain the level one ANZAN qualification.

After hours, trainees take part in a 1:4 on call roster (5 - 10 p.m.) and would be requried to cover 2 weeks of medical subspecialty nights in the course of one year.

Advanced trainees will be released from clinical duties to attend subspecialy sessions in

• Epilepsy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Paediatric neurology
• Movement disorders
• Neurogenetics
• Neurosurgery
• Memory Clinic
• Neuroradiology
• Neuro-opthamology

And to attend the monthly Brain School.
One session per week is allocated to a research project of the trainee’s choosing.

Hospital Information

Auckland City Hospital is a large 710 bed tertiary referral hospital situated near the centre of Auckland City. It serves a local population of ~450 000 but the neurology department serves a much wider area covering the whole of the greater Auckland area as well as the area of New Zealand north of Auckland and provides tertiary services to a population of approximately 1.5 million people as well as a specialist epilepsy surgery service to the remainder of New Zealand.
The Hospital has close links with the University of Auckland which has a world class neuroscience research program in stroke, neurodegeneration and stem cell science.

Department Beds

12 Inpatient neurology beds including 2 EEG video-telemetry bed and a 15 bed stroke unit

Department Clinics

General neurology clinics. These are seen as a teaching opportunity for advanced trainees who present each patient to the attending Consultant. Advanced trainee would also attend EMG/NCS clinics and read EEGs

Department Specialty Clinics

Neurogenetics, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Neurophthalmology, Botox

Department Meetings

Weekly registrar seminars. (1 hour)
Weekly neurophysiology tutorials (1 hour)
Weekly department review morning: (4 hours)

• neuroradiology meeting
• journal club
• clinical presentation/patient reviews
• neuroscience update

Weekly Medical Grandrounds
Weekly Epilepsy Surgery meeting
Fortnightly Neurogenetics meeting

Department Staff

Dr Neil Anderson - Paraneoplastic disorders, neoplasia and CNS infection
Prof. Alan Barber - Stroke
Dr Peter Bergin - Epilepsy
Dr Alison Charleston - Motor Neurone Disease
Dr Richard Frith - Neurophysiology
Dr Ros Hill - Headache
Dr David Hutchinson (Clinical Director) - Muscle Disease
Dr Dean Kilfoyle - Peripheral Nerve
Dr David McAuley – Neuro-ophthalmology, Movement Disorders, Deep Brain stimulation
Dr Richard Roxburgh - Neurogenetics
Dr Jennifer Somerfield - Neuroimmunology
Dr Barry Snow - Movement disorders
Dr Elizabeth Walker - Epilepsy
Dr Ernie Willoughby - Multiple Sclerosis
Dr Edward Wong - Stroke
Dr Jennifer Somerfield

Junior Staff Positions In Neurology

2 Advanced Trainees in Neurology 1 Stroke Elective 2 Rotating Neurology positions, providing neurology training to (largely) advanced trainees from geriatrics and other medical specialties. One of these could be taken by the neurophysiology elective advanced trainee

Trainee Responsibilities

The advanced trainee is responsible for the running of the inpatient service including keeping accurate records and furnishing timely discharge summaries; supervises the house physician; and teaches medical students. He or she will assess acute patient referrals and outpatients. All patients will be reviewed by a consultant neurologist as the purpose of this is to provide a learning environment for the registrars.
The advanced trainee is expected to treat patients with respect and appropriate care and be sensitive to social and ethnic issues including the principles of the treaty of Waitangi.
The advanced trainee is expected to read widely, be eager to learn, and to make the most of opportunities that are on offer.
She or he will be expected to her or his turn in presenting at the various in-house teaching sessions; to sit the AAN RITE exam; attend the ANZAN pathology course and the monthly brain school.
The trainee is provided a half day a week to do a research project and will be expected to formulate a plan, and carry it through to publication.

Selection Criteria

We are looking for highly motivated, honest registrars who are eager to learn and put in the work that is required to make the most of the opportunities provided in the Auckland Neurology Department.

Philosophy Of Training

We see these positions as primarily for the training of the registrar. We believe that the neurology service should be largely provided at a consultant level, for this reason most neurology clinical decisions of the trainee will be reviewed by a consultant neurologist.
We are aiming to provide an excellent learning environment for the registrars to take advantage of. We see this as a partnership and require our registrars to take an active part in their learning.

Neurology Training In State

Further Information

Other Information

PROSPECTIVE TRAINEES ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT DR WONG AND PREFERABLY VISIT THE DEPARTMENT IN PERSON.

NOTE New Zealand Match dates are earlier than those in Australia

Some Notes Regarding Auckland

In 2009 Auckland city was rated the fourth equal best city to live in, in the world. It has a cosmopolitan mix of people and embraces these differences.
Destinations as diverse as Queenstown's mountainous ski-resort (2 hours) and tropical Rarotonga (4 hours) are a short flight away or explore the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, starting with the beaches of Mission Bay just 10 minutes drive from the hospital - hence it's nick name - the city of Sails.

Contact details:

Dr Edward Wong
EdwardW@adhb.govt.nz
Phone : +64 9 307-4949 extn 25810

Auckland Hospital
Private Bag 92-024
Auckland
New Zealand
NZ, 1142
New Zealand