What do I need to know to apply to Stony Brook Neurology?

Please click here for additional application requirements: 

 

What are your interview dates for the 2024-25 interview season?
All interviews are conducted on Tuesdays and Fridays.  All interviews will be conducted virtually for the 2021-2022 interview season. Tentative interview dates:

• November 5, 8,12,15, 26
• December 3, 6, 13, 17, 20
• January 7, 10

What is the deadline for receiving applications?
There is no deadline.  However, you are encouraged to submit your application as early as possible. Although we may begin reviewing applications earlier, most of the application reviews will occur after October 21st when the MSPE becomes available on ERAS. You will not hear from us prior to October 1st. 

Can I fax you my application?
We only review applications that we receive through ERAS.  We do not review applications that are emailed or faxed.

When and how will I be contacted for an interview?
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible to expedite the scheduling of interviews.  We begin contacting applicants as early as October, and we may continue to invite applicants as late as January.  The Program Director invites candidates for interviews through Thalamus.

Do you take Doctors of Osteopathy (DOs)?
Yes, the department takes Doctors of Osteopathy.  

Do you accept international medical graduates?
Yes, we will consider exceptional international graduates.

What visas do you sponsor?
At the time of application, the candidate must be either a U.S. Citizen, have a green card, or have a current J-1 visa.  H-1 visas are NOT sponsored by our institution.

Do I need a ECFMG certificate at the time of my interview?
For international graduates, ECFMG certificates are not required at the time of application, but will be required before a candidate may be ranked.  Therefore, you may be interviewed without a current ECFMG certificate.

Is it mandatory to pass the USMLE or COMLEX 1 and 2 in the first attempt before being invited to interview?
All candidates must pass USMLE Step 1 & Step 2-CK or COMLEX Level 1 & Level 2-CE on the first attempt in order to be considered for a residency position in Stony Brook Neurology. We are aware that dates for Step exams may be delayed this year due to the COVID pandemic and will take this into consideration. Generally, applicants must also pass USMLE Step 2-CS or COMLEX Level 2-PE on the first attempt.  Applicants who have failed either the CS or PE exams will not be considered. 

Is there a cut-off score for USMLE or COMLEX?
There is no strict cut-off, but most of the candidates we have interviewed have the following scores:

USMLE Step 1>220

USMLE Step 2>230

COMLEX Level 1 &2>485 

What if I have not received my scores for Step 2?
It is okay if you have not yet received your Step 2 scores at the time you submit your application.  When you receive them, post the results to ERAS. However, we will not be able to rank you without having passing scores to Steps 1 & 2 COMLEX equivalent. 

Is there a cut-off time from graduation date of medical school?
A candidate must have graduated from medical school within the last 5 years. 

Is clinical experience in the United States required?   
U.S. experience is not required, but is preferred. 

What is the 12-Week Rule and which foreign medical schools are approved by the New York State Education Department?
If you are an international medical school graduate and have completed more than 12 weeks of clinical clerkships outside of the country your medical school is located in, you cannot be considered for any graduate medical educational programs in New York State.  The medical school may be acceptable in other states, but not acceptable in New York State.

The exception to this rule is that the New York State Education Department does allow students to complete more than 12 weeks of clinical clerkships ONLY for the following medical schools:

List of medical schools approved by the NYS Education Department:

American University of Antigua, Antigua

• American University of the Caribbean, St. Martin, Netherland Antilles

• The Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico

• English Language Program, University of Debrecen, Medical and Health Science Center, Medical School, Debrecen, Hungary

• English Language Program, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland

• English Language Program, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

• Fatima College of Medicine, Manila, Philippines

• International Health and Medicine Program, Ben Gurion University of the Negrev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

• Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India

• Medical University of the Americas/Nevis, Nevis, West Indies

• Ross University School of Medicine, Roseau, Dominica

• Saba University School of Medicine, Saba, Netherland Antilles

• St. George’s University School of Medicine, St. George’s, Grenada

• St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Do you offer observerships/externships?
No.

Is the PGY-1 Internal Medicine year included?
Stony Brook's Adult Neurology Residency is a categorial program.  This means that if you match to Stony Brook, you will do all 4 years of training here, since the PGY1 Internal Medicine year is incorporated into the program. You will not do a separate "preliminary" year.  When you list Stony Brook Neurology on your Rank List, the new NRMP Code for our Categorical Program is 2919180C0. There are no separate interviews with Internal Medicine. 

For more information about Stony Brook's Internal Medicine Residency Program, please look here:  https://renaissance.stonybrookmedicine.edu/medicine/residency

How big is Stony Brook's Neurology Residency Program?
We are growing. We are looking for 7 residents per year, an increase from 6 residents just last year.

Is there a pre-match available?

No, the NRMP no longer allows pre-matches. 

 

What is a typical day like?

Please visit our “A Day in the Life of…” section to learn about all of our rotations.

How often will I be on call?
We employ a night float system to cover overnights Sunday through Thursday.  We have instituted the senior night float rotation where the senior night float resident remains in-house with the PGY-2 night float resident.  The PGY-2 resident is instructed to contact their senior back-up resident whenever there are more than 2 critical patients waiting to be see, or 5 outstanding routine consults.  More importantly, the senior night float resident will check-in periodically with the PGY-2 resident to make sure all patients and consults are taken care of promptly and will help triage and troubleshoot patients in the ICR.  

In-house overnight coverage on the weekends is provided by junior residents with senior residents in-house during the day and night. Please read more about night float here and the first year weekend call schedule here.

What is your patient population like?
The patients at Stony Brook come from a wide variety of socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. Our residents see a wide variety of neurologic illness, from the "bread and butter" migraine and radiculopathy, to the more unusual paraneoplastic syndromes and CJD (Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease).

What research opportunities are available, and is performing research required?
All residents are required to complete two research projects.  One is an individual project that is to be completed by the PGY-4 year.  It can be basic research, clinical research, or a clinical case report.  At the end of the PGY-4 year, there is a Neurosciences Institute Trainee Symposium where residents have the opportunity to present their work.  In addition, each class year works on a joint QA/QI (Quality Analysis/Quality Improvement) project before graduation.  In addition to the above requirements, there are ample opportunities for residents to become more involved in research if desired.

Is funding provided to attend national conferences?
Residents are encouraged to attend the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Conference yearly.  All residents are given time built into their clinical rotations to allow for attendance of the AAN Conference each year.  A stipend is provided.

How often do we have lectures?
Every day starts with morning report at 7:30 am in which the cases from overnight are presented, usually followed by one or two additional lectures before our residents head off to work on the floors.  Each month we cover a different neurologic topic, and all lectures that month pertain to that particular topic. We also have Grand Rounds, Journal Club, Neuropsychology, Neuro-ophthalmology, Neuroradiology case conference, Neuroimmunology case conference, and more.

How am I evaluated?
Through the computer program New Innovations, our residents are evaluated by their peers, faculty, and even staff members such as nurses.  Residents also have the opportunity to evaluate each other, faculty, and the program overall. You meet twice annually with the program directors to go over your progress, goals, and evaluations.

When am I required to take USMLE or COMPLEX Step 3?
Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University requires all residents to take Step 3 by the end of their first year of residency at Stony Brook.

Do I have to take the Neurology boards after graduation?
All Stony Brook Neurology graduates are expected to apply for and take the Neurology Boards Exam within their first year of completion of residency.

What fellowships do you offer?
We offer fellowships in Vascular Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology, Epilepsy, and Multiple Sclerosis/Neuroimmunology.  You can learn more about them here.

Is there on-campus housing or subsidized housing available?
Stony Brook does not provide housing.

What is the housing like on Long Island?
Residents in our department are required to live within 20 minutes of Stony Brook University Hospital.  There are numerous options available such as houses, apartments, and condominiums to rent or buy.   

What is there to do on Long Island?
Once you live here, you will never want to leave! There is a great feeling of family and camaraderie here. Our residents are a great team. They get together often for dinner, going to the vineyards at the East End, enjoy evening golfing at Top Golf driving range, gatherings together at their homes, and are a winning NeuroStakes Team at the NYS Neurological Society meeting.  They even get together for birthday parties for their children. Please feel free to learn more about life on Long Island here.

Is there public transportation?
There is good public transportation to Long Island.  However, the public transportation around Long Island is lacking, so you WILL need a car while living here.

 

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Salary and Benefits

Salary includes resident stipend ($2,500) and location stipend ($3,026-July 2022; $3,087-July 2023, $3,400-July 2024, $4,000-July 2025). Salary is subject to any changes as maybe contractually negotiated.

Pay Level	2024-25 Salary	2025-26 Salary
PGY 1	$74,354	$77,008
PGY 2	$79,085	$81,881
PGY 3	$83,412	$86,337
PGY 4	$87,741	$90,796
PGY 5	$92,062	$95,247
PGY 6	$96,380	$99,694
PGY 7	$105,023	$108,597

*Starting PGY Level is determined by the Program’s prerequisite training years. Any exceptions would need to be discussed with the Program Director and approved by the DIO prior to receiving an offer.

                                     

Vacation:  

Four weeks (in 2 two-week blocks)

Benefits:  Please access this site for required information about our program: http://medicine.stonybrookmedicine.edu/gme/application.

• Paid Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Dental and Vision Insurance
  • Personal Malpractice for professional activities within the residency program
  • Shared Premiums
• Medical Health Insurance Benefit Plans
• Stony Brook Child Care facility that is available to all employees.
• Membership to the American Academy of Neurology, which includes a subscription to Continuum and Neurology (the green journal).
• Stipend to attend annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology.

Additional Benefits:

• Meal cards
• White coats and scrubs are provided and laundered for free
• Call room
• Health Sciences Library Book and Journal Access online 24/7
• Free Access to Up To Date and MD Consult and more
• Free copy machines
• Access to the University gym, pool, weight rooms, racquetball and squash courts
• Discount for Staller Center for the Arts (Ballet, Symphonies, Theater, Jazz, Independent Film Festival yearly, wide-screen movies)
• Free access to town beaches
• Island Federal Credit Union on-site
• Discounted monthly parking fees ($16/mo)
• Direct deposit
• The best chocolate chip cookies ever baked by our very own residency coordinator, Doris