Child Neurology Residency Training Program

Current Residents

Year 3

 John Mytinger

John Mytinger

  • B.A. Franklin and Marshall College
  • M.D. Albany Medical College
  • Pediatrics Residency, University of Virginia

   As a high school student, I imagined that Charlottesville and Jefferson’s campus would be a great place to live and learn. I was right. Charlottesville is a scenic and scholarly community. The social offerings of this small city rival those of much larger cities. I enjoy music and there are multiple music venues that attract major bands. There is also free music on the downtown mall every Friday throughout the summer in a community event called ‘Fridays After Five.’ Furthermore, my wife and I have found Charlottesville to be an excellent place to raise our children. We have had both of our children, Bella and Samantha, during my time as a resident at UVA. There are numerous churches and opportunities for children.
   The most important part of choosing my residency were those factors affecting my family. I chose to be part of the combined five-year program in child neurology at UVA so that my family and I would not have to relocate after finishing my pediatrics residency. The residency directors in pediatrics and neurology, Linda Waggoner-Fountain and Ted Burns respectively, have families of their own and are very supportive of residents who choose to have children during residency. The salary for residents is highly competitive and the medical insurance for residents is excellent – health insurance is included as part of your benefits package! Your family is included in the plan at no extra cost. The competitive salary and the fact that medical insurance is included has allowed my wife to stay home with our children. Charlottesville is also one of the few places in the country with training in child neurology where commuting is not a major part of your day. My total commute time to and from work is 20 to 25 minutes. Some residents live even closer to the hospital. Charlottesville is also an extremely safe community.
   The pediatric residency training is excellent and I have left pediatrics feeling very comfortable in my ability to care for children. Dr. Rob Rust is the director of the child neurology residency program. He is one of the most well known and accomplished child neurologists in the world. He is an excellent teacher and mentor – he is reason enough to pursue your neurology training at UVA. I have had very close contact with Dr. Rust and the other child neurologists throughout my training. I also had the unique opportunity to begin my child neurology continuity clinic in my second year of my pediatrics training.
   I would be thrilled to speak with any child neurology candidate who may have questions about our program (jm4ej@virginia.edu).

— John Mytinger

Year 2

Debopam Samanta

Debopam Samanta

  • M.D.  Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi University, India
  • M.D. M.B.B.S.  Calcutta Medical College, Calcutta University, India

   I completed medical school and my pediatrics residency in India.  After finishing my residency, I worked in the Neonatal ICU.  I developed a keen interest in the developing brain.  I also had the opportunity to follow many of these children after discharge and gained experience with cerebral palsy and developmental delay.  It was these experiences that led to my decision to pursue higher education in Child neurology.
   After matching at UVA, I knew that I would be joining a center with a great reputation and outstanding staff.  My first year was devoted to adult neurology.  It was during this first year that I had the opportunity to begin my child neurology continuity clinic with Dr. Rust.  Dr. Rust is an exceptional teacher and undoubtedly among the best child neurologists in the world.  Although world renowned, he is very humble and eager to help.  I have also worked closely with the other child neurologist here at UVA.
   I have now entered the second year of my neurology training.  In addition to my experiences on the pediatric neurology inpatient ward and consult service, I will also attend several continuity clinics including Developmental Pediatrics, Child Psychiatry, and Child Neurology.  I attend monthly travel field clinics in genetics and child neurology.  I have also dedicated time to learn EEG and EMG.  I believe that we have a robust patient load yet enough time to read about the cases we see. 
   After coming from a different culture and weather, I like this place very much.  The weather is excellent here and so are the people.  During the second year of child neurology, you will work very closely with the PGY5 chief resident in child neurology, as I have this with John Mytinger, our current chief.  In addition, our program coordinator, Mary Jean Thiele, is a wonderful person and resource. 
   I would be happy to speak with any candidate who wants to know more about our program (ds5ev@virginia.edu).

- Debopam Samanta

Year 1

    Kristen Heinan

Kristen Heinan

  • B.S.  College of William and Mary
  • M.D.  Eastern Virginia Medical School
  • Pediatrics Residency, University of Virginia

   I tried to be very logical about my decision-making when it came to choosing a residency program. First I heavily researched all the websites, looked at all the "stats." Made my lists of "pros" and "cons." I kept track of the football statistics for each of the teams in the cities/states of my programs of interest-- especially when they played each other. It really was the interview visits, though, that helped the program and I choose each other. I say this with all honesty because it really is a mutual decision. As a med student, it was so frustrating hearing the residents say that "it's a gut feeling" etc, etc that you get about a particular program. But it's true for me anyway. I knew that UVA had a great pediatrics program, and a great neurology program, and the town of Charlottesville was reportedly a vibrant yet laid back place to live; but it was just a feeling I had while interviewing here that let me 'know' this was the place I needed to be. And, hey, if the enteric nervous system has more neurons than the CNS, who am I to argue with that "gut" feeling! 
    I am writing this in the midst of my third year of residency for pediatric neurology. The past two years in pediatrics were wonderful in terms of the people I learned with and learned from (both attendings, fellow residents, and of course, our patients). Everyone was incredibly supportive too, whether it was talking over a perplexing case, dealing with the loss of a patient, or having people volunteer to fill in for you when you are attempting to negotiate the NICU on crutches. The learning is great, and often it happens so quickly you don't even realize it, and all of the sudden you are beginning to feel confident about the things that are coming out of your mouth and the decisions you are making.
    And then, as a pediatric neurology resident, you wake up on the first day of your third year and you are taking care of adults again! And all of the diseases like coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, various carcinomas, metabolic syndrome gone awry... all come smashing back into focus and your memory digs up what it can from back in med school. But the real focus now is on the neurology, and the neurology department has been fantastically tolerant of my adult-internal-medicine-handicap, as they are inducting me into the neurology realm. It's pretty much like a total emersion learning experience. And this department can teach! Not only the attendings, but the upper level residents as well, are constantly teaching; in rounds, at the bedside, at random computers looking at the latest brain scans on patients. It's really wonderful. And I am learning a ton! This "adult" year is all about playing the "find the lesion" game, and then next year it's back to kids. Right now I think my main interests are in traumatic brain injury and acute and rehab management, and also the developmental disabilities/disorders, but there's so much out there to learn about! We'll have to see where it all leads.
                                                                          - Kristen Heinan

  Matched Residents

James "Nick" Brenton
  • B.S.  University of Evansville
  • M.D. Indiana University School of Medicine
  • Pediatrics Residency, Year 2, University of Virginia

Zeena Salman
  • M.B.B.S.  Academy of Medical Sciences & Technology, Sudan
  • M.P.H.  Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
  • Pediatrics Residency, Year 1, University of Virginia

  

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