Announcing a New Educational Program by the American Headache Society
The Resident Education Program launches this month
There are about 500 certified headache specialists in the United States, and as many as 38 million people living with headache disorders and other neurological diseases. Given the prevalence of headache disorders and the impact they have on our healthcare system and economy, we believe a strong foundation in neurology residency training is necessary in order to appropriately diagnose and treat patients presenting with all types of headache disorders. That is why the American Headache Society is launching a long-term Resident Education Program to better educate neurology residents about migraine and related headache disorders.
An introduction to the Resident Education Program
What is the Resident Education Program?
The goal of the Resident Education Program is to provide first and second year adult and pediatric neurology residents with a foundation in headache medicine education during a weekend session led by experienced faculty in neurologic education and headache medicine. By promoting the exchange of information and ideas concerning the causes and treatments of headache and related painful disorders, and introducing residents to experienced faculty in neurologic education and headache medicine, we hope to inspire a greater number of neurology residents to pursue careers in headache medicine.
How does the program work?
All adult and child neurology residency programs can nominate one resident from their program to receive a scholarship to participate in the Resident Education Program. Starting July 1, 2017, resident program directors are to nominate one first year resident (PGY2 for adult neurology, PGY3 for child neurology) from their program. If no candidate meets this criteria, a nomination of a second year resident (PGY3 for adult neurology, PGY4 for child neurology) will be considered. Accepted applicants will receive reimbursement for their travel to the program, as well as a complimentary one-year trainee membership to the American Headache Society.
When does the program take place?
The AHS Resident Education Program will be held from the evening of Friday, October 6, 2017 through the morning of Sunday, October 8, 2017 at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center in Los Angeles, CA. Faculty and residents will engage throughout the meeting in an interactive format that features lectures, small group sessions and workshops, as well as informally at combined faculty-resident dinners.
Why was this program created?
There is an unmet need for headache specialists in the field. Migraine—both episodic and chronic—cluster headache, and other primary headache disorders are among the most common and disabling medical conditions known to the medical community. Despite the availability of effective medications, management of patients with headache conditions remains substandard. In fact, among patients with episodic migraine who consult a medical professional about their condition, most (60.5%) are not accurately diagnosed, and about three quarters (74.7%) do not receive minimally effective acute treatment. Inadequate medical education has also been suggested as one cause of the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of headache, and may contribute it to the lack of patient satisfaction as well.
We are delighted by this new initiative and we hope it inspires more and more neurology residents to commit to a career in headache medicine.