The department is dedicated to teaching and research in the entire spectrum of diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. Instruction is provided for medical students and postgraduate physicians.
Medical-student instruction includes participation in the human-biology curriculum as well as in elective basic-science and clinical experiences. These are available at Harborview Medical Center, UW Medical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care Center, and Seattle Children's hospital. The department also has several course offerings correlating research and clinical problems of the nervous system, including research seminars in neuro-oncology, molecular imaging, stem cell biology, and clinical and basic-science correlates of the epilepsies.
Selected medical students also may elect research experience within the department. Department research facilities are housed in the Medical Research Tower of the UW Medical Center, at Harborview Research and Training Building, and at Veterans' Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System. Investigations are under way at these institutions in many areas of molecular biology, stem cell biology, neurophysiology, brain function and epilepsy research, neuroanatomy, nanotechnology, molecular imaging, behavioral research, outcomes research (cranial and spine), trauma research, and neuro-oncology.
In addition to undergraduate instruction, a fully certified residency program in neurological surgery is available for selected postgraduate physicians. The eight-year program emphasizes preparation for a career in academic neurosurgery.