Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Residency
Overview
NDD stands for neurodevelopmental disabilities. We are a new pediatric medical subspecialty that focuses on the diagnosis & treatment of pediatric (and adult) patients with:
- Cognitive developmental disabilities (e.g., autism, intellectual disability and learning disabilities)
- Metabolic and genetic conditions (e.g., Trisomy 21, Fragile X & mitochondrial diseases)
- CNS conditions (e.g., epilepsy, cerebral palsy)
- Nerve and muscle disorders (e.g., muscular dystrophy, neuropathies)
We are a unique specialty in that we are trained to evaluate and treat children incorporating a multidisciplinary perspective (e.g. medical, social, behavioral, neuroscience) and collaborate with other professionals such as therapists, rehabilitation specialists, educators, and the community. We understand neurodevelopmental disabilities from a lifespan model and residency training includes pediatric and adult medicine training.
How is NDD training different from a Child Neurology program?
- NDD training focuses on longitudinal care of both children & adults with disabilities
- Child Neurology training gives some experience with behavioral and developmental assessment/treatment, but NDD training gives fellowship-level expertise in these valued skills
- NDD offers greater emphasis on working with a therapeutic team & understanding community resources and gives more training in advocacy and team leadership
- NDD offers a strong interaction with therapists and teachers, which gives a physician a solid knowledge of the workings of the therapy team that is key to the treatment for individuals with disabilities
- NDD training offers more protected research time in order to develop academic leaders
Board certification also differs between NDD and Child Neurology
Completion of NDD training allows you to be board eligible for 3 boards:
- Pediatrics (American Board of Pediatrics)
- Neurology with special qualification in child neurology (American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology - ABPN)
- Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (ABPN)
Child neurology allows dual certification (Pediatrics & Neurology)
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