Chief Residents

Residents & Fellows

Discover peer-assembled AAN and non-AAN resources, information, and tools specific to Chief Residents.

New in 2025: Chief Resident Webinar Series

The Chief Resident Webinar Series is a one-year longitudinal program geared toward neurology chief residents to improve their leadership and communication skills, as well as their knowledge about self-promotion, cultural competency, and recruitment. This virtual program consists of four synchronous lectures (which will also be recorded) and four interactive discussions in which chief residents will face challenging situations and learn from experts in academia. The content is designed to follow the timeline of the most important milestones throughout the chief year. Recordings will be posted below when they become available. For more information, contact Lucy Persaud.

Join us for these upcoming sessions:

  • Interactive Discussion - Feedback to Junior Resident Trainee: Monday, May 5, 2025, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. CT. .
  • Being a Culturally Competent Leader/Graceful Self Promotion: Monday, June 2, 2025, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CT. .
  • Interactive Discussion – Debriefing an Adverse Clinical Outcome as a Team Leader: Monday, July 7, 2025, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. CT. .
  • Organizational Culture: How to Advocate for Your Team: Monday, August 4, 2025, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CT. .
  • Interactive Discussion – Recruitment: Monday, September 8, 2025, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. CT. .
  • Interactive Discussion - Navigating a Challenging Situation with Faculty Member: Monday, October 6, 2025, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. CT. .

Past lectures:

Chief Resident educational resource library 

  • Utilize this curated library of excellent online resources, based on the list of topics tested on the ABPN Initial Certification Examination while creating your educational curriculum. This is a living document that will continue to grow as additional resources are added. Contact Lucy Persaud with edits, questions, or suggestions for additional resources.

好色先生/Certification

  • Prepare for the certification exam with the AAN's RITE® (Residency In-service Training Examination). View upcoming exam dates, register, and view exam features. The RITE allows you to gauge your knowledge of neurology and neuroscience while identifying areas for potential growth.
  • - Neurology and Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology Exams. View deadlines, fees, and content for initial certification with either of these exams.

Research, scholarship, and leadership programs

Professional development 

Leadership

  • Forbes: 

Conflict management

  • Forbes: 
  • Forbes: 

Career development

  • : How to Build a Meaningful Career

Advice from former Chief Residents

Scheduling resources

The AAN does not endorse any of the scheduling programs listed below.

Stay Connected

Be part of the conversation. Stay informed and participate.

  • Chief Residents - Contact Lucy Persaud to be invited into the Chief Resident Synapse Section Group
  • Consortium of Neurology Residents and Fellows (CNRF) - Join the CNRF conversation on 

"More than anything else, being a chief resident is a privilege. 

It is a responsibility to advocate on behalf of residents and to impact the training program in a positive and meaningful way. Chief residents are in a unique situation where we can effectuate a change through both our interaction with higher level administration and through the trust we've obtained from residents.

Although it is a sacrifice of our time and energy, it also is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference. The best part about being a chief resident is being able to effectuate a change in the program to positively impact both resident well-being and neurology education. It really is a unique opportunity to give back to the field at such an early stage in our careers.  

The best advice I can give to anyone considering being a chief resident is that I think it is important to start by being the best resident you can be. Once you focus on that, it will establish the foundation for your future, even beyond being chief resident."

- Zubair Ahmed, MD, Chief Resident, Clevland Clinic Foundation