Cairo University

Faculty of Medicine

Program Specification for MD Degree in

NEUROLOGY
Program type: Single
Department offering the program: Department of neurology
Program Code: NEUR 900
Total Credit points: 270
Academic year: 2015/2016
Date of approval: septempre 2012
Course coordinator:
Prof. Dr. Shereen Fathi Prof. Dr. Nervana El fayoumy

Prof Dr. Nirmeen Abdel Ghafar prof Dr. Marwa farghaly

Ahmed

Prof Dr. Amr Hassan Dr. Mohamed Hegazy

I. Aim of the Program

The program is a professional degree that enables candidates to be highly specialized in
the area of Neurology. The candidates should achieve satisfactory levels of knowledge,
clinical skills, and the ability to construct plan of management in Neurology, interact with
community problems, respect ethical values according to community culture, and promote
their medical standards through engaging in continuing medical education. The program
also aims to upgrade the candidate ability in scientific medical research.

II. Intended Learning Outcomes of the Program (ILOs)

A. Knowledge and Understanding: By the end of the program the candidate should be
able to:
1. Comprehend the basic scientific knowledge related to Neuroscience
2. Describe and Evaluate different Neurological disorders.
3. Distinguish the basic pathology underlying different Neurological
disorders.
4. Understand concepts of Neurological laboratory procedures related to
different Neurological disorders.
5. Outlines recent advances in different neurological disorders and their
management

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 B. Intellectual Skills: By the end of the program the candidate should be able to:
1. Analyze symptoms & signs and construct a differential diagnosis for
Neurological complaints.
2. Design an appropriate diagnostic plan for evaluation of Neurological
complaints taking into consideration the nature of the clinical situation and
the risks, benefits and costs to the patient.
3. Interpret the results of different investigations related to Neurological
disorders.
4. Construct treatment plans for common, rare and emergency Neurological
problems taking into account the cultural and individual needs.
5. Design a follow up plan and rehabilitation program for all patients.

C. Professional and Practical Skills: By the end of the program the candidate should
be able to:
1. Collect clinical data.
2. Examine and identify signs of common and rare Neurological disorders.
3. Perform clinical procedures related to different Neurological disorders.
4. Offer proper medical treatment for different Neurological disorders.
5. Manage all Neurologic emergencies properly.

D. General and Transferable Skills: By the end of the program the candidate should
be able to:
1. Communicate with the patients to gain their confidence.
2. Respond effectively to a patient’s emotional and psychosocial concerns.
3. Communicate with other health care providers.
4. Appreciate team working.
5. Achieve Computer skills necessary to make use of medical data bases
and use the internet for communication.
6. Show administrative skills that enable him to fulfill the work needed.
7. Show leadership skills that enable him to organize work and lead the
junior sand paramedical staff.
8. Understand different scientific methodologies and have critical reading
abilities.
9. Write scientific article according to the basics of scientific research.

III. Academic standards

External References for Standards:
A joint royal college for physician training bord (JRCPT), NEUROLOGY SPECIALITY

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IV. Program Admission Requirements
According the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University Bylaws for Post Graduate Programs
(July 2009), applicants should have Master degree or equivalent accredit degree accredit of
in the same specialty. Admission to the program is open during January and July. For details
for admission, Refer to Cairo University Bylaws for Post Graduate Programs (July 2009).
Training prior to registration may be accredited according to departmental and hospital
evaluation.
.

V. Program Structure and Contents

Program duration: 2 years
Program structure:

 2 years - Total credit points 101 - (Table 1)

o Compulsory courses; two academic year (30 weeks each)
 Neurology (Advanced Course) 20 credit points
 Physiology
 Pathology
o Elective courses;
 Scientific writing 1 credit points
 Medical Ethics
 Communication Skills
o Scientific activities 5 credit points
o Advanced Residency training program (Part 3) 35 credit points

 MD Thesis: 40 credit points.

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Table 1
Courses Credit Points
Code ILOs
CPS Total
Title

COMPULSORY COURSES

Neurology A-1,2,3,4,5
B1,2,3,4,5
14
C1,2,3,4,5
20
D 1,2,3,4
Physiology 3 A1
Pathology 3 A3

ELECTIVE COURSES (choose 2 courses)

Scientific writing
0.5

Medical Ethics
0.5 1 D 3,4,5,6,7

Communication
0.5
Skills

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES

Grand Rounds
Seminars.
Journal clubs.
Scientific meetings.5 5
Workshops.
Conferences.
Thesis discussions
Advanced
Residency training B 1,2,3,4,5
35 35
program (Part 3) C1,2,3,4,5

THESIS

40 40 D 8,9

MD Thesis:

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All MD degree students should prepare a thesis in Neurology. The research and ethical
committee must approve the protocol of the research. The thesis may include a review
part and a research part. The thesis is supervised by one or more senior staff members
and may include other specialties according to the nature of the research. The thesis
should be evaluated and approved by a committee of three professors including one of
the supervisors and an external professor.

Scientific Activities:
The candidates should participate in the scientific activities of the department such as:
 Grand Rounds
 Journal clubs.
 Scientific meetings.
 Workshops.
 Conferences.
 Thesis discussions.

Each activity is monitored and given credit points registered in a special section in the
logbook. Candidates should collect the required points before allowed to sit for final
exam

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 NEUROLOGY MD DEGREE PROGRAM MATRIX

A C D
Knoeldge And B Intellectual Skills Professional And
Communication And Tranferrable Skills
Understanding Practical Skills
Code Name 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
NEUR 916 Neurology
X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
(Advanced course)
NEUR 904 PHYSIOLOGY X
NEUR 908 PATHOLOGY
X

MED 2 SCIENTIFIC WRITING

x X X X x

MED 5 MEDICAL ETHICS

x x x x X

MED 6
COMMUNICATION x x x x x
SKILLS

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITES:
Grand Rounds
 Journal clubs.
 Scientific meetings.
 Workshops.
 Conferences.
 Thesis discussions.

Advanced residency traingn x x x x x x x x x x

MD THESIS X X

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VI. Regulations for Progression and Program Completion
After collecting the required credit points for the respective courses, the advanced
residency training, the scientific activities, and the Thesis the student will be eligible
to sit for the final examination. In case the student fails to pass the examination,
he/she may resubmit for the next examination. The candidate will receive his/her
degree after passing this final examination. MD degree should be obtained within a
maximum of 6 years after registration date..

VII. Assessment
A: Assessment Tools

 Supervision and Monitoring of Training Program

According the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University Bylaws for practical

Training Programs, professors carry continuous assessment during the
program. A practical training program logbook will be kept for each
candidate to document all his/her practical activities as well as his/her
participation in different scientific activities. The head of the department
should allow the candidates to undergo the final examination when they
complete their training program and collect the credit points needed.

 Formal Assessment

According the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University Bylaws for Post

Graduate Programs (July 2009). Students should be assessed at the end
of the program

 Neurology : Three -hours written exam (including short assay and

multiple choice questions) + oral exam + clinical exam

 Physiology: one and half hour written exam (including short

assay and multiple choice questions) + oral exam

 Pathology : one and half hour written exam (including short assay
and multiple choice questions) + oral exam

B: Assessment Schedule:

The written exam will be held in four days:

Day one: Neurology I (3 hours)

Day two: Neurology II (3 hours)

Day three: Case

Day four: Physiology and pathology (3 hours)

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 This will be followed by the clinical, practical and oral exams in separate
days

C: Weighing Of Assessment (Marks allocated to courses):

(50 marks for each credit point)

Courses Marks

Code Title Written Oral C/P* Total

NEUR 916 neurology 300 200 200 700

NEUR 904 physiology 100 50 150

NEUR 908 pathology 100 50 150

Total 1000

* C: clinical exam; P: practical exam

Remarks

- It is mandatory to pass all the papers of written exams separately.

The passing mark in any written exam is ≥ 60%.

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 -

VIII. Evaluation of Program Intended Learning

Outcomes
Signatures

Evaluator Tool Sample

1. Senior Students Questionnaire at the end All the PG students
of the program
2. Alumni The faculty is currently Not yet determined
developing an Alumni
office for postgraduates
3. Stakeholders A meeting will be Available representatives
arranged during annual from:
conference of the - Army hospitals
department - National medical
insurance
- Medical syndicate
- Ministry of health
4. External Evaluators Review program and Once before implementation
courses Bi-annual report
Attending the final exam
5. College Quality Annual program
Assurance committee reviewer

Date of approval by department: September 2012

Head of Depart ment
Prof. Dr. Azza Abbas Helmy