Why NDD?

Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD) training covers the breadth of child neurology, development, and behavioral medicine, utilizing a multidisciplinary approach to improve care and outcomes for complex neurodevelopmental conditions.

At UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, in addition to becoming an expert in treating neurologic conditions in the pediatric population, our NDD residents have more in-depth exposure to caring for patients with developmental disabilities, including autism, intellectual disability, metabolic and genetic conditions, and those with concurrent CNS and neuromuscular conditions. Our program emphasizes clinical training while gaining an understanding of biopsychosocial factors including health disparities which can impact prognosis. Additional experiences include training in adult developmental disabilities training for longitudinal perspective, community-based experiences in advocacy, and a year-long mentored research experience provides crucial experiences to foster success in academic medicine. Our graduates have gone on to pursue an array of medical careers, while sharing in their dedication to providing care for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.


In addition to all aspects of Child Neurology training, our program also includes:

  • Research Year and Research Development Curriculum to support scholarly development
  • Dual Continuity Clinics in both Child Neurology and NDD
  • Ability to develop a 6-month longtitudinal Clinical Concentration in NDD subspecialty area of interest (e.g., Neurogenetics, Movement Disorders/Tourette Syndrome)
  • NDD faculty mentor and NDD Resident Pod peer mentorship beginning during PGY1 year
  • Encouragement to develop community project in patient advocacy
  • Participation in the LEND Program of Pittsburgh in a supervisory clinical role
  • NDD didactics curriculum including multidisciplinary presentations, review of cutting-edge research publications, hands-on learning experiences, and discussions of NDD-relevant issues in society
  • Leadership skills development with ascension to role of NDD Chief Resident as PGY6