Our program is dedicated to the residents' quality of life both at work and outside the hospital.

Life at work: As stated above, one of the reasons that we expanded the number of residents in our program was to create a greater sense of a community of learners. As residents train together, they not only teach and learn from each other but also provide support and camaraderie. Being a team player is an important prerequisite for our program. In addition to the other pediatric neurology residents, our residents form lasting friendships with their colleagues in the pediatrics residency and adult neurology residency programs.

During the pediatric neurology portion of training, each resident has his or her own desk within the office suite in pediatric neurology. Residents from each class are grouped together in their own "pod" of cubicles. The residents have the support of our office staff of secretaries, schedulers and nurses to assist them in their patient care as well as a residency coordinator to assist them throughout their academic program.

Feeling part of the pediatric neurology family from the beginning of internship is important to us. A pediatric neurology faculty advisor is assigned to each resident from the beginning of pediatrics residency. This advisor meets with the resident at least twice each year up through PGY4 year at which time the resident is fully integrated into the division and has easy access to all faculty. Interns and PGY2 residents are invited each year to the major social events for the division.

For current information on stipends and benefits please see the Wash U/BJC consortium page (http://aladdin.wustl.edu/medadmin/gme/gme.nsf/Consortium+Document/00238?OpenDocument and http://aladdin.wustl.edu/medadmin/gme/gme.nsf/Consortium+Document/00204?OpenDocument).

Some of the perquisites that residents receive include a book fund of $300 each year during their neurology training and funds to travel to national meeting such as the Child Neurology Society or the American Academy of Neurology during the PGY4 and PGY5 years.

Life outside of work: St. Louis is a great place to live! Founded in 1763 by French traders, St. Louis has a long past that gives it a sense of place and culture. There are more things to do in St. Louis than you will ever be able to get to.

Housing: The cost of living is well below that of the coasts, and residents will frequently purchase a home when they move here. Some of our residents have bought condominiums in the Central West End which combines urban living with the proximity of Forest Park and walking to work. Others have bought homes in the city with its distinct architecture and a 10-15 minute drive to work. A renaissance of the Washington Avenue loft district has attracted many people to urban living downtown. Residents with families may chose to live in the county, which provides homes with good sized yards and excellent schools. A drive in from the edge of town may take 30-40 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

Outdoors: St. Louis is home to some amazing parks especially Tower Grove Park and of course Forest Park (which was the site of the 1904 World's Fair). The Missouri Botanical Garden was established in 1859 and is free to St. Louis county residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. The St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park is free all the time. There are also numerous state parks just outside the city that provide gorgeous hiking trails. Numerous rivers provide lots of opportunities for canoeing. Six Flags St. Louis and Hurricane Harbor theme parks are a short drive from the edge of town. Camping is close by in the Ozark Mountains and water sports can be pursued at the massive Lake of the Ozarks three hours to the west.

Entertainment: St. Louis has a great theatre tradition with Broadway touring shows coming regularly to the Fox Theatre. Local theatres include the St. Louis Repertory Theatre and the St. Louis Black Repertory Theatre Company. The local universities also have theatrical productions. Music lovers will find everything from major bands to local festivals. Every Wednesday evening during the summer the Botanical Garden sponsors the free Whitaker Music Festival which features a mix of jazz, blues, folk, and rock. In classical music, we have the St. Louis symphony orchestra. Dance St. Louis brings several nationally and internationally renowned dance shows to town each year. During the summer Forest Park is bursting with outdoor theatre. We have Shakespeare In the Park and the Muny (the oldest and largest outdoor theatre in the nation) which brings Broadway-level musicals to town. The list goes on and on . . . (see http://www.slfp.com/SLFP-SpecialEvents.htm for more information).

Dining: There are great restaurants all over town. The medical center is next door to the Central West End's eclectic eateries and upscale cafes. A short drive from the hospital takes you to the Hill which is famous for Italian dining. The Loop on Delmar Boulevard is a favorite hang-out for the college scene. There you'll find Blueberry Hill which has one of the greatest collections of Americana memorabilia ever (not to mention great hamburgers!) and many other restaurants and entertainment venues. Grand Avenue, minutes away from the med center, has some of the top ethnic cuisine in the city.

Sports: St. Louis is a sports town. While the Cardinals, Rams, and Blues bring professional baseball, football, and hockey, respectively, there is also a strong tradition of people participating on local teams with neighborhood leagues.

Festivals: You could probably find a festival every week to go to in St. Louis. The Greek festival, the Latin Festival, the Scottish Festival, and the International Festival of Nations are among the many ethnic festivals. However, we also have the Pirate Festival and Storytelling Festival among others.

Museums: Many of the museums in St. Louis are free to the public. In Forest Park you can enjoy the St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri Historical Museum, and the St. Louis Science Center. The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial consists of the Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and St. Louis' Old Courthouse. The Museum of Westward Expansion is actually housed underneath the arch! For families, the Magic House is St. Louis' children's museum, and the City Museum provides fun activities for all ages.