Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

The Neurology® Resident & Fellow Section (RFS) provides countless opportunities for trainees to make an introductory contribution to the field. We have over 12 categories of manuscripts, from Global and Community Health to Clinical Reasoning cases. Every year, the R&F team develops innovative submission opportunities and new ways to engage our readers.

Contributions

How can I contribute to the Resident & Fellow Section (RFS) as an author?
There are many ways to contribute as an author, including peer-reviewed manuscripts, e-Pearl submissions, and the RFS Blog.

Manuscript categories
The RFS publishes over 12 categories of manuscripts. Further information about each category can be found in the Author Center.

e-Pearls
e-Pearls are brief educational summaries that provide essential insight into a neurologic topic (85 words or fewer). e-Pearls are not indexed but are posted on the Neurology website, receive an individual URL, and are circulated widely through journal social media.

RFS Blog
The RFS blog provides rapid turnaround and dissemination of commentaries and editorials about hot topics, recent articles, and synthesis of RFS publications.

Submissions

Who can submit to the Resident & Fellow Section?
Anyone! We encourage submissions from trainees (students, residents, and fellows, preferably as first author) with a faculty mentor and co-author.

What are the guidelines for each subsection?
Information about the appropriate content for each submission type can be found in the Neurology® Author Center. Author Guides provide detailed examples of tips for submitting to selected categories, including Clinical Reasoning, Pearls & Oy-sters, and Teaching NeuroImages.

Are manuscripts peer-reviewed?
All RFS manuscripts undergo thorough peer review. Peer reviewers typically include a resident or fellow reviewer, faculty reviewer, and RFS editorial board member.

How do I submit a manuscript to the RFS?
Manuscripts are submitted through the online submission system for Neurology. When you have prepared your manuscript, click on “Submit a Manuscript” or navigate to submit.neurology.org to log in or create an author account.

What types of case submissions are appropriate for the RFS?
The RFS publishes manuscripts that are targeted to trainees but may also be relevant to practicing neurology providers. Images or clinical presentations should highlight teaching principles that can be used in clinical practice. They may feature atypical presentations of common diseases, typical presentations of rare diseases, or foundational principles that occur in atypical presentations of rare diseases.

“I submitted a teaching case for one section of RFS but it was rejected. Can I reformat it and resubmit?
All manuscript decisions are final, and resubmission to another category is not permitted. In rare circumstances, the ability to resubmit as a new submission category will be invited in the decision letter.

Is it easier to publish in the RFS than in the main journal?
No, it isn’t! We apply the same rigorous peer review process to RFS submissions, and rejection rates are similar.

Is my article going to be reviewed by trainees or faculty?
The final decision regarding each submission is always made by a Neurology editor. Articles selected for peer review are typically sent to a combination of trainee and faculty reviewers.

What are the major reasons for rejection?
Each submission is individually assessed by an editor. The decision to reject a submission is based on many factors. Below is a list of some of the more common reasons:

  • Topic was previously published in Neurology.
  • The submission does not reflect a case of sufficiently high educational value.
  • Teaching NeuroImages or Video NeuroImages with unclear imaging or imaging that does not unquestionably demonstrate the diagnosis being presented.
  • Edits, changes, and clarifications requested by reviewers were not provided in the revised version.

Are RFS articles indexed in PubMed?
All articles are listed in the print table of contents and published online on the journal’s website. Articles are indexed just as those for the other sections of Neurology, including PubMed.

Become a Reviewer

How do I become a peer reviewer?
Create an account at submit.neurology.org and include any expertise terms that interest you. After your profile is complete, contact the editorial office at rfsection@neurology.org and you will be added to the database of available reviewers.

How do I join the RFS team?
Each year, the RFS team offers 3-year positions to rising PGY-3 adult and PGY-4 pediatric neurology residents (e.g. senior residents) from around the world. Editorial team members review manuscripts, write and edit blog posts, and implement new projects for the section. Applications usually open in summer.

RFS Updates

How can I sign up for updates regarding new e-Pearls and recent publications in RFS?
Access NPub.org/RF for the latest blogs, articles, e-Pearls, Mystery Cases, and other trainee resources. You can also hear discussions of the latest updates in the field by subscribing to the Neurology Podcast. 

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