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Neurology International Residents Videoconference and Exchange (NIRVE)

Neurology International Residents Videoconference and Exchange (NIRVE) is a resident-led educational initiative led by the Division of Neurology at the University of Toronto in 2009, designed to promote shared learning in neurology through international collaboration.  NIRVE was founded by Dr. Dalia Rotstein, a Clinician-Scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto who specializes in MS and Neuroinflammatory Disorders. 

The rounds take place virtually on the first Thursday of the month from September to June at 8 a.m. EST (3 p.m. GMT), with pauses in January, July, and August. 

Format

Meetings are resident-led and designed to be interactive. Institutions from around the world take turns hosting and leading each discussion. The emphasis should be on educational value, rather than rarity or complexity. Each session is divided into two main components:

  • Main Presentation (25 minutes) - Resident-led case discussing, focusing on anatomy, localization, differential diagnosis, and management.
  • Image Challenge (15 minutes) - Brief case presentation emphasizing radiological interpretation and differential diagnosis.

NIRVE Team

Two neurology residents at the University of Toronto in Canada coordinate sessions and facilitate discussions. In 2025, Dr. Anjolaoluwa “Angie” Antonio and Dr. Andreo “Andy” Ciarciello took over as the NIRVE Resident Leads. They are passionate about expanding the international boundaries of NIRVE and encouraging resident teaching opportunities. They are supported by a NIRVE Faculty Lead, Dr. Laura Chu, a neurologist and Clinician-Teacher at St. Michael’s Hospital and the University of Toronto.

Our current sites are:

Unity Health Toronto: St/ Michael's Hospital (Toronto, Canada - main host), Sick Kids Hospital (Toronto, Canada), McGill University (Montreal, Canada), Memorial University of Newfoundland (Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada), Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia), Hillel Yaffe Medical Center (Israel), Bashkir State Medical University (Ufa, Russia), First Saint-Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University (St. Petersburg, Russia), and University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital (Manila, Philippines). 

For further information, or if you’re interested in joining NIRVE, please contact us at: nirve.utoronto@gmail.com