From April 18-22, 2026, my fellow graduating neurology co-residents from the University of Virginia and I attended the American Academy of Neurology's 2026 annual meeting in the beautiful city of Chicago. Like many neurology training programs throughout the country, our program, thanks to the efforts of our junior residents, supports attendance at the annual meeting for all graduating residents. As one of the final opportunities to travel, learn, and spend time together as a class before their graduation in June, the AAN's annual meeting is long anticipated by the majority of trainees. Our enthusiasm for this meeting was so strong that little was going to detract from it. Indeed, an eight-hour travel delay at the start of the trip could have easily disheartened a different group, but for us, it turned into time to reminisce on our shared residency experience, laugh at each other's antics, and, importantly, get a few phantom pager alerts out of our systems as we acclimated to being outside of the hospital.
Time spent with my fellow graduating seniors was one of the highlights of the trip. While in Chicago, we made a point to take advantage of being there, both for the meeting and for the city itself. To this end, we spent time walking through and appreciating the city’s architecture, went to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, and made the mandatory stop for deep dish at Pequod's Pizza (objectively the best in town). The AAN’s annual event at the Museum of Science and Industry was another highlight, as we had access to the entire museum, including the U-505 submarine, whose living quarters we noted bore a striking resemblance to certain rival institutions’ resident workrooms. Like many programs, ours also hosted an alumni social event at the meeting, which provided a nice opportunity to reconnect with program alumni and old friends. As graduating senior residents, we were fortunate to have this time together, to step briefly outside the demands of training and to mark the close of this shared chapter before our paths began to diverge.
At its core, the AAN 2026 provides a forum for clinicians and researchers to learn from one another, discuss emerging research, and advance the care of our patients. Throughout the meeting, I came across several practical ideas that I could readily apply to the bedside, and I left looking forward to incorporating them into my clinical practice. I found that sessions outside of my primary focus in neurology, particularly those overlapping with rheumatology and family medicine, were especially useful and helped broaden my perspective on patient care and the role of cross-disciplinary thinking in managing patients. In addition to clinical didactics, I had the opportunity to participate in the AAN’s Enhanced Resident Leadership Program Scholarship through its Leadership University. This longitudinal program ran throughout the year and culminated at the conference, with a focus on leadership development, mentorship, and networking. It added another dimension to the experience, and I am grateful to have been part of it. I would encourage rising fourth-year residents to consider applying.
As residency comes to a close, the meeting served as a meaningful opportunity to reflect on our training, reconnect with colleagues, advance our clinical knowledge, and look ahead to the next stage of our careers. I am grateful to the American Academy of Neurology for supporting trainees and creating a forum that brings the field together in this way. Participation in the Academy, both at the meeting and beyond, remains an important part of professional development and continued engagement with the broader neurology community. I am grateful to have shared this experience with my co-residents and to leave with both lasting memories and practical insights that will carry forward into fellowship and beyond.
Dr. Chapman has no conflicts of interest to report.
Illustration by April Brust
