In 1961, the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry was created through the efforts of Dr. Francisco D. Guzman, then the director of the North General Hospital, with Dr. Caridad E. Cruz as the first Chairperson of the Department. Since then, the Department attended to both Neurology and Psychiatry patients from nearby regional areas and likewise received referrals from other government hospitals.

In 1973, the Department of Neurology was made a separate department with Dr. Reynaldo D. Rivera as the first Chairman of the Department of Neurology and Dr. Araceli E. Maravilla as the Chairperson of the Department of Psychiatry. From the time of its inception, the Department of Neurology has been training quite a number of resident physicians.

Dr. Angel S. Encarnacion, one of the first graduates of the training program, joined the Department. In 1986, Dr. Jose C. Navarro, the first successful examinee of the Adult Specialty Board of Neurology of the Philippine Neurological Association (PNA), joined the Department and reinforced the training program.   He became the Training Officer from 1988 to 1989.   In June 1988 the department fulfilled the criteria as a Neurology training center for 2 years by the Philippine Specialty Board of Neurology. In that same year, Dr. Simeon M. Marasigan, another PNA fellow joined the staff. He was the Training Officer from 1990 to 2005 and became the Vice-chairman of the department in 2006.

In 1990, the Specialty Board of Neurology granted a full three (3) year accredited neurology training program to the department.   In 1993, another (3) years was granted to the department as an accredited institution for neurology training. In 1994, Dr. Bernardo Jorge L. Conde, a PNA fellow, joined the staff as Professional Lecturer. In 1996, the department was again granted a 3-year accreditation by the Specialty Board of Neurology. In April 1997, Dr. Reynaldo D. Rivera, retired as Chairman of the department but remained an active visiting consultant of the department. Dr. Jose C. Navarro was appointed as Chairman of the Department. In October 1998, Dr. Ramon S. Javier, a fellow of the PNA, joined the staff and became the Training Officer of the Department in 2006. Dr. Angel S. Encarnacion retired as a consultant staff in January 2001. He actively visited the department after finishing his stroke fellowship and is now an active consultant.

In 2004, Dr. Romulo U. Esagunde was accepted as a Professional lecturer of the department after finishing his stroke fellowship and is now an active consultant and the present Chairman of the department. In 2011, Dr. Herminigildo H. Gan, a board of governor of the Philippine Neurological Association was accepted as a Professional lecturer and become an active consultant in 2012. Dr. Criscely Go, was accepted as a Professional lecturer and an active consultant of the department in 2012 after finishing her movement disorder fellowship.

Previously a four-year training residency program, the department has produced graduates with the three (3)-year program. Most of the graduates from the training program are now established neurologists in different areas nationwide. Since 1993, the department has produced several fellows of the PNA. To date there are now 55 fellows.