Residency in Neurosurgery
The Neurosurgery Program provides each resident
with the clinical and scientific knowledge and personal experience
necessary to become a highly competent neurosurgeon. The length
of the residency training period is six years. The training program
is now affiliated with the Department of Neurosurgery at the University
of Texas Health Science Center Houston, and the University of
Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Prerequisite for entering the training program is one year of general surgery training (PG-1), which is offered by the Department of Surgery. The six-year neurosurgical-training program includes three years of clinical neurosurgery, including one year as chief resident and three months of neurology. The resident will rotate for six months each at M.D. Anderson and UT Health Science Center Houston. A twelve-month experience in research is recommended. There are three neurosurgical faculty, all intensively involved in the training program, each with separate clinical interests. Each resident is required to pass the American Board of Neurological Surgery written examination before completion of training.
The program presents a variety of clinical materials in intracranial tumors, vascular surgery, spinal surgery, and epilepsy. Emphasis is also placed on modern intensive care unit management.
Typical Schedule of Instruction
| Faculty Bedside Teaching Rounds | Five days/week |
| Microsurgical Dissection/Anatomy Course | Weekly/April–August |
| Basic Science Review | Weekly/September–March |
| Neuropathology Conference | Weekly |
| Neurology-Neurosurgery Conference | Weekly |
| Neuroradiology Conference | Weekly |
| Mortality and Morbidity Conference | Monthly |
| Journal Club | Monthly |
| Spine Conference | Bi-Weekly |
| Combined Rounds with M.D. Anderson & UT Health Science Center Houston | Monthly |
Research Activities
The division is actively involved in laboratory and clinical research.
In the laboratory, we are studying growth, behavior, and genetics
of human central nervous system tumors, hypothalamic control of
fluid and electrolyte balance, and the basis of chronic pain following
traumatic radiculopathy. The clinical research activities include
active participation in multicenter studies of aneurysmal subarachnoid
hemorrhage and CNS trauma. These labs and clinical research efforts
are supported by federal and foundation grants.
Application Procedure
Applications should be requested in writing.
Direct inquiries to:
Central Application Service for the Neurological Surgery Matching
Program
P.O. Box 7584
San Francisco, CA 94120-7584
