Department of Neurosurgery

Rotations

The basic rotations after the PGY-1 year are:

Year 1 (PGY 2) -- Clinical Neurosurgery at University Hospital (12 Months)

Year 2 (PGY 3) -- Neuro ICU (6 Months), Clinical Pediatric Neurosurgery (6 Months)

Year 3 (PGY 4) -- Clinical or Laboratory Elective (12 Months)

Year 4 (PGY 5) -- Continuing Laboratory or Clinical Electives (Optional)

Year 5 (PGY 6) -- Clinical Neurosurgery at University Hospital (6 Months), Clinical Pediatric Neurosurgery at Primary Children's Medical Center (6 Months)

Year 6 (PGY 7) -- Clinical Neurosurgery at University Hospital (12 Months)

Residents take the written examination of the American Board of Neurological Surgery initially for self-assessment in the second year, and for credit in the third or fourth year.

Scheduled didactic teaching conferences are an integral part of our residency. We have a regularly scheduled journal club, morbidity and mortality conference, cerebrovascular conference and grand rounds. These are supplemented with resident presentations on selected topics, and joint conferences with neurology. Our excellent neuroradiology section participates in most of our teaching conferences and interacts actively with our department. The neurosurgery department also hosts the Lende Winter Neurosurgery meeting each February. This outstanding conference attracts many nationally and internationally known neurosurgeons each year.

To allow residents to better prepare for an academic career, our program was lengthened to an optional six years starting in 1999. The additional year (normally year four) will allow completion of laboratory research started in year three and for preparation of manuscripts for publication. Alternatively, a resident may elect to use this year as a clinical elective focusing on a specific area such as functional and epilepsy surgery, complex spinal instrumentation, or pediatric neurosurgery.  Another option would be to do interventional radiology with our interventional neuroradiology staff.

Regardless of whether this year is used in basic research or as a clinical fellowship it should allow the individual to further their career goals and enhance their competitive position for future jobs.

The training program is centered around the clinical service at the University Hospital and Primary Children’s Medical Center, which are located in close proximity to one another on the University of Utah Campus.