Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship

The Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship at Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children is an ACPNF-accredited one-year program. Fellows are trained by nationally respected pediatric neurosurgeons who perform between 615 and 885 cases annually. Fellows are exposed to and access a wide range of pediatric neurosurgical cases in preparation for independent practice or an academic career. In addition to faculty physicians, fellows work with two residents on service (a PGY 2 resident and a PGY 3 resident).

After a period of training and supervision, participating fellows are granted independent consulting, admitting and operating privileges. Fellows may choose to focus on neurovascular, neuro-oncology, spine or epilepsy/functional subspecialties. IU School of Medicine Pediatric Neurosurgery fellows gain patient care experience at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, which is one of the nation’s premier children’s hospitals. Riley Hospital for Children, part of Indiana University Health Medical Center, is nationally ranked in 10 pediatric specialties—including Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery—by U.S. News and World Report.

The department will pay the registration fee for fellows to take the Recognized Focused Practice (RFP) exam. The exam is recommended for May of their fellowship training year.

Learn more about our Pediatric Neurosurgery specialists

Apply for Fellowship

The application process through SF Match for the Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship begins April 1 and interviews begin May 1.

For more information about the fellowship, please contact Mary Gallagher, director of education for neurosurgery.

Email Director of Education

fellowship Director

Rabia Qaiser, M.D.

Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery

Read Bio

16 fellowship alumni

615 to 885 surgeries per year

5 pediatric neurosurgery faculty

Clinical Subspecialties

Fellows work alongside five pediatric faculty neurosurgeons and six advanced practice providers at Riley and collaborate with providers in several multi-disciplinary programs, including:

Craniofacial
Neuro-Oncology
Cerebrovascular
Spasticity
Epilepsy
Trauma
Congenital Anomalies
Spina Bifida
Spine
Fetal surgery (open and endoscopic)

Application process

Applicants must register through the San Francisco Match Program
Submit at least three letters of recommendation (from their residency department chair, residency program director and another faculty mentor)
Submit a current curriculum vitae
Applicants must be residents or graduates of neurosurgical residency programs in the United States that are approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or of neurosurgical residency programs in Canada approved by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Candidates must also qualify for a state of Indiana unrestricted medical license
The department is unable to accept applicants with an ECFMG Visa
Applicants are encouraged to register as early as possible to allow time for interviews

2025 Application timeline

Applicant Registration	April 1	Applicants are encouraged to register as early as possible to allow time for interviews.
Interview Start Date	May 1	Interviews for applicants will begin.
Application Deadline	Sept. 15	Applications for the IU pediatric neurosurgery fellowship are due.
Rank Lists Due	Oct. 27	All rank lists must be submitted by Noon PT/3 p.m. ET. After the rank list deadline, choices will be locked, and no changes can be made.
Match Results Released	Nov. 3	Match results are made available to programs, medical schools and applicants. Log in to your SF Match account to view match results.
Post-Match Vacancies	Nov. 4	Any vacancies that remain after the match will be announced on the Immediate Vacancies page. Vacancy listings are managed by the individual programs.
Training Begins	July2026	The start of the academic year for the pediatric neurosurgery fellowship.