The course of training for Neurological Surgery residents begins with a categorical neurosurgery year that includes two months of critical care, one month of neuroradiology, one month of neuropathology, one month of neuro-anesthesia and seven months of neurosurgery. Beginning with the second year of residency and extending through the fifth year, resident physicians rotate through the Neurological Surgery units at IU Health Methodist, Eskenazi Health, and IU Health Riley Hospital for Children, and they have a protected laboratory rotation. In the sixth year, residents serve as Chief Resident or Senior Assistant Resident at IU Health Methodist Hospital or Roudebush VA Hospital. The seventh year is an enfolded fellowship and “transition to practice” year that prepares residents for a practice environment that demands sub-specialization in both academic and private practice. Residents take the board exam every year for assessment and must pass before completing the program.
Education Conferences
Training for residents includes weekly education conferences in neuroradiology, neuropathology, neuro-oncology, stroke, combined neurosciences, board preparation, case presentations and modern medical issues. Monthly conferences include morbidity and mortality, journal club and spine club. Residents also receive training in all core competencies.
Enfolded Fellowship
The program recently transitioned the chief resident year from the 7th year of residency to PGY6. This change gives residents the opportunity to enfold a Society of Neurological Surgery Committee Accrediting Sub-specialty Training (CAST)-approved fellowship during their PGY 7 year. This “transition to practice” year prepares residents for a practice environment that demands sub-specialization in both academic and private practice. IU School of Medicine Department of Neurological Surgery educators encourage graduates of this residency program to pursue surgeon-scientist academic careers. Approximately 33 percent of the program’s graduates over the past 10 years have successfully transitioned to an academic career. All graduates of this Neurological Surgery Residency program have passed the oral board certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) and are able to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures appropriate to neurological conditions—independently and competently.