Curriculum

Mission

The Mission of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Neurological Surgery Residency Program is to train competent, compassionate, proficient neurosurgeons capable of independently pursuing the neurosurgical career of their choice with exemplary success and the highest degree of integrity. The Program provides an environment that is intentionally inclusive, promotes diverse perspectives, and trains graduates to become advocates for their patients and communities.

Program Aims

  • Train competent and compassionate neurosurgeons capable of independently pursuing the neurosurgical career of their choice with expertise and integrity
  • Ensure each graduate is proficient in general neurosurgery and expert in at least one neurosurgical sub-specialty
  • Encourage and prepare residents to pursue careers in teaching, research, and academics
  • Innovate to continue to improve the way in which residents are trained, and share those innovations on national and international platforms
  • Teach residents to identify patients and populations who are medically underserved or vulnerable and to endeavor to improve the lives of people within those communities through patient care, research, and service
  • Promote a culture of professionalism, work-life balance, and personal wellness

Curriculum Overview

PGY-1: First year residents work with adult critically ill patients, injured patients presenting to the ER, patients with traumatic injuries, nervous system injuries and diseases. Residents will also be exposed to common pediatric surgical procedures. During the Neurosurgery rotation residents will manage consults, in-house patients and be trained to perform bedside procedures. 

  • 4 months General Neurosurgery
  • 3 months Neurology
  • 2 months Neurointensive Care
  • 1 month each on Trauma, Pediatric Surgery and NeuroAnesthesia
  • 2 weeks on Emergency Medicine

PGY-2: 4 months each on adult Spine, Tumor, and Vascular/Functional
Call shifts of 12-24 hours approximately every fourth or fifth evening

Second year residents work closely with the senior residents at the adult hospital where they rotate on the spine, tumor, vascular and functional services. Residents continue developing fundamental knowledge of neurosurgery patient management from inpatient and consult experiences. Residents are expected to take and pass the ABNS anatomy exam at the beginning of the academic year and will take the ABNS primary exam for practice in the spring.

PGY-3: Third year residents are exposed to both pediatric and adult patients with neurological diseases on rotations at the children’s, veteran’s administration and adult hospitals. Residents continue to develop, at an intermediate level of knowledge, neurosurgery patient management from inpatient, outpatient and consult experiences. Residents are expected to take the ABNS primary exam for practice in the spring with the goal of obtaining a passing score.

  • 4 months Pediatric Neurosurgery at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital
  • 4 months at the Veterans Administration Hospital
  • 4 months floating on the Adult Neurosurgery VUMC Service
  • Call shifts of 12-24 hours approximately every fourth or fifth evening

PGY-4/PGY-5:  Residents in their fourth and fifth years engage in elective time that is specific to their individual career goals. Every effort is made to support all residents in locating resources and arranging schedules that are suitable for successful completion of degrees, fellowships, and educational experiences.

  • Research                                                    
  • Basic Science                         
  • Global Health
  • Clinical sub-specialty (enfolded fellowship at Vanderbilt or another program)
  • Advanced Degree (MPH, MSCI, MBA, etc.)

Residents are expected to take the ABNS primary exam for credit in the spring with the goal of obtaining a passing score, preferably ranked in the higher percentile of exam takers.

  • PGY 4 Residents equally share in the planning of weekly Journal Club meetings
  • PGY 5 Residents are involved in the recruiting process by interviewing candidates and organizing virtual events
  • Call shifts for PGY 4 are occasional 12 and 24 hour shifts on weekends
  • Call shifts for PGY 5 are as needed (at-risk shifts)

PGY-6: Sixth year residents will take on a mentoring role to the junior residents at the adult hospital engaged in spine, tumor, vascular and functional services. Residents should be at the intermediate to advance knowledge level of neurosurgery patient management. Depending on the resident goals to complete a sub-specialty fellowship this could also be a chief resident year.

  • 4 months each on adult Spine, Tumor, and Vascular/Functional
  • Weekly resident clinic, one day a week, during the Tumor service
  • Pager at-home call

PGY-7: Seventh year residents are either completing an enfolded fellowship or rotating at the adult hospital on spine, tumor, vascular and functional services. Senior residents should have advance knowledge of neurosurgery patient management as they supervise and direct the resident team. Chief residents equally share in administrative responsibilities of managing call schedules, assigning residents OR coverage, approving vacations, etc.

  • 4 months each on adult Spine, Tumor, and Vascular/Functional
  • Pager at-home call
  • Chief administrative responsibilities

There is a gradual assumption of increasing responsibility and authority during the 7 years of Residency with a strong emphasis on hands-on training. This is supplemented by conferences and didactic teaching. Residents must pass the Primary Examination of the American Boards of Neurological Surgeons prior to becoming Chief Resident. Graduates from our program are well placed to pursue successful careers in academic or private practice and ultimately become leaders in Neurological Surgery.

Overall resident goals are to:

  • efficiently complete a detailed history and physical examination, formulate a differential diagnosis of the patient’s problem, put forward a diagnostic evaluation and plan, and discuss the various surgical approaches for a particular condition and their advantages and disadvantages. 
  • become familiar with the role and interpretation of various diagnostic studies in managing neurosurgery patients, including CT scans, MRI scans, arteriograms, and advanced imaging.
  • develop an understanding of the indications for elective neurosurgical procedures and for the management of acute neurosurgical emergencies.
  • prepare a patient for surgery including ordering and interpreting laboratory tests, prescribing appropriate medications, obtaining informed consent and placing preoperative orders.  
  • know how to position the patient for surgery and should develop technical skills appropriate for the level of training. 
  • manage the postoperative care of the patient in an intensive care unit setting as well as on the regular ward including the postoperative orders and the daily observation, examination, and management of both routine recovery and complications.