Residency Training Program
The Neurosurgical Residency Program at Case School of Medicine is six years in length and is designed to offer residents all opportunities necessary to achieve their professional goals within the field. Many residents pursue academic careers and spend two full years in basic or translational research. Protected time is provided for an in-depth laboratory experience as preparation for investigative aspects of academic careers. Additionally, for those residents so inclined, infolded clinical fellowships and specialized clinical training may be pursued. Residency training is carried out primarily at two sites: University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC) and MetroHealth Medical Center (MHMC). A varied patient mix at these institutions provides residents with a thorough exposure to the full range of neurological illnesses and surgical technology. Residents are given steadily increasing authority for patient care during the clinical years.
PGY 1: Effective July 1, 2009, the PGY-1 year (general surgery internship) will become a categorical component of the neurosurgical residency; therefore, it is strongly encouraged to be taken at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. Rotations in the neurointensive care unit as well as 3 months of clinical neurology and 3 months of neurosurgery are included within the first year.
PGY 2: Six months of clinical service at University Hospitals and six months of clinical service at MetroHealth Medical Center. Residents are exposed to a variety as cases and surgical skills are developed. Intensive care and floor service management skills and clinical decision making is honed. Time is spent with the chief resident as complex cranial openings are learned.
PGY 3: Nine months of clinical service at University Hospitals. Further development of patient management is encouraged and surgical responsibilities are increased. The remaining three months are spent on clinical neuropathology and clinical neuroradiology rotations.
PGY 4: Nine months of clinical servive at University Hospitals and three months of service elective time. Residents are considered senior clinical residents at this level and are expected to manage critical care and service patients. Operative responsibilities are further increased and lead operative roles in complex surgical cases are provided under supervision. Service elective time includes rotations in interventional neuroradiology, gamma knife radiosurgery, and outpatient consultation.
PGY 5 and 6: Off-service time. Residents are afforded protected time for academic and translational research or infolded clinical fellowships/specialized training. Limited weekend chief coverage is expected. Attendance at national neurosurgery conferences is highly encouraged.
PGY 7: Chief residency. Successful completion of the written portion of the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) for credit is required prior to this year. Residents spend six months at MetroHealth Medical Center and six months at University Hospitals.
Rotation Schedule
| July - Sept | Oct - Dec | Jan - Mar | Apr - Jun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGY-2 | Neurosurgery | Neurosurgery | MetroHealth Rotation |
MetroHealth Rotation |
| MetroHealth Rotation | MetroHealth Rotation | Neurosurgery | Neurosurgery | |
| PGY-3 | Neurosurgery |
Neurosurgery | Neurosurgery | Neuropathology/ Neuroradiology |
| Neurosurgery | Neuropathology/ Neuroradiology |
Neurosurgery | Neurosurgery | |
| PGY-4 | Neurosurgery | Neurosurgery | Elective | Neurosurgery |
| Elective | Neurosurgery | Neurosurgery | Neurosurgery | |
| PGY-5 | Research | Research | Research | Research |
| Research | Research | Research | Research | |
| PGY-6 | Research | Research | Research | Research |
| Research | Research | Research | Research | |
| PGY-7 | Chief Resident | Chief Resident | MetroHealth Chief | MetroHealth Chief |
| MetroHealth Chief | MetroHealth Chief | Chief Resident | Chief Resident |
Call Responsibilities
| Calls per Month | |
|---|---|
| PGY-2 | 8 |
| PGY-3 | 6 |
| PGY-4 | 6 |
| PGY-5 | Chief coverage (1 weekend) |
| PGY-6 | Chief coverage ( 1 weekend) |
