Neurological Surgery Residency Program

The UT Southwestern Neurosurgery Department consists of ten faculty dedicated to the various neurosurgical subspecialties. Three cerebrovascular faculty contribute to an internationally recognized expertise in cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery. Complex spine, skull base surgery, functional neurosurgery and trauma are also well developed as is our neuro-oncology center. The Neurosurgeons For Children at Children's Medical Center of Dallas contribute an additional five faculty to an intensive pediatric experience.

The goal of the residency program is to provide strong clinical training and foster good judgment in the field of neurosurgery in preparation for an academic career or an exemplary private practice. Emphasis is on a practical, patient-centered approach to the field with superlative technical training.  Most residents also are involved with ongoing clinical or basic science research.  Strong leadership abilities are also sought and cultivated.

Residency Overview

The Neurological Surgery Residency at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas is seven years in length including one introductory year of general surgery at our institution.  Two residents are appointed each year of the six neurosurgical years for a total of twelve residents in the training program. 

The initial two years of neurosurgery (PGY-2 and PGY-3) are devoted to mastering patient and critical care skills. Basic operative approaches, patient selection and surgical skills are also emphasized.  Rotations for the PGY-2 and PGY-3 years are primarily at Parkland Memorial Hospital and the Zale Lipshy University Hospital. The third year also includes time for the micro-dissection laboratory with participation as an instructor in our cerebral aneurysm course at the annual Congress of Neurological Surgery meeting. Development of a basic science research project also takes place.

For those residents who are considering a career in academic neurosurgery or in a subspecialty practice setting, the PGY-4 year should be devoted to implementing laboratory or clinical research plans developed in the third year. For those planning to become general neurosurgeons this year may be spent on various clinical rotations including the spine service, the tumor service and at the Children's hospital. When sufficient competence is demonstrated, PGY-4 and PGY-5 residents rotate at the Veteran's Hospital where higher levels of autonomy and decision-making are developed.

The final two years (PGY-6 and PGY-7) are spent in chief resident rotations at Parkland Memorial Hospital and Zale Lipshy University Hospital and on senior resident rotations or mini-fellowships in various subspecialty areas. To a degree these years are tailored to the individual resident's educational needs to fulfill both board requirements and ultimate career goals. Trauma and critical care, complex spine, skull base surgery and functional neurosurgery are among the options for mini-fellowship experiences. Residents with an interest in cerebrovascular surgery may elect for an intensive experience in micro-neurosurgery or may have access to an introductory experience in endovascular surgery.

During these final two years some time is spent as the Chief Resident at Parkland and on the cerebrovascular service at Zale Lipshy. These rotations allow development of teaching and leadership skills and include training on how to organize an academic or private neurosurgery practice. Basic surgical skills are expected to be in place prior to these rotations so that the focus can be on surgical nuances.

Didactic Conferences

Several mandatory didactic conferences take place weekly and monthly throughout the year. The conferences are mandatory in order to protect the resident's ability to attend. Monthly morbidity and mortality conference features resident presentation of each month's cases, with emphasis on identifying management decision-making processes. Each week surgical spine, tumor and cerebrovascular conferences are held. Residents and faculty bring their challenging cases to discuss operative planning and to participate in resident, student and nurse education. Journal Club occurs monthly and is devoted to a general overview of the month's new literature with focused debate over timely issues.

A visiting professor conference is conducted bi-monthly in which a distinguished professor with national acclaim is featured. Elective surgical activities are suspended to allow for this half-day of lectures. Two lectures are delivered by the guest and additional current topics are presented by the local faculty or senior residents. A few times a year an afternoon session occurs consisting of hands-on training in spine instrumentation with "saw bones" exercises or endovascular training using simulators.

Application Process

Medical students interested in obtaining information about or applying for the neurosurgery program at UT Southwestern should contact Ms. Mary Cook at mary.cook@"nospam"utsouthwestern.edu.  (Please remove "nospam" from email address: this is to prevent spiderbots from gathering and using this email address.)

All  applications and related documents must be processed through the Central Application Service (CAS) provided by the Neurological Surgery Matching Program (www.sfmatch.org).
 
 
Welcome To Our Newest Residents
The Department is pleased to announce that Mark Ettinger (LSU Health Sciences Center) and Mark Reddick (Tulane University School of Medicine) have matched with our program and will begin neurosurgical residency training in July of 2005, by starting their PGY-1 year in General Surgery.  Interviews for 2006 will be in November and December 2005.

Fellowships
Fellowships (post-residency additional training) are occasionally offered in cerebrovascular surgery (neurovascular and combined neurointerventional/neurovascular) and in spinal neurosurgery. Interested parties should contact Ms. Cook (mary.cook@"nospam"utsouthwestern.edu) for details. (Please remove "nospam" from address....)

Electives and Preceptorships
Medical students interested in an elective at UT Southwestern in 2004 should apply beginning in March. A copy of your transcripts and CV are required. Space is limited. Contact Mary Cook (mary.cook@"nospam"utsouthwestern.edu) for details. (Please remove "nospam" from address...)