Year 1| Year 2| Year 3| Year 4| Year 5| Year 6| Year 7
Master |
July - Sept |
Oct - Dec |
Jan - March |
Apr - June |
PGY-1 |
NSGY General Patient Care |
NSGY General Patient Care |
Neurological Surgery |
Neurological Surgery |
PGY-2 |
Neuro Critical Care |
Neurology, Neurosurgical Anesthesia, Neuro Oncology, Neuro Ophthalmology |
Neurological Surgery | Neurological Surgery |
PGY-3 |
Neurological Surgery |
Peds Neurological Surgery |
Peds Neurological Surgery |
Neurological Surgery |
PGY-4 |
Peds Neurological Surgery |
Neuroradiology / Endovascular |
Neuropathology / Gamma Knife / Clinic / Board Prep |
Peds Neurological Surgery |
PGY-5 |
Neurological Surgery |
Neurological Surgery |
Neurological Surgery |
Neurological Surgery |
PGY-6 |
Research Elective |
Research Elective |
Research Elective |
Research Elective |
PGY-7 |
Chief |
Chief |
Chief |
Chief |
The resident will serve 6 months as intern on the main Neurosurgery service, 3 months on Neurology, and 3 months on the Neuro ICU service.
The resident will learn basic surgical techniques and patient management. Critical care skills will be emphasized. The resident will also learn basic neuroscience.
Primary Clinical Skills Performance Based Objectives:
The resident will demonstrate mastery of the following skills:
During this time period, the resident will be assigned to 3 months of neurology at Augusta University Medical Center. Assignments are usually on a consult service where the resident gains practice in the identification and emergent treatment of a number of neurological diseases and syndromes. A part of the assignment may be on a neurology inpatient service where the resident may assist in the therapy of patients assigned to the Neurology service. Disorders encountered may include seizures, movement disorders, headaches, neuromuscular disorders, strokes and other syndromes of primary concern to the neurologist.
The Augusta University Medical Center has an extremely active Neurodiagnostic Unit including EMG, EEG and evoked potential. The Stroke team is internationally known. World-class faculty in epilepsy, dementia and neuromuscular disorders also enhance the residents' experience.
Neurology Goal:
Demonstrate an understanding of the neurological examination, diagnostic neurological
testing, and neurological diseases and their treatment.
Neuro ICU Goal:
The three-month rotation in the neuro ICU is an important educational rotation. The neurosurgery resident will be assigned specific patients and will be responsible for their critical care supervised by neuro ICU attendings and fellows. The neurosurgery resident will round with the neuro ICU team daily, which consists of attendings, fellows, nurse practitioners, pharmacy staff, and nursing staff.
Patient management is discussed in depth, and a care plan is formulated for each patient for the day. The resident then carries out necessary care for each patient with the help of the nurse practitioner and the NICU fellow.
The resident will learn critical care of patients with neurological diseases, airway management, placement of venous and arterial lines, ventilator management, and critical care pathophysiology and pharmacology.
Neurosurgical Goals:
The resident will learn basic Neurosurgical patient evaluation and management including fundamental skills of surgery which may include but is not limited to those listed in the curriculum. The resident will participate in epilepsy and functional Neurosurgical cases with exposure to stereotactic techniques. The PGY-2 year will also include a 3 month rotation on the Neurocritical Care Service.
Neurosurgical Based Performance Objectives:
The third year resident will serve as a junior resident on the main adult Neurosurgery Service and will continue to build on basic neurosurgical skills acquired over the past 2 years.
Neurosurgery Goals: The resident will become more familiar with neurosurgery techniques and treatment of neurosurgery patients.
2. Neuroradiology Goals: (3 month rotation)
Residents will master essentials of neuroradiology including features of relevant
disorders including:
3. Neuroradiology Performance Based Objectives:
4. Following NR and NP the resident will complete their PGY-4 year as a mid level on the VA Neurosurgery Service.
Neuropathology Goals: (3 month rotation)
Residents will learn gross and histopathological features of relevant disorders including:
Neuropathology Performance Based Objectives:
The PGY-5 year will begin with a 3 month pediatric Neurosurgery rotation.
Pediatric Goals:
Demonstrate an understanding of the anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and presentation of diseases in children that a neurosurgeon may be called on to diagnose and treat. Demonstrate the ability to formulate and implement a diagnostic and treatment plan for these diseases.
Pediatric Performance Based Objectives:
Following the pediatric neurosurgery rotation, the resident will return to the VA and serve as chief resident for 6 months.
The research year will begin during the last 3 months of the PGY-5 year.
Research Goals:
The Neurosurgery research rotation is a 1 year period that enables the resident to
undertake an investigational project of a basic science, translational or clinical
nature. The goal of this rotation is that the resident will design a research project,
conduct the research subsequently and present the results of these effects. This
time block may also be used to pursue further subspecialty training.
Research Based Performance Objectives:
The resident will complete their research year with a 9 month block of research time prior to becoming chief resident on the main NS service.
1 year of research may also be used to pursue subspecialty fellowship training in an area of neurosurgery.
The chief resident will have major primary responsibility for patient management with faculty supervision. The chief resident will also have administrative responsibility, as designed by the program director. At the conclusion of the final year, the resident will demonstrate:
At the conclusion of the final year, the resident will demonstrate achievement of these objectives to the satisfaction of the program director and involved faculty. This achievement will be reflected in each resident's formal evaluations.
Advanced Neurosurgical Skills Performance Based Objectives:
Competence developed during the last 12-18 months of Neurosurgery
The resident will competently perform:
Additional Procedures/Options: