Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery Website

Total length of training for board eligibility:

5 years

Preliminary years required?

Yes - Preliminary Surgery

Major Sub-Specialties and length of Fellowship Training:

The only subspecialty of Neurological Surgery accredited by the ACGME is Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology which requires 2 years of fellowship training.

Fellowships are available in a number of subspecialties of neurosurgery. Generally they last one to two years. Lists of such fellowships is maintained by the Society of Neurological Surgeons and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

Areas of subspecialty include:

Spinal Neurosurgery
Surgical Neurooncology
Skull Base Surgery
Neurosurgical Trauma and Critical Care
Peripheral Neurosurgery
Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
Epilepsy Surgery
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
Cerebrovascular Surgery
Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology
Pediatric Neurosurgery

A reasonably competitive candidate should have the following:

Basic Science Honors: optional
For selection, honors in basic science is: less important

USMLE Step 1 Boards: score >90th %
For selection, the Step 1 score is: very important

USMLE Step 2 Boards: score >90th %
For selection, an appropriate Step 2 score is: very important

Research experience: should have
For selection, medical school research experience is: very important
Research should be in the specialty area:   no

Honors in specialty rotation: should have
For selection, Honors in the specialty rotation is: very important

Honors in core clerkships: should have
For selection, Honors in core clerkships is: very important

Election to AOA: is optional
For selection, membership in AOA is: very important

Other Selection Factors:

Interview and recommendation letters.

Recommended courses:

Neurosurgery subinternship

Specialty Societies:

Congress of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Neurological Surgeons

Major Journals:

Journal of Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery
Surgical Neurology

Be aware of the following:

Early match, planning 4th year carefully and neurosurgery subinternship at beginning of fourth year.

For further information contact:

Cornelius Lam
Department of Neurosurgery
MMC 96 Mayo
420 Delaware Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612) 624-5433
(612) 624-6666

Stephen J. Haines, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Neurosurgery
MMC 96 Mayo
420 Delaware Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(612) 626-5767

 

The content editor for this page is Katrina McGill, kdmcgill@umn.edu, (612) 626-0163