Structure of the Program
The Yale Neurosurgery Program is designed to provide a broad neurosurgical background and an exposure to subspecialty neurosurgery as well as an opportunity to engage in both clinical and basic research such that the individual resident may choose the clinical or academic practice of neurosurgery.
Education is the binding theme of the Department's entire effort. The Department requires residents to learn not just be taught, expects all to contribute to the learning process not passively accept it. Personal contact by the faculty provides for individual evaluation of the resident's performance in seminars, on the wards, in the OR, in the clinics and in the laboratory. The Department can then best understand their needs, potential, and productivity.
The Neurosurgical Residency Program at the Yale New Haven Hospital is a seven-year program under the direction of the Department of Neurosurgery at The Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Dennis Spencer is the Chair of the Department and Dr. Charles Duncan is Program Director for the Residency.
While it is expected that those entering the program will complete their residency, all appointments to the program are for one year with advancement based on continuing acceptable performance. Residents are evaluated continuously by the faculty and senior residents in accordance with the General Competencies.
Training in Neurosciences
- Neurology
Neurology and neurosurgery share the same clinical space, intensive care units, and, in many cases, the same patients, hence, neurology and neurosurgery residents and attending are continually interacting. Residents spend 3 to 6 months on the neurology service; 3 months of which is now a part of the PGY 1 year. The neurology services has a several day introductory lectures series with both neurology and neurosurgery attending as faculty. Neurosurgery junior residents attend this course. Goals and objectives in neurology follow the Resident Curriculum Guidelines from the Education Committee, as do the other topics in residency education. The complete listing for all topics is provided in the current Resident Handbook with the overall goal to understand the neurologic examination, diagnostic neurologic testing, neurologic diseases and their treatment. Resident are encouraged to spend further time in neurology at more advanced levels
- Neuropathology
Neuropathology is a part of several multidisciplinary neurosurgery conferences each week. A neuropathology lecture series is a regular part of the conference schedule in neurosurgery. Clinical neuropathology cases are presented each week and residents do a one month rotation in neuropathology. Additionally, residents attend the AFIP short course.
- Neuroanatomy
Anatomic principals of neurosurgery are regularly discussed in neurosurgery conferences. Several lectures are held each year on Neuroanatomy and residents in the laboratory are both teachers and students in the Medical School's neuroanatomy course (Neurobiology 500b). Both the faculty and the residents participate in the Gross Anatomy Course for first year students.
- Neurophysiology
Neurophysiology is the topic of several lectures each year for the residents. The majority of the neurosurgery research faculty have a primary interest in neurophysiology, hence, many residents engage in neurophysiological research. Additionally, the subject is the topic of many seminars in the department. While on neurology residents have an intensive experience in electrophysiology.
- Neuroradiology
Neuroradiology is a part of several multidisciplinary neurosurgery conferences each week. Didactic neuroradiology lectures are held several times each year and most residents do a one month rotation in neuroradiology during the PGY 1 year. Currently, interventional neuroradiology is a critical component of the weekly neurovascular conference and is offered as an elective rotation.
Application Process
How to Apply
Application to the Program is strictly through the San Francisco Match. Details of that process are found at that website, http://sfmatch.org. While the PGY 1 year is supervised by the Yale Neurosurgery Residency Program separate registration and application must be made through ERAS for the PGY 1 year in General Surgery at Yale. Our program has 2 positions each year. Applications are reviewed by the faculty and invitations offered for interviews. Interviews take place Tuesday-Wednesday between November and early January during selected weeks. Every effort is made to accommodate applicant travel schedules. Applicants are encouraged to consider a subinternship experience prior to application.
For specific questions regarding residency in Neurosurgery at Yale-New Haven Medical Center email Sharon Dawson or call the Department of Neurosurgery at 203-737-2066.
Academic Opportunities
Fellowships
The epilepsy surgery program offers a flexible experience in the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to medically intractable seizures. A single position for six months to one year is available either following completion of neurosurgical training or embedded within the residency. A Yale-New Haven Hospital resident may elect to concentrate within this specialty for six months to one year and, if choosing this path, may combine clinical experience with ongoing research related to epilepsy.
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For individuals choosing the one-year course, either during or following neurosurgery training, the year begins in July and the first three months are spent in Neurology. Here the fellow works with the medical epileptologists attending outpatient clinics, evaluating patients for the surgical program, learning about the appropriate selection of anticonvulsants, and studying both scalp and intracranial electroencephalography. The surgical fellow rotates with the neurology fellows supervising the audiovisual monitoring (AVEEG) of Phase-1 patients (24-hour scalp monitoring selection for surgical candidacy) and caring for the patients undergoing chronic intracranial study (Phase 3). The fellow is supervised in the AVEEG monitoring suite by an epileptology faculty and is then responsible for presenting these patients at the weekly Monday epilepsy surgery conference. The next nine months are then spent in the surgical arm of the program where they take part in both diagnostic and therapeutic surgical procedures. There is a close interaction with the other residents who also take part in the surgical procedures assuming the role of assistant or primary surgeon, depending on year of training and ability. The fellow is expected to carry out at least one clinical research project during this year, attend twice weekly clinics, present at monthly Journal Club, and at the end of the year prepare an abstract for the yearly meeting of the American Epilepsy Society.
Undergraduate Teaching
The department is used for undergraduate teaching by the Yale University School of Medicine. During their laboratory experience residents participate in the neuroanatomy course as lecturer and laboratory supervisor. In this course the neurosurgery resident acts both as teacher and student. This role has been extremely well received and according to the medical student reviews accounts for much of the enthusiasm for neurosurgery. One to 4 students will be on the clinical service at one time
Third year medical students have a four week Clinical Neurosciences Rotation with a choice of adult neurology, pediatric neurology, neurosurgery or outpatient experience. The student who chooses neurosurgery works closely with the residents and attendings as an integral member of the team. Fourth year medical students may elect a subinternship in neurosurgery and similarly be an integral part of the service. There is a surgical intern on the neurosurgery service at YNHH at essentially all times. The residents have responsibility for teaching these students and interns. These interactions with students are an important guide to mentoring for the residents. There is a noon conference each Friday where the medical students present selected educational cases. The residents prepare the students and question them during the conference. Similarly, students present at other general conferences and chief’s rounds.
Each year a number of students complete their medical school thesis in the Department and a number of others will do shorter projects as well.
Residents teaching residents is an important aspect to neurosurgical education. The faculty makes every effort possible to assure this is well supervised and appropriate. Some of the best-received teaching conferences are those were resident present topics to their peers. Additionally, the residents have an opportunity to teach general surgery, neurology, and pediatric house staff about surgical diseases of the nervous system.
Neurosurgery
P.O., Box 208082
New Haven, CT 06520-8082
Tel: 203.785.2805
Fax: 203.785.6916
neurosurgery@yale.edu
Universities and Colleges offering Nuerosurgery
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