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The neurosurgery residency program provides progressive responsibility in pre and postoperative patient care, in the non-operative management of patients and the development of operative skills in a wide range of neurosurgical areas, including gamma knife, endovascular and skull base surgery, complex spine and pediatric neurosurgery. There are also opportunities for independent research and academic pursuits including obtaining a PhD.  The endpoint of the program produces neurosurgeons trained and capable of assuming independent responsibility for a full spectrum of neurosurgical procedures and the research skills for an academic neurosurgical career.

Description of Resident Experience on Neurologic Surgery Services

OSU Hospital: The focus on the University Hospital service is comprehensive.  Residents rotate at the PGY 1/2/3/6/7 levels. Patients are seen in the outpatient neurosurgery clinic at least one time per week.  Inpatients are at the University Hospital and James Cancer Hospital. Cases to be done are discussed with the attending faculty and the indications for the procedure, medial and surgical alternatives and neuroradiologic studies are reviewed. Postoperative outpatients are discussed and outcomes are reviewed with the operating residents.

The focus of the neurosurgical service includes tumor surgery with exposure to gamma knife, vascular surgery including aneurysm, endovascular neurosurgery including coiling, arteriovenous malformations, and skull base approaches to the cranium.

Spine surgery including herniated discs in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar area, interspinal tumors, and vascular formations. This includes all stages of complex spine procedures with fixation and fusion.

Children’s Hospital of Columbus provides a unique opportunity for the management of the pediatric neurosurgical patient. Residents rotate at Children’s Hospital at a junior and senior level, PGY2/6. During this rotation, they have exposure to congenital abnormalities, tumors, vascular abnormalities, trauma, as they affect the pediatric patient.

SICU at University Hospital is assigned during the PGY1 year (two months) while on the general surgery rotation. The ICU team is directed by a staff, a critical care specialist, and the team has co-management responsibilities with the primary surgical service. The specific objectives include management of shock, sepsis, myocardial disease, multiple organ failure and respiratory failure, as well as any other complication in post surgical patients. The residents gain experience in endotracheal intubation, invasive monitoring and ventilator management. Teaching rounds take place daily.

As a PGY2 on the neurosurgery service, the resident will be further exposed to SICU co-management responsibilities at a more advanced level. However, these will specifically include the management of complex neurosurgical patients particularly the management of head injured patients with increased intracranial pressure and the management of patients with intracranial vascular disease and the complications of vascular disease such as intracranial hematoma, vasospasm, etc.

The PGY 6/7 is responsible for communicating with and educating the PGY 2/3 and helping the PGY 2/3 develop skills that allow him/her to become a productive member of the neurosurgical team. This especially includes procedures such as intracranial monitoring, ventriculostomy, lumbar puncture, arterial lines, sub-clavian lines etc.

The PGY 4/5 years are off service and devoted to generally non-clinical activities such as research.  During these years the resident may pursue independent research in neurosurgery in one of the many laboratories at OSU including but not limited to tumor research, spinal cord injury research etc.  There is the opportunity of pursuing a PhD and clinical research in Endovascular Neurosurgery, gamma knife, and tumor is also available.

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