Mission

Our mission is to train well-balanced neurologic surgeons who are research oriented and who will be leaders in military neurosurgery. It is our general philosophy to provide numerous clinical and research opportunities for each resident. Toward that goal, we have established relationships with several medical and research organizations within our system and the National Capital Region. It is our belief that by providing our neurosurgical residents a myriad of clinical and research opportunities, they will develop into well-rounded neurological surgeons and military officers. Through close mentoring we aim to provide strong role models that the neurosurgery resident can emulate.

Vision

The Neurological Surgery Residency Program is a world-renowned and respected program dedicated to training the military neurosurgeons prepared to perform complex surgeries in austere environments while advancing research into the care of the combat wounded.

Aims

• Educate Residents to be excellent practitioners of neurological surgery in a multi-disciplinary care model.
• Produce excellent independent practitioners who will be able to care for patients in the most complicated and austere environments.
• Educate residents to be excellent military officers who will be leaders in military medicine.
• Produce excellent independent practitioners capable and comfortable practicing all aspects of neurological surgery.

Our program has academics every Monday morning. Included in academics are weekly case conferences of upcoming complex cases, bi-weekly tumor board, cadaver lab once a month, faculty presentations on their sub-specialties, mortality and morbidity conference, and journal club.

Research Rotations at various local institutions can be performed as an elective.

Call schedule varies depending on the rotation.

We have a very unique program in that it is one of the only programs with residents from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. We therefore incorporate aspects of each service into our military unique curriculum which includes officer evaluation reports, medical board processes, considerations for deployments and austere environments, and writing of medical profiles for service members.

We have no required courses, but Residents are able to select one course of their choosing to attend during their residency.

We work closely with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) simulation center to provide simulated patient experiences for our residents that include delivering bad news, the focused neurologic exam, and dealing with difficult patients.

The Neurosurgery Department has a robust research program with its main focus on traumatic brain injury. There are ongoing projects developing new biomarkers for TBI, objective measures for diagnosis and prognostication in mild traumatic brain injury. Residents have the opportunity to do research with the Military Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (MTBI2) at USUHS or with various investigators throughout the university. Additionally, the department has ongoing research in peripheral nerve injuries and their repair. Residents are expected to conduct research throughout their residency culminating in a peer reviewed journal submission.

Residents take part in mortality and morbidity conference, root cause analyses, and are required to complete one quality improvement project during their residency.

• INOVA Fairfax
• Children’s National Hospital
• Washington Hospital Center
• Holy Cross Hospital
• University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center
• Joint Pathology Center

Third year USUHS students as part of their surgery block are able to rotate through the department. Additionally, Sub-interns are accepted for those fourth year students interested in applying for Neurosurgical Residency.

To schedule an interview with our program, contact dha.ncr.walter-reed-med-ctr.list.ncc-neurosurg@health.mil.

Program graduates are required to take and pass the American Board of Neurological Surgery Neuroanatomy exam as a PGY2. Additionally, they are required to take and pass the American Board of Neurological Surgery Primary exam before their PGY-7 chief resident year. This exam is offered annually in March. To become fully board certified, applicants are eligible to take the American Board of Neurological Surgery oral exam after completing 125 major operative cases after graduation.

Residents are able become instructors in the Department of Surgery at USUHS and have responsibilities for teaching rotating medical students.

Faculty have subspecialty training in:

• Neurotrauma/Neurocritical Care
• Skull Base Surgery
• Endovascular Surgery
• Complex Spine Surgery
• Peripheral Nerve Surgery
• Pediatric Neurosurgery

Wellness is critical in maintaining our resident's physical, mental, and emotional health. We have occasional resident well-being activities to help support our residents during training.