Students who are considering a career in neurosurgery should contact Dr. Paul B. Nelson, Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery. After assessing the student's goals and academic performance, recommendations will be given relative to the student's likelihood of matching into a neurosurgery training program and the time line of choosing an advisor, planning for senior year electives, and preparing the application for the central application service.
SENIOR ELECTIVES:
Students that have had no introduction into research or who would like an additional research experience should strongly consider the Neurosurgical Honors Program which consists of two months in the laboratory and one month on a clinical service. For those students who want an additional month of neurosurgical exposure but do not want a research experience, senior electives are available at IU, Wishard, Riley, and Methodist hospitals. Many students interested in neurosurgery will also elect to do a month of neurosurgery at an outside academic training program.
GRADUATE SURGICAL TRAINING:
A surgical internship is no longer required before starting the formal neurosurgical training program. Most neurosurgical training programs are either 6 or 7 years in length after the internship. A program should expose the resident to adult neurosurgery, pediatric neurosurgery, research, and the neurosurgical subspecialties. Most neurosurgical training programs will prepare a resident for a career in academic neurosurgery or private practice.
SUMMARY:
Any student who is interested in a potential career in neurosurgery should feel free to seek advice from any member of the Department of Neurological Surgery or any of the neurosurgical residents or fellows. Students are also welcome to attend any of the neurosurgical conferences at any time during the year. Any member of the Department of Neurological Surgery could serve as a faculty advisor.
Paul B. Nelson, M.D.
Betsey Barton Professor and Chairman
Department of Neurological Surgery