Since 1962, neuroscience patients and the professionals who serve them have chosen Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center for highly skilled care. The unique capabilities, eminent physicians, technological excellence and pioneering research of Barrow are recognized internationally. Each year, patients from across the county and around the world come to St. Joseph's for the specialized care offered at Barrow.
The Neurosurgery Residency Program requires a seven-year commitment.
An integral part of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, the Barrow Neurological Institute, encompasses six divisions: Neurological Surgery, Neurology, Neuro-anesthesiology, Neurobiology, Neuropathology, and Neuroradiology. The objective of the BNI is to foster excellence in patient care, education and research. These goals are pursued vigorously by the staff of the Division of Neurological Surgery with nineteen full-time Neurosurgeons, twenty-three residents, five Clinical Fellows and several Research Fellows.
The BNI Neurosurgery Residency Program is rigorous and fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Four applicants will be selected each year through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Successful applicants are prepared to assume both academic and clinical leadership roles in Neurosurgery.
The program consists of 84 months of training in fundamental skills, clinical neurosurgery and research. The intern year is under the auspices of the Neurosurgery Residency Program Director of Barrow Neurological Institute. PGY1 year is dedicated to training in skills fundamental to becoming a neurosurgeon. Three months of the PGY1 year is spent on neurology services at Barrow, fulfilling the first Neurosurgery Board requirement. Five years are dedicated to clinical neurosurgery training, including rotations in endovascular and vascular surgery, or electives in addition to the core neurosurgical training. Eighteen months of training is devoted to further laboratory research or other electives.
Residents develop their clinical skills by caring for patients in need of the entire spectrum of neurological surgery: trauma, cerebrovascular, spine, neoplastic, functional, and pediatric. The breadth of clinical experience available to residents is reflected by the volume of patients at the Barrow.
Academic activities are an integral part of the BNI Neurosugery Residency program. Residents are encouraged to participate in ongoing research in either the Microsurgical, Cerebrovascular, Pediatric, Pain, or Spinal Injury Neurosurgical Laboratories and to design their own research projects. Residents can also participate in a wide range of basic neuroscience laboratories in the Division of Neurobiology. Residents are expected to prepare papers for publication and presentations at both national and international meetings. A full-service publications office is available to assist with publications. Regularly scheduled clinical and research conferences feature experts whom provide a constructively critical forum for residents to present their work.
The clinical and research environment of the Division of Neurological Surgery is further enriched by three fellowships. Clinical fellowships include a six month research rotation, active participation in resident teaching and are available to applicants with an interest in sub-specializing who have finished their residency. Two one-year cerebrovascular/skull base fellowships offer comprehensive hands-on experience in skull base procedures, extra and intracranial vascular surgery. Two spine fellowships furnish experience encompassing all spinal disorders.
Medical students are invited to apply for four-week neurosurgery electives during their early senior year.
