The Neurological Surgery Residency at Indiana University School of Medicine is a competitive seven-year program that consists of a well-executed clinical and didactic curriculum that includes cadaver and simulation training in addition to clinical experience. This ACGME-accredited program was established in 1949 and graduates two residents (alternating with three residents every other year) for a total resident complement of 18.
Residency Program
Commitment to Diversity
IU School of Medicine is dedicated to fostering an inclusive learning environment with representational diversity and cultural competence.
Clinical Training
With the guidance of faculty surgeons, neurosurgery residents are responsible for the care of adults and children with neurological surgery needs, including epilepsy surgery, frame and frameless stereotactic surgery, functional neurosurgery, gamma knife radiosurgery, intracranial and carotid vascular surgery, neuroendoscopy, neuro-oncology, Level 1 cranial and spinal neurotrauma, skull base surgery, and spinal instrumentation and peripheral nerve surgery.
At IU Health Methodist Hospital, the addition of the Synaptive Robot and BrightMatter™ technology is advancing the care and training of surgery for brain tumors and intracerebral hemorrhages.
Residents train at leading medical facilities in Indianapolis: IU Health Methodist, Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health, Eskenazi Health and Roudebush VA Medical Center. These varied hospital settings allow residents to experience a diverse patient population that includes the underserved and a case mix that exceeds the case minimums required by the Neurological Surgery Residency Review Committee (RRC).
Surgeon Scientist Career Preparation
The program recently transitioned the chief resident year from the 7th year of residency to PGY6. This change gives residents the opportunity to enfold a Society of Neurological Surgery Committee Accrediting Sub-specialty Training (CAST)-approved fellowship during their PGY 7 year. This “transition to practice” year prepares residents for a practice environment that demands sub-specialization in both academic and private practice.
IU School of Medicine Department of Neurological Surgery educators encourage graduates of this residency program to pursue surgeon-scientist academic careers. Approximately 33 percent of the program’s graduates over the past 10 years have successfully transitioned to an academic career.
All graduates of this Neurological Surgery Residency program have passed the oral board certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) and are able to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures appropriate to neurological conditions—independently and competently.
Neurological Surgery Residency in Indianapolis
Applicants to this Neurological Surgery residency should have a minimum USMLE Step 1 Board score of 230. All residents must publish one paper annually.
Medical students who are considering a Neurological Surgery residency in Indianapolis can find details about IU School of Medicine’s Graduate Medical Education program, including application requirements and details on stipends, benefits, policies and more, through the Office of GME.