Donate
MSNTC
  • Support
    • Virtual Trivia Night
    • Race for Neurosurgery Education
  • Education
    • Training Camp
    • Virtual Training Camp
    • Live Online
    • Virtual Research Symposium
  • Student Resources
    • Video Library
    • TNJ Podcast
    • Events Calendar
    • NERVE
  • Brain & Spine Report
    • Articles & Issues
    • About
    • Editorial Board
    • Authorship Guidelines (Beta)
    • Submit
  • Volunteer
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Research Projects
    • Publications
  • Contact
  • Support
    • Virtual Trivia Night
    • Race for Neurosurgery Education
  • Education
    • Training Camp
    • Virtual Training Camp
    • Live Online
    • Virtual Research Symposium
  • Student Resources
    • Video Library
    • TNJ Podcast
    • Events Calendar
    • NERVE
  • Brain & Spine Report
    • Articles & Issues
    • About
    • Editorial Board
    • Authorship Guidelines (Beta)
    • Submit
  • Volunteer
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Research Projects
    • Publications
  • Contact
Picture
Amplifying the Voice of Clinical Neuroscience
​
Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center


Picture
x
Picture

11/15/2022

Neurosurgery Residency Program Spotlight Series: West Virginia University

 
Picture
Picture
Authors: William Blanks BSc (1), Divine Nwafor PhD (1, 2), and Cara Sedney MD (1).
 
Affiliations:
(1) Department of Neurosurgery, West Virginia University School of Medicine, WV, USA.
(2) Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University School of Medicine, WV, USA.
 
 
Introduction to WVU Neurosurgery
West Virginia University's (WVU) neurosurgery residency program trains neurosurgery leaders who can command a high degree of competence in both clinical and academic settings. Situated in Morgantown, WV, the WVU neurosurgery residency program is a seven-year (84 months) program that prepares residents to become highly skilled in managing a broad spectrum of neurological disorders. Upon completion of the program, residents are prepared to practice in a variety of settings including private practice and academic medicine. A unique feature of WVU's neurosurgical residency program is its highly individualized interactions between trainees and faculty. This intimate interaction ensures clinical competency is achieved across the six ACGME core competencies. Residents work together through peer mentorship and guidance to learn operative and non-operative skills. Perks available to residents are meal access to the hospital eatery (including Starbucks), monthly wellness dinners, and semi-yearly retreats. Third-year WVU medical students can rotate with the neurosurgical team during their surgical clerkship. Students interested in pursuing neurosurgery as a career have a dedicated four-week elective during their final year. The four-week elective is open for both home and away students via VSLO.
 
Sitting at the intersection of WV, PN, and OH, Morgantown is affordable and able to cater to a wide variety of interests and hobbies. Canoeing, mountain biking, and rock climbing are popular outdoor activities. Morgantown is full of amenities that include comfortable living–local bakeries, coffee shops, and eateries. Pittsburgh is within a 90-minute drive and offers a getaway on weekends. Likewise, major cities like Washington DC and Columbus are within a three- and half-hour drive. Locals will frequently make day trips to catch a show or go shopping.
 
WVU's neurosurgery department spans three regional hospitals. Furthermore, WVU is home to the world-class Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, a leader in functional neurosurgery and interdisciplinary neurosurgical care [2] [3]. The Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI), under the leadership of Dr. Ali Rezai, is the home of several major groundbreaking clinical trials. A few of these trials include deep-brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease, neuromodulation for drug addiction, and focused ultrasound with antibody therapy for early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
 
For medical students interested in our program, applications are submitted through ERAS, and residents are selected via the National Residency Matching Program. Residents must maintain licensure through either the West Virginia Board of Medicine or the West Virginia Osteopathic Board of Medicine. Residents are expected to maintain a high degree of professionalism and clinical competence.
  
Junior Years 
The PGY-1 year consists of two six-month rotations: General Care/Clinical Neurosciences (incorporating trauma, endovascular, radiation oncology, and gamma knife) and Neurocritical Care (including anesthesia). Residents must complete USMLE Step 3 during this year. During PGY-2, residents are expected to involve themselves in a QI project. The majority of this year is focused on taking leadership in managing inpatient care. Half of the PGY-3 rotation is inpatient care, with the other half divided between endovascular and pediatric neurosurgery. The PGY-4 year allows for flexibility whereby residents can conduct research (basic and/or clinical) or may pursue an enfolded fellowship in an area of interest (see below).
 
Senior Years 
The PGY-5 year marks the transition to a senior resident in the neurosurgery service. Similar to PGY-3, this year is dedicated to neurosurgery service for half the year, with the remaining half split between endovascular and pediatrics. The chief year is split between the PGY-6 and PGY-7 years. The first half of the PGY-6 year is dedicated to general neurosurgical care, with the remaining half geared toward performing the role of chief resident.
 
Fellowships 
Fellowships offered include Stereotactic/Functional (CAST), Enfolded Neurocritical Care (CAST), and Endovascular Neurosurgery (CAST) [3]. The one-year Stereotactic/Functional CAST Fellowship includes collaboration between neurology, psychology, psychiatry, neurophysiology, and radiology. During this fellowship, residents will work closely with Drs Ali Rezai, Peter Konrad, and Nicholas Brandmeir – leaders in the functional neurosurgery field [4]. The Endovascular CAST Neurosurgery Fellowship is one to two years depending on prior experience. Graduating fellows have typically participated in 350-400 neuro-interventional procedures (not including diagnostic angiography) during their tenure [5].
 
Contact Melissa Acocella for more information about the residency or fellowship (melissa.acocella@hsc.wvu.edu)
 
 References:
  1. Resident Handbook: West Virginia University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery. https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/media/370221/ns-manual-2022.pdf
  2. About Us: WVU Neurosurgery. https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/neurosurgery/about-us/
  3. WVU Department of Neurosurgery: Fellowships https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/neurosurgery/fellowships/
  4. WVU Neurosurgery: Stereotactic and Functional CAST Fellowship https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/neurosurgery/fellowships/stereotactic-and-functional-cast-fellowship/
  5. WVU Neurosurgery: Endovascular Fellowship https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/neurosurgery/fellowships/endovascular-cast-fellowship/
  6. RNIhttps://rni.wvumedicine.org/
 
Conflicts of Interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest concerning the material or methods used to develop this manuscript.

Acknowledgements: No acknowledgements.

Brain & Spine Report
Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center




Comments are closed.

    Categories

    All
    News And Updates
    Perspectives
    Residency Match
    Sunday Spotlight

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020

Follow Us On Social Media   
​
@BrainSpineGroup

SUPPORT

Donate Online
​Give Through Facebook

PROGRAMS

Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Camp
Virtual Training Camp
Medical Student Neurosurgery Webinars

Brain and Spine Group, Inc.

About Us
​Contact Us
Picture
Medical Student Neurosurgery Training Center is produced and supported by Brain and Spine Group, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
© COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.