Training & Curriculum

Our unique surgical expertise allows us to offer fellows exposure to all aspects of neurosurgical oncology, including: 

• Surgery of primary and metastatic brain tumors
• Surgery of primary and metastatic spinal tumors and reconstruction
• Trans-sphenoidal surgery
• Skull base surgery
• Surgical treatment of pain
• Advanced brain-mapping techniques
• Endoscopic neurosurgery
• Pediatric neurosurgery
• Intraoperative MRI
• Brain stereotactic radiosurgery

The neurosurgical oncology fellow will be expected to perform daily rounds on brain tumor patients and will be involved in their clinical care. They will attend the outpatient clinics of the neurosurgery oncology faculty, where they will be evaluating brain tumor patients. They will assist in brain tumor operations and supervise and teach if the operative case is too complex for the resident.  

The fellow is expected to attend the following educational activities: 

1. weekly brain tumor board
2. biweekly radiosurgery board review
3. weekly basic research seminars
4. monthly journal clubs
5. weekly clinical research meetings
6. monthly neurosciences grand rounds 

Based on the interest of the fellow, he or she will have an opportunity to participate in the current basic science research studies and clinical trials offered at the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute. They will complete human research subject protection training and be involved in the screening and evaluation of patient in brain tumor clinical trials. They will also be involved in the analysis of data and preparation of manuscripts for clinical trials. They will also rotate into the laboratory for basic and translational research on brain tumors should they have an interest in basic research.   

You can find current neurosciences studies here.

Fellows are expected to take Tumor call from home, to participate in patient and resident education, as well as dictate cases or document in the written charts as instructed.