Applying for Residency at UCSD

Only complete applications submitted through the ERAS system will be considered for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Our interview dates for 2008-2009 are

• December 12th, 2008
• January 9th, 2009
• January 30th 2009

Residency at UCSD

The UCSD Division of Neurosurgery is a 1:2:1 residency training program. In the next neurosurgery match, two applicants will be selected. The seven year residency (including internship) provides comprehensive training in all aspects of modern neurosurgery, including neurosurgical critical care, neurotrauma, neurovascular surgery, brain tumors, functional neurosurgery, epilepsy, pediatric neurosurgery, peripheral nerve, and spine/spinal instrumentation surgery. The program is academic in its orientation, with input from world-renowned basic science researchers from the UCSD School of Medicine, the UCSD main campus, the Scripps Research Institute, and the Salk Institute. The program is also designed to be flexible in training and strives to accommodate specialized research and/or clinical interests.

Program Structure

• PGY-1: 6 Months General Surgery (University & VA Hospitals), 3 Months Neurology (University Hospotal), 3 Months Critical Care Medicine (University & VA Hospitals)
• PGY-2: Junior Neurosurgery Resident (University Hospital)
• PGY-3: 6 Months Pediatric Neurosurgery (Children's Hospital), 3 Months Neuropathology (University Hospital), 3 Months Neuroradiology (University Hospital)
• PGY-4: Neurosurgery Resident (Kaiser Hospital)
• PGY-5: Research/Elective
• PGY-6: Research/Elective
• PGY-7: Chief Resident University Hospital

About our program

The PGY-1 year is under the auspices of the Departments of Surgery and Neurology. The resident rotates though various surgical specialties, including neurosurgery. The PGY-2 year concentrates on developing skills in basic neurosurgery and, in particular, in neurosurgical critical care. Introduction to operative techniques commence as well. The PGY-3 year provides for dedicated study in fields closely related to neurosurgery in order to allow the resident to develop mastery in these areas with undivided attention. In addition, six months are spent at the Children's Hospital on the Pediatric Neurosurgery Service. The PGY-4 year is a highlight of the residency program; a single resident runs the entire Kaiser neurosurgery service under the supervision of multiple attendings. Following this experience, the PGY-5 and PGY-6 years are dedicated to in depth research and/or subspecialty residency training. The Chief Resident year closes the circle; with a maximum of opportunity and responsibility, the Chief Resident in Neurosurgery at UCSD oversees the whole of neurosurgical care at both UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest and the Thornton Hospital, as well as selected cases at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in La Jolla. In years past residents have scored in the 80-90th percentiles on national neurosurgery board examinations and have far surpassed caseloads required by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons.