Curriculum

The first year (PGY-1) includes:

• Five months of surgical training tailored toward neurosurgical relevance.
• A three-month rotation in neuro-critical care.
• A one-month rotation in trauma.
• A three-month rotation in basic neuroscience. 

During the the next six years, residents receive a variety of required neurosurgical training that includes, for example:

• PGY-2: 12 months of neurosurgery at UCI Health Medical Center.
• PGY-3: Seven months of neurosurgery at UCI Health Medical Center, three months of endovascular neurosurgery at UCI Health Medical Center, two months of stereotactic radiosurgery (Gamma Knife) and two months of stereotactic radiosurgery at UCI Health Medical Center.
• PGY-4: Six months of pediatric neurosurgery at Children’s Health of Orange County and six months at Tibor Rubin Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Long Beach.
• PGY-5: Six months of spine, an optional two to three months of neurointerventional surgery and six months at UCI Medical Center. 
• PGY-6: 12 months as chief resident at UCI Medical Center.
• PGY-7: 12 months research/enfolded fellowship at UCI Medical Center.

Beginning with the PGY-2 year, residents are expected to prepare and submit at least one manuscript annually for peer review publication.

Residents are expected to take the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) written examination for either practice or credit each year of training beginning with the PGY-1 year. The earliest year they can take the examination for credit is PGY-4. Residents must pass the ABNS exam by the completion of PGY-6 in order to progress to the final chief residency year.

Assuming these requirements are met and faculty evaluations are satisfactory, a resident will complete the entire program in seven years.

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