The residency program at UCI's Department of Neurological Surgery is designed to provide experience in adult and pediatric neurosurgical practice. Training takes place at UC Irvine Medical Center, Tibor Rubin Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Long Beach (VA) and CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange. These settings offer our residents exposure to a wide variety of patients with neurosurgical conditions.

Our residents are also trained in neuropathology and neuroradiology, and undergo an extensive didactic program of core lectures, seminars and neurosurgery Journal Clubs, conferences and Grand Rounds, as well as a full year of research activities that they select.

The residency program, which is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), was officially launched on July 1, 2008. The seven-year program generally accepts one or two new resident trainees in alternating years.

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Neurological Surgery Residency training program is to build a strong foundation to train safe and competent neurosurgeons in alignment with UCI School of Medicine’s mission: Discover. Teach. Heal. The program not only trains residents who can provide patients with the best possible care, it also inspires them to discover the challenge and excitement of treating complex neurosurgical conditions, and to nurture innovation and research. These future neurosurgeons will spur innovation and advance technological developments and treatment methods that will ultimately improve the health of patients in Orange County and beyond.

Portrait of a diverse team of doctors standing together in a hospital

Incorporates hands-on education combined with an extensive didactic program of core lectures, Grand Rounds, conferences, seminars and Journal Clubs in neurosurgery.

Recruits a comprehensive group of core faculty who have extensive expertise in the latest surgical treatments and are dedicated to imparting their skills to the neurosurgeons of tomorrow.

Collaborates with prestigious UCI research organizations in lifelong development of clinical research skills.

Overall, our program strives to provide a safe and compassionate educational environment that trains residents to become independent, competent, empathic and caring neurosurgeons.