Conferences

Neurosurgery residents participate daily in neurosurgery attending rounds where the care of inpatient neurosurgical patients is discussed. In addition to learning through direct patient care, there is a strong didactic curriculum that includes the conferences detailed below. The conferences serve as a broad educational foundation upon which residents can build their neurosurgical knowledge-base. Visiting professors and outside lecturers enrich the conference schedule on a regular basis.  

* Neurosurgical residents are required to attend.
† Senior Resident (PGY4) on Doernbecher Children’s Hospital (Pediatric Neurosurgery) rotation.

General Neurosurgical

Director: Brain Ragel, MD
Presentation: Various neurosurgery and allied institutional faculty discuss clinical and non-clinical core competency based topics. Topics are also presented by visiting professors, visiting students. Departmental clinical policy and reviews are also discussed.

Cerebrovascular and Skull-Based Conference

Directors: Nicholas Coppa, M.D., and Aclan Dogan, M.D.
Presentation: Endovascular fellows, neurosurgery residents, and neurology, neurological surgery and vascular faculty.

Neurosurgery Hands-on Training

Director: Brian Ragel, MD
Presentation: A variety of topics that complement the neurosurgical training program including: anatomy, current research controversies, American Board of Neurological Surgery Primary "Boards" review, surgical technology.

Spine Conference

Director: Andrew Nemecek, MD, neurosurgeon and Robert Hart, MD, orthopeadic surgeon
Presentation: Neurosurgery and orthopeadic residents and faculty.

Neuro-oncology Tumor Board

Director: Edward Neuwelt, MD, neuro-oncology/neurosurgery.
Presentation: Neurosurgery residents with pathology and radiology faculty.

Pediatric Neuro-oncology Tumor Board

Director: Kellie Nazemi, MD, pediatric neuro-oncology.
Presentation: Neurosurgery and neuro-oncology faculty, residents, pathology and radiology faculty.

Morbidity and Mortality Conference

Committee of 3 faculty and 1 resident review cases and select educational cases.
Director: Edmund Frank, MD, neurological surgery quality control committee chair.
Presentation: Resident involved in each case with faculty discussants.

Neurology Grand Rounds

Director: Dennis Bourdette, MD, neurology department chair.
Presentation: Neurology faculty and visiting professors.

Trauma Conference

Director: Richard Mullins, MD, general surgery trauma division chief.
Presentation: Trauma and neurotrauma faculty and residents.

Spine Journal Club

Director: Brian Ragel, MD
Presentation: Neurosurgery residents.
Conference: Monthly in the evening.

Conference Information