Residency training at VCU
Training program rotations
The VCU neurosurgery residency training program is designed to offer a progressive educational experience and develop a well-trained clinical neurosurgeon.
| Year | July to December | January to June |
|---|---|---|
| PGY-1 Intern | X: Intern Y: Intern |
X: Intern Y: Intern |
| PGY-2 JAR | X: VCU Medical Center (two months night float) Y: VCU Medical Center (two months night float) |
X: VCU Medical Center (two months night float) Y: VCU Medical Center (two months night float) |
| PGY-3 AR | X: AR VCU Medical Center (two months night float) Y: VAMC AR |
X: VAMC AR Y: AR VCU Medical Center (two months night float) |
| PGY-4 SAR | X: SAR VCU Y: SAR VCU |
X: SAR VCU Y: SAR VCU |
| PGY-5 Research | X: Research Y: Research |
X: Research Y: Research |
| PGY-6 Chief | X: Chief resident – VCU Medical Center Y: Chief resident – VCU Medical Center |
X: Chief resident –VCU Medical Center Y: Chief resident – VCU Medical Center |
| PGY-7 Clinical Attending Fellow | X: Elective/research Y: Elective/research |
X: Elective/research Y: Elective/research |
PGY-1 – Intern
Residents matching to the VCU neurosurgery program are guaranteed a general surgical internship slot in the VCU Department of Surgery. The rotation schedule for neurosurgery interns is determined by the general surgery residency program director and reviewed by the neurosurgery residency program director. Specific rotations may be requested to suit the individual’s interest or to enhance the educational experience. Rotations are determined prior to the start of the internship, but can be altered during the year if needed. During the PGY-1 year, the intern is under the direction of the Department of General Surgery.
This year consists of eight months of rotations on general surgery and its subspecialties, which include trauma surgery, vascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, transplant surgery, surgical critical care, burn unit, pediatric surgery and plastic surgery. Interns also spend one month rotating on the neurosurgery service, which helps them to become familiar with the typical operation of the neurosurgery service.
Neuroscience training begins during the intern year with a three-month rotation in neurology. The purpose of these rotations is to give the resident the opportunity to refine his or her neurologic examination skills and to gain an understanding of the electrophysiologic test used to evaluate neurologic disorders. This rotation helps to prepare the resident for the PGY-2 year.
While on neurology, one-month rotations are spent on the neuro-ophthalmology service and in the neuromuscular clinic/EEG labs. A third month is elective and avails multiple options, such as inpatient consult services, inpatient neurology team, child neurology services, or spending the third month with Dr. Robert Paschall, a neurologist with an appointment with the VCU Medical Center, on the Eastern Shore. The rotation is located in a remote region of Virginia where there are more opportunities for the intern to become exposed to more rare illnesses, as well as learn about EMG monitoring. During the neurology rotations, the intern functions under the supervision of the neurology attending.
PGY-2 – JAR
- ICU
- Neurosurgical consults
- Night float
Rotation description
Two residents per year begin formal neurosurgical training with the PGY-2 year. This year is spent entirely at the VCU Medical Center’s main facility. The PGY-2 residents alternate rotations as the “In” JAR, performing duties in the operating room, and the “Out” JAR, responsible for tasks outside of the operating room. Night float responsibilities also fall during this PGY year.
The PGY-2s perform initial evaluations of pediatric and adult patients admitted to the neurosurgical service, evaluate neurosurgery consults in the emergency department and from other medical services and manage patients in the neurosurgical ICU. Early in the year they learn to place intracranial pressure monitors, central lines, arterial lines, lumbar punctures and various other procedures required in the ICU setting.
The In JAR learns how to open and close surgeries and to assist in the OR and is given progressive responsibility as operative skills are developed. As experience is gained, the PGY-2 resident begins to take on simple cases as a primary surgeon. He or she is responsible for post-operative orders and exams for those cases. By the end of the PGY-2 year, OR experience typically includes simple craniotomies, burr-holes, lumbar microdiscectomies and anterior cervical fusions. Residents are prepared to run a neurosurgical operating room.
The Out JAR rotation is heavily weighted with neuroscience critical care. The VCU Medical Center is one of three hospitals in Virginia with a Level 1 Trauma designation and has an international reputation for treating traumatic brain injuries. The Out JAR spends the majority of his or her time in the neuroscience ICU managing patients with severe head injury, multiple trauma, subarachnoid hemorrhage and spinal cord injury, as well as post-operative craniotomy patients. The Out JAR evaluates new consults from the emergency department and provides backup for acute problems on the neurosurgery ward.
The night float rotation typically does not begin until the third month of the PGY-2 year. Residents on the night float rotation have the same responsibilities as the Out JAR and work from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Friday.
Goals and objectives
Patient care
- Skillfully evaluate and manage neurosurgical problems.
- Capable of performing a thorough neurologic exam.
- Accurately interpret diagnostic tests, such as plain x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, EMG and laboratory tests.
- Determine the correct diagnosis.
- Manage post-operative patients.
- Initiate appropriate further evaluation or treatment.
- Provide neuroscience critical care for head injury, stroke and other common diagnosis in the NSICU, including:
- Traumatic brain injury.
- Spinal cord injury.
- Intracranial hemorrhage.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage.
- Elevated intracranial pressure.
- Demonstrate progressive surgical ability.
- Assist with major neurosurgical procedures.
- Attain the basic neurosurgical skills necessary to begin work as a primary surgeon.
- Become proficient with common bedside procedures.
Medical knowledge
- Plan and interpret diagnostic tests, such as plain x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, EMG and laboratory tests.
- Demonstrate medical knowledge to formulate treatment plans for common neurosurgery diagnoses.
- Demonstrate a firm understanding of the neurophysiology of raised intracranial pressure.
- Participate in neurosurgery conferences.
Practice-based learning
- Use available resources to research interesting or unusual cases that he or she evaluates.
- Present cases that he or she is involved with at the monthly quality assurance conference.
Interpersonal and communication skills
- Demonstrate skills to effectively and compassionately communicate with patients, families and staff.
- Concisely and accurately present case vignettes to upper-level residents and faculty.
Professionalism
- Carry out activities with a high degree of professionalism.
- Attend monthly lecture series on the elements of professionalism.
Systems-based practice
- Gain an understanding of the importance of his or her contributions to the health system’s smooth functioning by providing timely and proficient consulting services to the emergency department and wards, especially in the context of the Level 1 Trauma designation.
- Gain an appreciation for the value of the consulting and ancillary services provided to neurosurgery patients and resulting improvements in health care delivery.
PGY-3 – AR
- Six months at VAMC – clinical
- Six months elective/VCU – clinical
Rotation description
The PGY-3 resident is focused on additional neuroscience education and developing clinical and operative skills. This year includes three months on neuroradiology and three months on neuropathology, as well as specialty clinic participation, OR back up (elective rotation) and six months on service at the VAMC. Clinically, this resident takes on the role of primary surgeon in a progressive fashion. The AR duties on the VAMC clinical service include running the neurosurgery operating room, attending clinics and providing inpatient care for neurosurgery patients and/or trauma consult patients. Each PGY-3 resident takes two months of night float at some point during the year.
The neuroradiology rotation consists of participation in the daily reading of neurodiagnostic studies including plain films, CT scans, MRI scans and angiographic studies. The radiology reading sessions are under the direction of the attending neuroradiology faculty. Neuroradiology instruction is woven into these sessions and specific neuroradiology topics are covered in teaching sessions held by the attending radiologist. An extensive film library of neurological pathology is also available to the residents on this rotation. Residents are scheduled to spend one of the three months with the neurointerventionalist. During this rotation, they are given the opportunity to participate in diagnostic angiographic procedures, as well as coiling of aneurysms, embolization of tumors and AVMs and spinal procedures such as epidural injections and vertebroplasty.
The neuropathology rotation consists of a well-organized self-study program and frequent teaching sessions with the chief of neuropathology. An extensive library of slides, audiovisual material, Web-based tutorials and pathology atlases are available to the resident during this rotation. In additional to the teaching sessions, residents rotating on neuropathology participate in the evaluation of neurosurgery frozen sections, weekly brain cutting (a two-hour session on Friday mornings), muscle biopsy conference and assisting with preparation of the cases for the monthly Neurosurgery Clinical-Pathological-Correlation Conference.
During this six-month elective rotation, residents participate in a subspecialty clinic rotation, which consists of neurosurgery faculty clinics and conferences in neuro-oncology, movement disorders, pediatric epilepsies, neurovascular/interventional radiology and peripheral nerve. It is intended to bolster the outpatient clinical experience, ensuring exposure to less frequent neurosurgical ailments.
The PGY-3 at the VAMC participates in running a small inpatient service, running one-and-one-half days of clinic, inpatient consults, planning and performing surgery under guidance from the chief resident and supervision of the neurosurgery attending. For many of the residents, this provides greater involvement in the continuous care of patients, from the initial clinic evaluation through the post-operative clinic visits.
Goals and objectives
Patient care
- Maintain a high level of patient care as outlined for the PGY-2 rotations.
- Acquire specific skills for the evaluation and treatment of neurovascular/interventional patients during the neuroradiology rotation.
- During the pediatric rotation, become proficient with the neurologic assessment and treatment of newborns through adolescents.
- Become proficient with routine neurosurgical procedures such as cervical and lumbar discectomies, CSF shunts, simple peripheral nerve procedures and simple cranial procedures.
- Through the involvement in the subspecialty clinics, have a solid approach for the evaluation of patients with brain tumors, movement disorders, epilepsy, cerebrovascular disorders and peripheral nerve disorders.
Medical knowledge
- Have a firm medical knowledge in the areas of neuropathology and neuroradiology following rotations.
- Participate in neurosurgery conferences.
- Prepare and take the national board written examination for neurosurgery.
Practice-based learning
- Use available resources to research interesting or unusual cases that he or she evaluates.
- Present cases that he or she is involved with at the monthly quality assurance conference.
Interpersonal and communication skills
- Demonstrate a high level of communication skills.
Professionalism
- Carry out his or her activities with a high degree of professionalism.
- Attend monthly lecture series on the elements of professionalism.
Systems-based practice
- Further appreciation for a systems-based practice through participation in multidisciplinary clinics for pediatrics, cerebrovascular disease, movement disorders, brain tumors and peripheral nerve injuries, as well as consultant activities in the pediatric ICU.
PGY-4 – SAR
- VCU – clinical
- Six months adult services.
- Six months pediatric services.
- Quality assurance (M&M)/pathology conferences (CPC)
Rotation description
The SAR rotation at the VCU Medical Center is an intensive OR experience with challenging surgeries scheduled most days of the week. These residents perform as the consult resident after operating room hours and often conduct evening rounds for the chief resident. Participation in clinic duties and post-operative care is an integral part of this rotation. These residents present the quality assurance (M&M) and pathology (CPC) conferences, each occurring once per month, during this year
The Pediatric rotation consists of progressive operative experience, with cases usually being spine, shunt and brain tumor procedures. As the pediatric neurosurgery resident he or she participates in the post-operative care and follow up for pediatric patients and attends pediatric clinics at VCU and Children’s Hospital of Richmond. Children’s Hospital offers a multidisciplinary child/adolescent neurosurgical experience beyond that of the VCU Medical Center. Clinics are held there twice a month and are dedicated to spina bifida and to cerebral palsy/spasticity orthopedics. PM&R, PT, OT and social workers also attend these clinics.
For the alternate six month rotation, the resident is typically in the OR for five days each week covering the less-complicated adult cases.
Goals and objectives
Patient care
- Provide a high level of patient care as outlined in all earlier rotations.
- Graduated responsibility consistent with his or her skills for evaluations and surgeries.
- Become proficient with difficult neurosurgical procedures such as spinal trauma, brain tumors, aneurysms and spinal instrumentation.
- Occasionally lead team rounds and teach junior residents and medical students.
Medical knowledge
- Present the pathology conference once a month at the neurosurgery grand rounds.
- Participate in neurosurgery conferences.
Practice-based learning
- Use available resources to research interesting or unusual cases that he or she evaluates.
- Present cases that he or she is involved with at the monthly quality assurance conference.
Interpersonal and communication skills
- Demonstrate a high level of communication skill.
Professionalism
- Carry out his or her activities with a high degree of professionalism.
- Attend monthly lecture series on the elements of professionalism.
Systems-based practice
- Gain an understanding of how economic factors affect neurosurgical practice, especially as related to managed care and use of OR resources.
PGY-5 – Off service – Research
- 12 months – Research**
Rotation description
The PGY-5 year is devoted to research. Projects are arranged to suit the individual resident’s interest and are planned in coordination with a designated research mentor who is typically one of the neurosurgery faculty members. Residents can select from a wide range of ongoing research, including: traumatic brain injury, movement disorders, cerebral blood flow, cerebral spinal fluid physiology, brain edema, brain tumor biology, brain tumor immunology, application of stem cell technologies to neurosurgery, spinal cord injury, pathophysiology of disc degeneration, finite element modeling and epilepsy research.
The emphasis of this research period is on the process as much as the results. The goal is for the resident to develop a pertinent research question, complete background research, develop hypotheses, plan and carry out the proposed research, and analyze the results. The results are presented at a meeting and in at least one publication.
**During off-service rotations, a weekly revolving schedule for OR backup (shared with other off service residents) is in place.
Goals and objectives
Patient care
- Provide a high level of patient care as outlined for the earlier rotations.
- Maintain his or her surgical skill by providing OR back-up coverage and resident call coverage as needed.
Medical knowledge
- Devote his or her time to the conception and execution of an original research project.
- Participate in neurosurgery conferences.
Practice-based learning
- Use available resources to research interesting or unusual cases that he or she evaluates.
- Present cases that he or she is involved with at the monthly quality assurance conference.
Interpersonal and communication skills
- Demonstrate a high level of communication skills.
Professionalism
- Carry out his or her activities with a high degree of professionalism.
- Attend monthly lecture series on the elements of professionalism.
Systems-based practice
- Gain an understanding of the role of NIH- and industry-sponsored research in academic neurosurgical practice.
PGY-6 – Chief Resident
Rotation description
The PGY-6 resident spends one year as chief resident on the neurosurgical service at VCU Medical Center. Each of the chief residents is responsible for clinical and administrative oversight of their service. The chief resident conducts daily rounds, teaches the residents, interns and medical students, determines the patient management plans (in coordination with the patient’s attending) and is, under faculty supervision, the primary surgeon for the most challenging surgical cases.
The chief resident performs the most challenging cranial and spinal procedures under the supervision of an attending. He or she teaches the junior resident, makes rounds twice daily in the ICU and on the ward. He or she assumes general responsibility for the day-to-day management of the clinical service and provides advice and feedback to the junior residents regarding clinical performance. The chief resident schedules all procedures for the seven attendings, designates case order and resident assignment to the operating rooms and makes the call schedule. His or her professional opinion is highly regarded by the neurosurgery faculty.
The chief resident rotation at VCU Medical Center carries tremendous responsibility. This resident is free to choose which surgical case he does from the daily schedule and assigns the remaining cases to junior-level residents. During this rotation, the chief resident is responsible for overseeing the evaluation and treatment of all patients on the neurosurgical service. He supervises one intern and one nurse practitioner for the ward patients, two PGY-2 residents for neuroscience ICU patients and consults, one PGY-4 resident who is primarily responsible for the pediatric patients and the other senior resident with consult patients. A designated physician’s assistant is assigned to the chief resident to help manage scheduling and pre-operative administrative tasks and is available to assist in the OR, as well as open and close operations. The VCU chief resident is also responsible for composing the monthly call schedule, which is completed six months in advance and prior to the start of the rotation. The chief conducts twice daily rounds during which teaching instruction is given to junior-level residents and medical students. Constant consultation is maintained with the supervising attending physicians.
Goals and objectives
Patient care
- Provide a high level of patient care as outlined for the earlier rotations, as well as manage the complexities of the large clinical service, particularly at the VCU Medical Center.
- Demonstrate proficiency with all major neurosurgical procedures.
Medical knowledge
- Demonstrate a high level of clinical problem solving and thorough knowledge of neurosurgical conditions.
- Instruct the junior-level residents and medical students.
- Actively participate in and lead neurosurgery conferences.
Practice-based learning
- Use available resources to research interesting or unusual cases that he or she evaluates.
- Present cases that he or she is involved with at the monthly quality assurance conference.
Interpersonal and communication skills
- Demonstrate a high level of communication skills.
Professionalism
- Carry out his or her activities with a high degree of professionalism.
- Attend monthly lecture series on the elements of professionalism.
Systems-based practice
- Demonstrate effectiveness in leading the team and delegating neurosurgical resources to accomplish it’s mission.
- Residents are expected to gain an understanding of how economic factors affect neurosurgical practice especially related to managed care and use of OR resources.
PGY-7 – Clinical Attending Fellowship
12 months – Research
Rotation description
The PGY-7 year is dedicated to pulling all the training together into a cohesive experience and provides the experience necessary to meet the goals of independent practice and the continuum of patient care. Residents will be credentialed by the Health Systems to allow performance as an independent practitioner while still under the support of the VCU Neurosurgery faculty.
Goals and objectives
Patient care
- Evaluate, diagnose and treat all neurosurgical ailments.
- Provide a high level of patient care as outlined for the earlier rotations.
- Maintain his or her clinical and surgical skills by providing chief resident weekend call coverage, revolving weekly OR backup and prison clinic coverage.
Medical knowledge
- Devote his or her time to the completion, presentation and publication of an original research project.
- Participate in neurosurgery conferences.
Practice-based learning
- Use available resources to research interesting or unusual cases that they evaluate.
- Present cases that he or she is involved with at the monthly quality assurance conference.
Interpersonal and communication skills
- Demonstrate a high level of communication skills.
Professionalism
- Carry out his or her activities with a high degree of professionalism.
- Attend monthly lecture series on the elements of professionalism.
Systems-based practice
- Gain an understanding of the role of NIH- and industry-sponsored research in academic neurosurgical practice.
Didactics and research
Didactics
| Type | Frequency | Residents required to attend |
Faculty required to attend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neurosurgical grand rounds | 2/mo. | Yes | Yes |
| Neuropathology – CPC | 1/mo. | Yes | Yes |
| Brain tumor conference | 1/wk. | Yes – if on rotation | Yes – but not all faculty |
| Quality assurance conference – M | 1/mo. | Yes | Yes |
| Neurological – Epilepsy conference | 1/mo. | Yes – if on rotation | Yes - but not all faculty |
| GME – Core competency lecture series | 1/mo. | Yes | Yes |
| Friday morning didactic conference | 1/wk. | Yes | Yes – Dr. Graham |
| Saturday morning conference | 2/mo. | Yes – unless it conflicts with duty hour requirements | Yes |
| Neurovascular/interventional rad. | 2/mo. | Yes – if on rotation | Yes |
| Evidence-based neurosurgery | 1/mo. | Yes | Yes |
| Journal club | 2/mo. | Yes | Yes – but not all faculty |
| Movement disorder conference | 1/mo. | Yes | Yes – but not all faculty |
Neurosurgery Boot Camp
Residents from all post-graduate years are required to attend Neurosurgery Boot Camp at the beginning of each year. By instituting this program, the residents will be given the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and also have the required competencies each year.
Scheduled teaching rounds
The chairman makes walking/teaching rounds with residents on the VCU service Monday afternoons. The program director makes morning rounds in the neurosciences ICU with the PGY-2 resident. The pediatric neurosurgeon makes afternoon rounds with the PGY-4 resident assigned to pediatrics.
Training in neurosciences
Neurology
The PGY-1 year includes three months on the VCU neurology service. During these rotations, one month is spent on the neuro-ophthalmology service and in the neuromuscular clinic/EEG labs. A third month is elective and can be completed on the inpatient consult service, inpatient neurology team or child neurology service. Interns can also complete their neurology training with Dr. Robert Paschall on the Eastern Shore, a remote area that gives interns an opportunity to encounter more diverse neurological illnesses. The purpose of these rotations is to give the resident the opportunity to refine his or her neurologic examination skills and gain an understanding of the electrophysiologic test used to evaluate neurologic disorders. This rotation helps to prepare the resident for the PGY-2 year.
Neuropathology
The PGY-3 resident spends a three-month rotation studying neuropathology. The neuropathology rotation consists of a well-organized, self-study program and frequent teaching sessions with the chief of neuropathology. An extensive library of slides, audiovisual material, Web-based tutorials and pathology atlases are available to the resident during this rotation. In addition to the teaching sessions, residents rotating on neuropathology participate in the evaluation of neurosurgery frozen sections, the sign-out of the final diagnosis from the surgical cases, weekly brain cutting (a two-hour session on Friday mornings) and muscle biopsy conference, as well as assist in preparing the cases for the monthly Neurosurgery Clinical-Pathological-Correlation Conference. At the completion of this three-month block, residents are expected to have acquired a firm understanding of the neuropathologic disease processes and the tools used to evaluate them (especially CNS tumors).
The Department of Neurosurgery supports residents wishing to attend the Annual Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Neuropathology Review Course.
Neuropathology is also reviewed approximately once a month in the resident’s Friday morning conference with Dr. Graham.
Neuroanatomy
A comprehensive neuroscience course is taught for first-year medical students and neurosurgery residents are welcome to attend. Specific reviews in neuroanatomy are occasionally scheduled for the Friday morning conference with Dr. Graham. However, since neuroanatomy is central to all neurosurgical activities, most of the review and instruction of neuroanatomy is woven through the other conferences and teaching opportunities. Residents are also expected to review pertinent anatomy related to upcoming cases as required.
In addition, Dr. John Povlishock, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, has collaborated closely with neurosurgery’s head injury research efforts. He has a joint appointment in neurosurgery and has been supportive of our neuroanatomical needs, providing cadavers and lectures as needed.
Neurophysiology
Basic science topics in neurophysiology are covered in the neuroscience course taught for first-year medical students and neurosurgery residents are welcome to attend. Specific reviews in neurophysiology are occasionally scheduled for the Friday morning conference with Dr. Graham. Clinical neurophysiology is the focus during the one-month rotation in the neuromuscular clinic and the EEG labs. The interns are also able to lean neurophysiology firsthand during the rotation with Dr. Paschall as he does EMG monitoring.
Neuroradiology
The PGY-3 residents spend a three-month rotation on neuroradiology, which consists of participation in the daily reading of neurodiagnostic studies, including plain films, CT scans, MRI scans and angiographic studies. Additionally, specific teaching sessions are frequently held by the attending neuroradiologist. An extensive film library of neurological pathology is also available to the residents on this rotation.
In addition, residents are scheduled to spend one of the three months with the neurointerventionalist where they are given the opportunity to participate in diagnostic angiographic procedures as well as coiling of aneurysms, embolization of tumors and AVMs and spinal procedures, such as epidural injections and vertebroplasty.
Like neuroanatomy, neuroradiology instruction is incorporated into all conferences and the neurosurgical faculty members take advantage of the ubiquitous teaching opportunities in the day-to-day clinical routine.
Regional and national meetings
Neurosurgery residents are encouraged to participate in meetings through submission of papers and research. Residents participate in RUNNs, the Neurosurgical Society of the Virginias and AFIP.
Any resident who has a presentation or lecture accepted at these or any national meeting will receive financial support from the department to attend.
Research
A satisfactory research experience with publication is a prerequisite for graduation from the VCU residency training program. Within the research arena, each resident is afforded vast opportunities to participate in a research project that not only adds to his or her fund of knowledge, but also supports individual areas of interest for future career goals.
Neurosurgery carries and active balance of bench and clinical research projects. Established neurosurgery areas of study at VCU include:
- Traumatic brain injury/American Brain Injury Consortium.
- Movement disorders.
- Cerebral blood flow.
- Cerebral spinal fluid physiology.
- Brain edema.
- Brain tumor biology.
- Brain tumor immunology.
- Applications of stem cell technologies to neurosurgery.
- Spinal cord injury.
- Physiology of disc degeneration.
- Finite element modeling.
- Epilepsy.
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.
- Neuro-oncology/brain tumors.
- Pediatric brain tumors.
Links to published research conducted by our residents and faculty are available on our Web site.
Resident research outline
PGY-2
Residents identify a research mentor and area of interest during the PGY-2 year. This is presented to the faculty in a brief presentation at the June faculty meeting in the resident’s PGY-2 year.
PGY-3 and PGY-4
Residents develop a specific research plan with the assistance of the faculty mentor during the PGY-3 year and a detailed plan is presented at the January faculty meeting during the PGY-4 year. Following acceptance of the research plan, regulatory documentation must be completed to allow a timely start to the project in July of the PGY-5 year.
For residents interested in taking a clinical fellowship during the seventh year of the residency, the faculty will provide specific goals that must be met prior to making applications for fellowship positions.
PGY-5
Residents provide updates to the faculty on the progress of research at the June faculty meeting during the PGY-4 year and the January meeting during the PGY-5 year. Residents then provide a detailed presentation of research results and status of publications at the June faculty meeting during the PGY-5 year.
For residents interested in taking a clinical fellowship during the seventh year of the residency, the faculty will determine at this time whether the previously outlined goals were met.
PGY-7
Residents provide a research update and plan for the upcoming year at the June faculty meeting during the PGY-6 year with additional updates presented at the January faculty meeting during the PGY-7 year. A detailed presentation of the resident’s research results and status of publications is due at the June faculty meeting. Following the presentation, the faculty will determine whether or not the research requirement has been met.