Program Description

PGY 1 - Internship supervised by the division of neurosurgery with rotations in trauma surgery, epilepsy, neuro-oncology, neurointerventional surgery, neurocritical care and neurosurgery.

PGY 2 & 3 - Clinical Neurosurgery, MUSC-Medical Center

PGY 4 - Clinical Neurosurgery, VA Medical Center

PGY 5 - Research

PGY 6 & 7 - Clinical Neurosurgery, MUSC-Medical Center (PG 6)
Clinical Neurosurgery (Chief Resident), MUSC-Medical Center (PG 7)

The First Year (PGY 1)
The internship is supervised by the division of Neurosurgery.  Approximately half of the year is devoted to various surgical rotations with neurosurgery, neurointerventional surgery and trauma surgery. The remaining time will be devoted to elective rotations in neuroradiology, neuro critical care, neuropathology, neuroopthomology and three months of neurology (mandatory).

The Fourth Year (PGY 4)
The fourth year will be spent as the Chief Resident at the Veterans Administration Hospital. The resident will have full exposure to inpatient and outpatient management of a broad range of neurosurgical problems. There is a progressive increase in the teaching responsibilities for medical students and other residents. Additional time is spent making plans for the upcoming research year.


The Fifth Year (PGY 5)
The fifth year is devoted to research, with a broad range of basic and clinical science projects available through the Department of Neurosciences and throughout the MUSC Medical Center. Neurosurgery integration within the Neurosciences Department facilitates collaborations with basic science researchers in numerous areas of study. Guidance and mentoring are provided to optimize the individual resident’s experience.


The Sixth and Seventh Year (PGY-6 and 7)
The sixth and seventh year residents return to the Medical University Hospital and the MUSC Children’s Hospital as chief residents. The large clinical service at these hospitals is divided into two separate services, with one chief resident assigned to each service. During this two year period, each chief resident will rotate between the two services at approximately three month intervals. Each chief resident will be involved in all levels of inpatient and outpatient clinical care, with increasing responsibility based on the individual’s experience and ability. The seventh year resident will have additional administrative duties, including the organization of clinical neurosurgery conferences.