AOA n/s residencies

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I was wondering how competitive the osteopathic neurosurgical residencies are? What sort of COMLEX scores, research, GPA, etc. are needed for these programs?

as a potential osteopathic medical student, I am just wondering how difficult it is to land an osteopathic neurosurgical residency..... any ideas? i've found lots of data for the allopathic, but curious about the osteopathic as well.

http://www.aoaneurosurgery.com/

good luck

Thank-you for the helpful information

Thanks for all the blogs. I saw the recent blog on scores/GPA and checked out the AOA neurosurg. webpage to try and find some stats as to competitive comlex scores for osteopathic neurosurg residency but couldn't find it. Anybody have that stat?

I interviewed only DO NS this year. I luckily got a spot, but it was super competitive. I had good letters, my Step II score was roughly 80th percentile and I almost didn't match. Most programs will tell you to do well on boards and to be in the top half of the class, however getting an interview is based on many things and each place puts more emphasis on certain aspects of the application. It has, however, become increasing more competitive because the number of high quality DO applicants has increased. The best thing to do is to rotate at your top 3 to 5 places and work your ass off. Most places notice, and if you don't fit in there will try to help you at other places. Good luck!

What are the stronger AOA ns programs?

Originally Posted by HarveyCushing

What are the stronger AOA ns programs?

It depends on how you look at them. All the programs have their up and down sides. Feel free to PM me if you want my opinion, but for the most part I thought there were 5 or 6 pretty strong DO programs with some new ones that had some great potential.

Hey,

This is for the original poster, or anyone interested in DO neurosurgery programs. Contrary to some of the things said in other discussion threads, there are some excellent DO programs; there are also some at the other end of the spectrum. I know from first-hand experience that the same can be said for MD programs.

Having recently rotated at many programs and gone through interviews, I'd be happy to answer questions or offer advice. Feel free to email.

Incidentally, I ended up at a strong DO program in Michigan.

Good luck everyone,

greymew@yahoo.com

Michigan State University-Providence Hospital in Southfield, MI

This is by far the best DO Neurosurgery Program. The residents will graduate from this program with awesome surgical skills. The pathology is diverse and the staff is a list of whos who in the field of neurosurgery. The attendings are MDs so if you are looking for manipulative therapy this is not the program for you. If you want to become an awesome Neurosurgery the graduates residents that are very competitive for fellowships this is the program for you. Email me if you want more info.

PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTERS
DETROIT, MI

For more info please contact the Residency coordinator: Vanessa Solomon, 248-849-3403. There is a web site but it is not up to date, http://www.stjohn.org/ProvidenceGME/...cneurosurgery/
I encourage all residents or any students that have rotated at Providence to post their thoughts. I hope this helps and Good Luck.

EDUCATION/DIDACTICS
Neuorsurgery Clinic
• Providence: Weekly
• Childrens: Myelo Clinic, radiology conf, research conf, pediatric neurosurgery clinic, epilepsy clinic weekly
• Neuropathology: Brain Cutting Weekly
• Neuroradiology: Neuroradiology Grand Rounds Weekly Wednesday, Neuroimaging lectures Tuesday
Every Wednesday
• Brain/Vascular Conference
• Resident Lectures
Every Thursday
• Spine Conference
First Thursday
• Head & Neck Conference
Third Thursday
• Skull Base Conference
Monthly
• CPC
Quarterly
• M&M
• Cadaver Lab
• Guest Lecturer
Research
• Paper required yearly
Resident Boards
• Every March
• Board review throughout the year
PGY-3 Year
• Microvascular Course
• Temporal Bone Lab Course

BASIC SCHEDULE (4-3 month Blocks)
Providence is accepting 2 residents/yearly.
Some flexability within the schedule because of 2 residents/year, this is just basic outline.
PGY 6: 1-Providence NS, 2-Providence NS, 3-Providence NS, 4-Providence NS
PGY 5: 1-Grace NS, 2-Grace NS, 3-Elective, 4-Childrens NS
PGY 4: 1-Neurology, 2-Providence NS, 3-Providence NS, 4-Neuropathology
PGY 3: 1-Neuroradiology, 2-SkullBase/Pain, 3-Childrens NS, 4-Providence NS
PGY 2: 1-Providence NS 2-Neuro ICU 3-Providence NS 4-Grace NS

INTERNS (12-1 Month Blocks)
Interns take call on the neurosurgery service and are required to attend all neurosurgery conferences
Thoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Trauma Surgery, Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, General Surgery
Internal Medicine x 2, Ambulatory Care, Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care Unit
Vacation/Conference (must attend a conference during this month)

PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL
St. John Health is comprised of nine hospitals plus more than 125 medical facilities in southeast Michigan.
Providence Hospital, a 459-bed teaching hospital, located in Southfield, Michigan.
Residency Programs: Neurosurgery, General Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Diagnostic Radiology, Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Transitional Rotating Internship, Preliminary General Surgery Internship, Osteopathic Internship, Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, Pshychiatry, , Sports Medicine
Fellowships: Neuroendovascular Surgery, Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Neurotology-Skull Base Surgery, Craniofacial Surgery, Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, Hematology-Oncology, Gastroenterology

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF MICHIGAN
The Department of Neurosurgery at Children's Hospital of Michigan specializes in the evaluation and treatment of children with a range of neurosurgical disorders, such as:
Abnormal skull development, Brain tumors, Congenital spine abnormalities, Epilepsy, Hydrocephalus, Neural tube defects, Strokes and vascular malformations, Trauma of the head and spine with 3 dedicated pediatric neurosurgeons. One of the residents from Providence is at Childrens every month for coverage. Each resident will do 6 months of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Children’s Hospital during the residency.

SINAI-GRACE HOSPITAL
The major trauma center for Northwest Detroit. The neurosurgery service performs anterior and posterior cervical and thoracolumbar spinal instrumentation and fusion; intracranial procedures for brain tumor,vascular lesions, intracerebral hematoma, traumatic lesions, stereotactic biopsy and peripheral nerve surgery. Trauma patients are taken care of in cooperation with the trauma surgery service. The Neurosurgery Service manages the traumatic brain injuries, including placement and management of intracranial pressure monitors. Sinai-Grace Hospital/DMC is one of the sites participating in an NIH Study of Stereotactic thrombolysis of intracerebral hematoma. Sinai-Grace Hospital is the only center in the Detroit Medical Center that is currently doing Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery for movement disorders, i.e. Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. The neurosurgery residents of providence exclusively cover Sinai-grace hospital 24/7.


PROVIDENCE NOVI HOSPITAL (Construction Completed 2008)
Neurosciences Center of Excellence complete with state of the art Ors, intraoperative MRI, stealth, etc….
Craniofacial Institute for Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Ian T. Jackson
• Craniofacial reconstruction with neurosurgery department
• Craniofacial fellowship available
Michigan Ear Institute, Dr. Dennis Bojrab, Dr. Jack Kartush, Dr. Michael LaRouere, Dr. John Zappia, Dr. Eric Sargent, Dr. Seilesh Babu
• Approx 150 acoustic neuromas/yr, also glomus tumor, encephalocele, etc with neurosurgery department
• Neurootology/Skull Base Fellowship available
Neurosurgery Department (Attendings Below)
• Minimally Invasive Spine Fellowship Available (Perez-Cruet)
• Neuroendovascular/Cerebrovascular Fellowship Available (Fessler)


PROVIDENCE NEUROSURGERY RESIDENCY ATTENDINGS
This attendings are a part of the residency at our three institutions I previously posted. Please refer to the previous post about the three institutions.
Providence Hospital & Medical Centers
Sinai-Grace Hospital
Children's Hospital of Michigan

Teck Soo, MD
Section Chief of Neurosurgery
General Surgery Residency, University of Hong Kong
Neurosurgical Residency, University of Toronto
Spine Fellowships, University of Toronto (Fehlings, Perrin)
Specializes in complex spinal reconstruction, general neurosurgery, brain tumors, degenerative, trauma, infection, tumor, inflammatory and deformity - adult and pediatric.
Comprehensive spine expertise includes extensive adult spine revisions, pediatric scoliosis reconstruction, minimally invasive percutaneous surgery and artificial disc replacement.

Daniel Pieper, MD
Neurosurgery Residency Program Director
Neurosurgery Residency, Baylor College of Medicine
Skull Base & Cerebrovascular Fellowship, University of Arkansas (Al-Mefty, Yasergil)
Practice interest in cerebrovascular and skull base surgery; pituitary, facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia)
Special interest in aneurysms, acoustic neuromas, glomus tumors, pituitary tumors, clival tumors, vascular malformations

Mick Perez-Cruet, MD
Neurosurgery Residency, Baylor College of Medicine
Minimally Invasive & Reconstructive Spine Fellowship, Rush University, Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch, Chicago, Illinois (Fessler)
Practice interest in the minimally-invasive treatment of spinal disorders of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine
Special interest in minimally-invasive spinal fusion, treatment of compression fractures, oncologic and degenerative spine conditions and other complex spinal disorders

Fernando Diaz, MD
Neurosurgery Residency, University of Minnesota
Special Interest in Aneurysms, Strokes, Cerebrovascular Bypass, Microsurgery, Spine Reconstruction, Gamma Knife Radiosurgery, Disc Replacement

Richard Fessler, MD
Neurosurgery Residency, Wayne State University
Cerebrovascular Fellowship, Nagoya Japan
Endovascular Fellowship, Buffalo, NY
Special Interest in Endovascular, cerebrovascular, spinal endoscopic, minimally invasive spine surgery, adult spasticity and general neurosurgery

Abutaher Yahia, MD
Neurology Residency, Medical College of Wisconsin
Neurocritical Care & Stroke Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University
Neuroendovascular Fellowship, SUNY Buffalo, NY
Neurointervention Fellowship, Wayne State University
Special Interest in Stroke, Carotid and Intracranial Stenosis, Aneurysms, AVMs

Robert Johnson, MD
Vice Chief of Neurotrauma, Sinai-Grace Hospital
Neurosurgery Residency, Wayne State University
Special Interest in general neurosurgery, aneurysms, subarachnoid hemorrhage, vasospasm, stroke, stereotactic surgery, neurotrauma/closed head injury, spinal cord injury, radiosurgery, functional/movement disorders and epilepsy surgery.

Miqeul Lis-Planells, MD
Neurosurgery Residency, University of California, Irvine
Neurosurgery Fellowship, Wayne State University
Special Interest in Chronic Pain, Spine Surgery, Peripheral nerve, movement disorders

Todd Nida, MD
Neurosurgery Residency, University of Minnesota
Practice Interest in the management of complex spinal problems involving the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar-sacral area
Special Interest in vertebral osteoporotic or pathological fractures, Kyphoplasty, Carotid Surgery, Brain Injury, General Neurosurgery

Harold Portnoy, MD
Neurosurgery Residency, Wayne State University (Gurdjian)
Pediatric Fellowship, Wayne State University
Special Interest in brain and spinal tumors, cerebrovascular disease, pediatric neurosurgical diseases and minimally invasive surgery for herniated disc and spinal stenosis. He is a world recognized authority in the treatment of childhood and adult hydrocephalus (Pornoy Shunt)

Murali Guthikonda, MD
Neurological Surgery Residency, University of Vermont
Skull Base & Vascular Surgery Fellowship, University of Cincinnati
Specializes in skull base surgery, cerebro-vascular surgery and complex intracranial surgery
Special interst in aneuryisms and vascular malformations of the brain, pituitary tumors, acoustic neuroma and skull base tumors

Daniel Michael, MD
Neurosurgery Residency, Wayne State University
Interest in Spinal cord injury, head injury, neurotrauma, general neurosurgery

Karol Zakalik, MD
Neurosurgery Residency, University of Vermont
Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship, Montreal Neurological Institute, Hospital for Sick Children
Specilizes in general neurosurgery, brain tumors, spinal disorders, pediatric craniofacial reconstruction, lumbar disks, cervical disks and pinched nerves

Philip Friedman, MD
Neurosurgery Residency, University of Illinois Hospital, Chicago
Special Interest in General Neurosurgery

Paul King, MD
Neurosurgery Residency, Henry Ford Hospital
Spine Fellowship, Emory University
Interest in Reconstructive Spine Surgery, Cerebrovascular Surgery, Microsurgery, Peripheral Nerve, General neurosurgery

Mark Goldberger, DO
Neurosurgery Residency, Michigan State University
Interest in General neurosurgery, neurotrauma, minimally invasive spine, angiography


Peter Bono, DO
Orthopedic Residency, Botsford Hospital
Spine Fellowship, New York Hospital-Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY (Errico)
Specializes in spinal deformity, especially in idiopathic scoliosis, artificial disc, kyphoplasty, complex spine reconstruction

Roderick Claybrooks, MD
Orthopedic Residency, Wayne State University
Spine Fellowship, Cleveland Clinic (Benzel)
Specializes in Adult & Pediatric Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon, complex spine reconstruction

Steven Ham, DO
Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Children's Hospital of Michigan
Neurosurgery Residency, Wayne State University
Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship, Wayne State University, Children’s Hospital
Specializes in hydrocephalus, pediatric head injury and congenital spine disorders

Sandeep Sood, MD
Neurosurgery Residency, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Neurotrauma Fellowship, Detroit Receiving Hospital
Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship, Wayne State University, Children’s Hospital
Specializes in epilepsy, pediatric brain tumors, trauma, hydrocephalus, endoscopic and craniofacial surgery and spinal dysraphism

Holly Gilmer-Hill, MD
Neurosurgery Residency, University of California - Davis Medical Center
Peripheral Nerve Fellowship, Louisiana State University (Kline)
Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship, Wayne State University, Children’s Hospital
Specializes in hydrocephalus, neurooncology, craniofacial reconstruction, pediatric neurosurgery, and pediatric and adult peripheral nerve surgeries

http://www.stjohn.org/ProvidenceGME/...cneurosurgery/

Why I keep getting emails asking what kind of board scores are needed baffles me. Do applicants really think about this? I mean should not most understand that it takes a great applicant to get a quality neurosurgery spot?

I can only say that this program is very competitive and you need the absolute best board scores you can have. I read an earlier post that stated 50%???? I hope you are kidding.

This is common sense. Every positive thing you can add to your application helps. This would include class rank, gpa, research, and yes board scores.

So just do your very best. And if you have 50% on the boards I would think about something else besides Neurosurgery. And if there is a program that is willing to take you then I would question the quality of that program.

We encourage all interested to apply to Neurosurgery, but please be reasonable.

I'm sorry if anyone misunderstood my comment on board scores......you obviously need to have great board scores to be considered a strong applicant. What I was told from previous years when there weren't as many applicants was that if you scored above the 50th percentile and had a great, and I mean superior rest of your application, you might still be able to get an interview. As stated above it is very competitive now to get a spot, and you basically need to be the complete package -- do well on boards, be ranked highly in your class, have some research experience, get good letters, and work hard on your rotation.......sorry for the confusion.

From my brief research it appears there are a few DO programs that rise to the top as the strongest programs. I based this subjective ranking on # of cases, # of attendings, variety of cases, size of hospitals rotated through..etc. I was wondering what you guys thought of this list:

Tier 1:
Providence-Southfield
PCOM
VCOM-Carilion Medical Center

Tier 2:
Columbus
Long Island Jewish
BroMenn
Arrowhead

Tier 3:
Dayton
Garden City
St. Barnabas

Does this sound about right from those of you who interviewed/did subi's at these places?

Does someone know which DO schools are the top for matching students into DO neurological surgery programs? I couldn't find a match list but I figure that there must be a couple of schools that have a higher number of students over the last couple of years getting in and someone would be able to tell me. Thanks...

Originally Posted by CorpusCallosum

Does someone know which DO schools are the top for matching students into DO neurological surgery programs? I couldn't find a match list but I figure that there must be a couple of schools that have a higher number of students over the last couple of years getting in and someone would be able to tell me. Thanks...

I know that KCUMB (previously UHS) has quite a few residents in DO programs. I know that they have quite a few residents at Providence, a couple at the Grandview program, and I have seen a few others at other programs. I also believe that PCOM and CCOM tend to have quite a few graduates represented in NS residencies. That is not to take anything away from other schools, but I have noticed that these three schools are well represented in the different programs. Ultimately it is up to you if you want to get a spot in a program.

Originally Posted by HarveyCushing

From my brief research it appears there are a few DO programs that rise to the top as the strongest programs. I based this subjective ranking on # of cases, # of attendings, variety of cases, size of hospitals rotated through..etc. I was wondering what you guys thought of this list:

Tier 1:
Providence-Southfield
PCOM
VCOM-Carilion Medical Center

Tier 2:
Columbus
Long Island Jewish
BroMenn
Arrowhead

Tier 3:
Dayton
Garden City
St. Barnabas

Does this sound about right from those of you who interviewed/did subi's at these places?

Hi,

I can't argue with that list. My only comment would be Virginia is a brand-new program, so it might be early to put it at the top. I agree there is potential and I've heard good things. But I would be apprehensive at this point.

With all the competition this last year I would have gone to any of the programs. Once your in the system as a neurosurgery resident, the AOA will help you out if something happens to your program. Getting in the system is the hard part.

As for the schools... it doesn't matter except maybe at PCOM. They seem to take from their own. We had three match from KCOM this year, but that doesn't mean anything. It's all about the individuals.

Hope that input helps,
-Jason

Originally Posted by greymew

Hi,

I can't argue with that list. My only comment would be Virginia is a brand-new program, so it might be early to put it at the top. I agree there is potential and I've heard good things. But I would be apprehensive at this point.

With all the competition this last year I would have gone to any of the programs. Once your in the system as a neurosurgery resident, the AOA will help you out if something happens to your program. Getting in the system is the hard part.

As for the schools... it doesn't matter except maybe at PCOM. They seem to take from their own. We had three match from KCOM this year, but that doesn't mean anything. It's all about the individuals.

Hope that input helps,
-Jason

Yeah I had a hard time deciding where to put VCOM, so maybe as a tier 1 is a little over the top. However their program has 15 faculty members and Carilion is fairly large at 825 beds. The seem to have a solid group of attendings. Maybe it should be places as a "tier 2" program. Hopefully when I get to the point I will be able to match somewhere.

Originally Posted by greymew

Hi,

I can't argue with that list. My only comment would be Virginia is a brand-new program, so it might be early to put it at the top. I agree there is potential and I've heard good things. But I would be apprehensive at this point.

With all the competition this last year I would have gone to any of the programs. Once your in the system as a neurosurgery resident, the AOA will help you out if something happens to your program. Getting in the system is the hard part.

As for the schools... it doesn't matter except maybe at PCOM. They seem to take from their own. We had three match from KCOM this year, but that doesn't mean anything. It's all about the individuals.

Hope that input helps,
-Jason

I agree. I would put LIJ/North Shore up in tier one and VCOM in tier 2 for now, but that list is fairly accurate.

DMU matched two last year, and I matched this year from there..........but I would say KCUMB, CCOM, and I believe LECOM had a pretty good showing this year.

So heres the updated list. Feel free to make any more suggestions or comments.

Tier 1:
Providence-Southfield
PCOM
Long Island Jewish

Tier 2:
Columbus
VCOM-Carilion Medical Center (until program is up and running for a few years. very promising)
BroMenn
Arrowhead

Tier 3:
Dayton
Garden City
St. Barnabas