Neurosurgical Grand Rounds
Neurosurgical grand rounds are the main neurosurgical conference. All faculty and residents are required to attend this weekly lecture given by neurosurgical clinical staff in neurosurgery and/or a visiting lecturer. Topics rotate for each specialty.
Journal Clubs (Spine, Cardiovascular, Functional and Epilepsy)
These conferences are held monthly. Articles are selected, copied and distributed prior to the meeting. These articles are then presented and discussed at the conference. Attendance is required of those on the particular service, but is optional to others not on the service. In addition, the resident's conduct their own Neurosurgery Journal Club which meets once per month.
Neurosurgical Patient Management/Quality Assurance Conference
The faculty and residents are required to attend this weekly conference. Operative complications and mortality are discussed.
For the Patient Management portion of this weekly conference, the chief residents prepare and organize the discussion of 8 to 10 cases. All related X-ray and video materials are available for presentation at the conference. The resident staff may prepare special presentations on selected topics to complement a discussion of surgical management.
Systems-based Practice Conference
The Residents are required to attend this monthly conference. Guest speakers are invited to participate and discuss topics such as, medical mal-practice, database development, private practice vs. academic practice, medical coding, ethics, investments, torte reform, etc.
Other Meetings
In addition, Residents are encouraged to attend the following meetings. Residents rotating on the service providing the conference are required to attend.
- Biomechanics
- Cerebrovascular
- Epilepsy Patient
- Gamma Knife
- Interdisciplinary Skull Base Conference
- Neuro-Oncology Conference (Pediatric and Adult)
- Neuro-Ophthalmology Conference
- Neuropathology Conference
- Neuroradiology Conference
- Neurosurgical Board Review
- Resident Teaching Lectures
Visiting Professors
Four special lectures are held within the Department of Neurological Surgery in the fall and spring: The Burkhardt Visiting Lecture in Neuro-oncology, the W. James Gardner Lecture, the Charles E. Locke and the Gagliarducci Lecture.
- The Burkhardt Lecture focuses on basic science and experimental therapeutics. It pays tribute to those investigators who have made significant advances to our understanding of the genetics and biology of primary brain tumors and have translated these findings into novel clinical therapies.
- The W. James Gardner Lecture is in honor of Dr. W. James Gardner, Chairman, Department of Neurosurgery at The Cleveland Clinic 1929-1962.
- The Charles E. Locke, MD Lecure is in honor of the first neurosurgeon at the Cleveland Clinic 1924.
- The Gagliarducci Lecture is a multidisciplinary event that recognizes excellence in brain tumor clinical research.
Publications
Residents are expected to submit 2 publications equivalents per year. These include: case reports, chapters, reviews, private or governmental grants, patents, invention disclosures or equivalents within the resident's chosen niche. Pursuant of this end, a running library of ongoing opportunities for writing will be available to the resident.
Meeting/Conferences
Residents (PGY2 and above) are limited to one approved conference /meeting while on service each academic year if presenting (GME expense). Residents are permitted to attend one conference if presenting and approved at the department's expense per year.
Milestones/Requirements
Residents will establish a mentor during their NS1 year. He/she will meet with their mentor a minimum of every six months to discuss academic development for the first 3 years. By the end of year 3, the resident should define an academic niche and a specific goal that can form the framework for an individual's niche. The mentor may be a single clinician, basic scientist or combination of clinician and basic scientist, or a person of equivalent stature in a parallel field (business, government, law, etc).
Annual Neuroscience Research Day
Each spring, neuroscience residents and fellows participate in Neuroscience Research Day. This forum allows residents and fellows to present papers or posters on work that has interested them in the clinical or basic sciences.
Brain Cutting
This conference is held bi-weekly and is presented by the staff of the Department of Anatomic Pathology’s Section of Neuropathology. Discussions include a review of gross pathological findings from a recent postmortem examination involving a specific neurological disorder.
Spine Grand Rounds
This monthly conference includes a lecture and several case presentations.
Spine Journal Club
This conference is held monthly. Articles are selected, copied and distributed prior to the meeting. These articles are then presented and discussed at the conference. Staff are encouraged, but not required, to attend.
Pediatric Conferences
Pediatric neurosurgery residents attend weekly pediatric patient management conferences and bimonthly pediatric neuroscience grand rounds, in addition to the monthly pediatric neurosurgery subspecialty conference.
Other Meetings
In addition to these conferences, residents are encouraged to attend the following meetings:
- Biomechanics Conference
- Cerebrovascular Conference
- Epilepsy Patient
- Management Conference
- Gamma Knife Conference
- Interdisciplinary Skull Base Conference
- Neuro-Oncology Conference (Pediatric and Adult)
- Neuro-Ophthalmology Conference
- Neuropathology Conference
- Neuroradiology Conference
- Neurosurgical Board Review
Academic Niche Development
Graduating residents should be prepared to occupy a unique niche within neurosurgery. They should be expected to be an "expert" in a specific area or endeavor. To this end, they should have produced independent work or attained degrees that support this label. It is this unique skill set that will make graduating residents recruitable to academic departments or allow them to make a significant contribution to the field of neurosurgery.
Niche development should not be restricted to the traditional areas of scientific and academic pursuit. The Niche may exist in any of the following areas or other areas to be named:
- Bioengineering
- Business/Entrepreneurial Activity
- Science
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Computer Science
- Public Health
- Clinical Research
- Politics/Public Policy
- Law
- Literature
Examples
- Political Niche: Public Policy Degree, White House Fellowship, Political Campaign Work, PAC activity, National Neurosurgical Political Activity.
- Business Niche: Business School Degree, Patent Development, Spin-off Company formation
- International Niche: Public Policy Degree, Third World relief effort, International Neurosurgical Education.
- Basic Science Niche: Develop a set of Questions, Create an independent and funded research agenda.
- Clinical Science Niche: Biostatistics or Public Health Degree, Focused Clinical Fellowship paired with a coherent clinical research agenda. Law Niche: Law Degree, Externship in Law Firm, Publish in the field of law as it pertains to neurosurgery.
- Literature Niche: Publish Fiction or Non-Fiction Books and Pieces.
Time and Rewards
New RRC regulations will protect the time necessary for career development to run in parallel with clinical training. This time is designed for the procurement of the preliminary data necessary to write initial grant and fellowship applications. Residents will be awarded with the funds necessary for the attendance of national meetings contingent on satisfactory attendance to Niche Development Meetings, as well as the completion of milestones listed below.
Projected ‘AND’ Schedule
PGY 1 Second Semester
Goals: Defining the options, formulating a list of goals that match clinical interest with potential Niches
PGY 2 First Semester
- Goals: Declaring intent, narrowing the list
- Activity: RUNN meeting (optional, but encouraged)
- Requirements:
- Approval of Program Director (Dr. Schlenk and Academic Program Director, Dr. Machado) for planned Niche.
- Publication equivalents - case reports, reviews, chapters.
PGY 2 Second Semester
- Goals: Choosing a Niche. Develop a plan to facilitate resource procurement.
- Requirement:
- Publication Equivalents -Write a Grant or equivalent.
PGY 3 First Semester
- Goals: Initiating a part-time project.
- Requirements:
- Publication Equivalents - case report, chapter, review
- Progress Report on a project to generate pilot data.
PGY 3 Second Semester
- Goals: Completing pilot project
- Activity: Attend a subspecialty meeting in the area of interest; Basic Science or
Clinical Section Meeting
- Requirements:
- Publication Equivalents - Experimental or clinical manuscript with novel data.
PGY 4 First Semester
- Goals: Commit to a mentor
- Requirements:
- Submit a long-term plan that consists of an individual timeline for project development.
- Publication Equivalent: Second Grant (NRSA, Foundation Grant), Grant Resubmission, Experimental manuscript, Chapter.
PGY 5-6 (Research Years)
- Goal: Present novel data at a national meeting during either year or both.
- Activity: Attend National Meeting if presentation is accepted - Basic Science Poster, Oral Presentation at Clinical Meeting, Two Posters at Clinical Meeting
- Requirements:
- Publication Equivalents: Grants, Peer Reviewed Manuscripts on novel data
PGY 7 (Chief Year)
- Goal: Recruitment to position in academic neurosurgery or a unique position in private practice utilizing the cultivated niche.
- Activity: Interviewing
- Requirements:
- Publication Equivalent - Major Grant to Fund post-residency activity
(K08/CIDA), Book, Etc