Curriculum

PGY-1
The PGY-1 residents will spend a total of six months in neurocritical care, three months on the neurosurgery service participating in surgical cases, and three months of basic clinical neurosciences (neurology, neuro-ophthalmology and neuro radiology).

The six months in the Neuro-ICU will allow each resident to track toward completing an enfolded fellowship in neurocritical care by the end of their residency training.

PGY-2
The first full year of neurosurgery is one of rapid learning of the basics of neurosurgical disease, of operative anatomy and technique, and of patient care. 

During this year, the residents will perform ventriculostomies, place lumbar drains, open and close craniotomies, perform peripheral nerve explorations, and perform decompressive cervical and lumbar laminectomies and discectomies.

By the end of this year, the residents will have experience with the full range of neurosurgical procedures and will be competent to manage critically ill patients.

PGY-3
The PGY-3 residents spend three months on the pediatric neurosurgical service at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, six months in the neurosurgery service, six weeks of neuroradiology and six weeks of neuropathology.

PGY-4
The PGY-4 residents perform more advanced procedures and assume more administrative responsibility. By the end of this year, the resident is able to be the primary surgeon on most neurosurgical procedures.

PGY-5 – Research Year
The entirety of the fifth year is dedicated to laboratory or clinical research chosen by the resident, to be approved on an individual basis. Residents are also encouraged to submit abstracts for oral presentations at national neurosurgical meetings.

Residents working with our faculty have been able to complete research projects in the areas of intracranial pressure and blood flow monitoring, ischemia protection, brain tumor biology and treatment, and gene therapy for brain tumors. Support is available for study design, biostatistics and manuscript presentation.

PGY-6
During this year, the PGY 6 residents will have an exciting opportunity to complete a six-month elective rotation at St. George’s University in London under the direction of Mr. Timothy Jones. This rotation will give the residents an opportunity to experience a unique exposure to a different system of medical care.

The PGY-6 residents will also spend three months on a combined pediatric and trauma rotation at Dell Children’s Hospital and the University Medical Center Brackenridge in Austin. The last three months of this year will be spent on the neurosurgery service at Houston Methodist.

PGY-7 Chief Resident
The final year of neurosurgical training is spent as chief resident. The Chief Resident is responsible for coordinating the operative schedule, mentoring senior and junior residents and medical students, organizing clinical and basic material presented at conferences, including tracking and presentation of morbidity and mortality data, and selection of articles for presentation at Journal Club.

All rotations take place at Houston Methodist Hospital unless otherwise specified.

For more information about the residency program, contact Corina Gutierrez at cmgutierrez2@houstonmethodist.org.