Neurosurgery Residency Training

Program Director: John Hurlbert
Assistant Program Director: John Wong
Research Director: Zelma Kiss
Program Administrator: Patti Sullivan

Number of PGY-1 CaRMS positions per year: 2
Accreditation: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Length of Training: 6 years
Mandatory Research: 1 year

The education of our neurosurgical trainees remains a prime focus of the Division of Neurosurgery. Each of the attending neurosurgeons contributes to training through hands-on operating room instruction, clinic supervision, ward rounds, research supervision, teaching rounds, and seminars. In addition a major component of education stems from interactions between clinical subspecialty fellows (spine, vascular, peripheral nerve), chief and senior residents, and junior residents. Graduated responsibility for patient care in and out of the operating room is the cornerstone of the residency training program.

The Neurosurgery training program is based primarily out of the Foothills Hospital. With the exception of some non-neurosurgery rotations during the PGY-1 year, and Pediatric Neurosurgery training during the PGY-5 year at Alberta Children's Hospital, residency training occurs entirely within the corridors of the Foothills Hospital, currently the only Level 1 trauma centre in Southern Alberta. Hence, residents enjoy a rich interaction with all of their attending staff and their co-residents throughout the entire training period. Besides benefiting from this large general neurosurgery and trauma population, on-site subspecialty expertise in vascular and endovascular neurosurgery, epilepsy, functional, skull base, peripheral nerve, and spinal surgery complements the overall training experience.

The typical layout of a training template includes:

Core Surgical Years: PGY-1 and PGY-2 (26 blocks - 24 months)

• Surgical, Medicine, and ICU rotations (15 blocks)
• Adult Neurosurgery (9 blocks)
• Principles of Surgery Exam

PGY-3

• Adult Neurosurgery (10 blocks)
• Neurology (3 blocks)

PGY-4

• Research (13 blocks)
• Opportunity to go on to advanced degree (MSc, PhD)

PGY-5

• Adult Neurosurgery (7 blocks)
• Pediatric Neurosurgery (6 blocks)

PGY-6

• Adult Neurosurgery (7 blocks)
• Neuroradiology (3 blocks)
• Neuropathology (3 blocks)
• FRCSC exam (you're done .... YAHOO!!)

Although education begins with hands-on exposure to the patients and their pathologies, it does not stop here. Thursday afternoons are University academic half-days, dedicated to focused educational seminars. In the first two years of residency Principles of Surgery sessions are provided in association with the Department of Surgery through the lunch hour. CanMEDs seminars are intermittently scheduled during this time as well for residents through years 1-6. Neuro-pathology seminars alternating with brain cutting are shared by Neurosurgery and Neurology residents in the early afternoon. A curriculum of neurosurgical topics designed to comprehensively cover the specialty of Neurosurgery fills out the rest of the afternoon, cycling over a two-year period during this protected academic half-day. Residents and staff alike participate in the teaching of these seminars.

A schedule of prominent visiting guest lecturers and professors enriches the academic environment facilitating both formal and personal interactions between residents and internationally renowned Neurosurgeons. During all six years of training residents are encouraged to attend local, national, and international conferences through semi-annual educational leave and Departmental/University funding.

One year of formal supervised research experience is required during the six year training program, typically during the PGY-4 year. This can be in basic or clinical science. Advanced degrees (MSc, PhD) are encouraged with funding available through the Division of Neurosurgery, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, and Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. Ongoing involvement with clinical research projects is facilitated throughout the training program by interactions with staff and the research director, Dr. Kiss.

As hard as our residents work during the year, social events are an important part of the program as well. Dinners with visiting professors allow for personal glimpses into the professional and private lives of others who have not only "been there" but been successful. Journal club offers a casual atmosphere and camaraderie in the home of one of the attending Neurosurgeons one evening every other month. Residents' Night Out is a fun evening at one of the local pubs highlighted by competition in darts, pool, or even bowling. The annual Division of Neurosurgery ski day involves residents, nurse practitioners, and attending staff for a day of skiing and an evening of good food at one of the mountains and restaurants in the Banff area.

We believe that the opportunities provided by the University of Calgary Neurosurgical Residency Training Program are unparalleled throughout Canada and North America. Calgary itself is a growing, vibrant, and young city. From Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera, to NHL and CFL excitement, to the outdoors of Canada's finest National Parks there isn't a safer and more well-rounded environment in which to complete such a comprehensive residency training program. We hope you will continue to think highly of us as you make your career choices.