Program Curriculum
The Neurosurgery Residency at LSU Health Sciences Center – New Orleans is a seven-year, ACGME-accredited training program designed to provide progressive clinical responsibility and comprehensive exposure to all major areas of neurosurgery.
Residents rotate through three primary clinical sites:
- University Medical Center - the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center
- West Jefferson Medical Center
- Manning Family Children's Hospital
These training sites provide residents with broad exposure to neurosurgical pathology across both adult and pediatric populations.
PGY-1: Foundations of Neurosurgical Care
The first year focuses on developing core clinical, diagnostic, and critical care skills essential to neurosurgical training.
Rotations may include:
- General Surgery
- Neurology
- Neuropathology
- Neurointerventional Surgery
- Neuroradiology
- Neurosurgery Service
Residents gain experience in neurologic evaluation, perioperative management, trauma care and critical care medicine.
PGY-2: Early Neurosurgical Training
During the second year, residents begin focused neurosurgical rotations while gaining greater involvement in operative cases and patient management. Residents participate actively in trauma and spine care, assist in surgical procedures, and follow patients through diagnosis, surgery, and recovery.
PGY-3: Subspecialty Exposure
Residents rotate through several neurosurgical subspecialties, including:
- Spine surgery
- Cerebrovascular surgery
- Brain tumor surgery
- Functional neurosurgery
- Pediatric neurosurgery
This year emphasizes operative experience, multidisciplinary collaboration, and increasing clinical independence.
PGY-4: Advanced Clinical Responsibility
Residents assume increased responsibility in both operative and clinical decision-making while managing more complex neurosurgical cases. Leadership development and teaching of junior residents and medical students are emphasized.
PGY-5: Research and Academic Development
The fifth year is dedicated to research and scholarly activity. Residents pursue projects aligned with their academic interests and career goals, with opportunities to present findings at national meetings and contribute to peer-reviewed publications. Residents may also pursue advanced degrees such as an MHA or MBA during this year.
PGY-6: Senior Resident Training
Residents return to full-time clinical training with expanded leadership responsibilities, including senior call coverage and supervision of junior residents. They participate in increasingly complex surgical cases and function in a chief role across clinical services.
PGY-7: Chief Resident Year
The final year of training is spent serving as Chief Resident. Responsibilities include leading the clinical team, coordinating patient care, and mentoring junior residents while preparing for independent neurosurgical practice.