If you're otherwise good on paper/coming from a high tier med school and aiming for a "lower tier" program, what are the chances of getting an interview and getting ranked if you don't do a SubI there? If the chances are good, would it be advisable to not do a SubI to avoid running the risk of seeming average.

It seems like a good number of people match at places they don't do SubI's.

2024-2025 The Northwestern Spine Research Fellowship
 
Job Type: Paid, one-year research fellowship
 
Location: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and The Northwestern Center for Spine Health, Chicago, Illinois USA
 
Job Summary:
The Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is seeking applications for a one-year research fellowship in spine surgery. The fellowship will be under the guidance and supervision of Dr. Srikanth Divi, Dr. Wellington Hsu, and Dr. Alpesh A Patel.  The Department currently has over 30 projects per year in spine research with dedicated research staff.  The faculty mentors are widely known with years of experience, connected to surgical training programs throughout the United States, and are leaders in research societies around the world.
 
This fellowship is designed for highly motivated 3rd or 4th year medical students who are interested in pursuing a career in orthopaedic surgery, spine surgery, or related fields. The fellowship will provide comprehensive training in spine research, including clinical research, translational research, and advanced data science including machine learning and artificial intelligence. The fellow will take a leadership role in research projects with daily interactions with faculty, resident physicians, research staff, and patients.
 
An ambitious fellow should expect to leave with multiple publications, book chapters, and podium presentations at national and international research society meetings. The fellow will have an opportunity to learn more about the clinical practice of spine surgery, including observations in the operating room, and to engage with critical members of residency search committees. 
 
The fellowship is an outstanding opportunity to prepare yourself for a career in orthopedic surgery or neurosurgery and to distinguish yourself from others applying for highly competitive residency programs.
 
Responsibilities:
The fellow will be responsible for conducting research in the field of spine surgery under the supervision of the spine surgery research faculty. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
 
·        Conducting literature reviews, data collection and analysis, and manuscript preparation
·        Participating in ongoing clinical trials and research projects
·        Presenting research findings at local, national, and international meetings and conferences
·        Participating in weekly spine surgery conferences, residency curriculum, and department grand rounds
·        Active project management of research projects
 
Qualifications:
·        Current enrollment in a 3rd or 4th year medical degree program at a US or Canadian accredited institution
·        Strong interest in spine surgery or related fields
·        Excellent academic record and prior research experience
·        Strong organizational and communication skills
·        Ability to work independently and as part of a team
·        Familiarity with SPSS, SATA, R, or other statistics/programming software
 
Application Requirements:
·        Curriculum vitae
·        Personal statement (500 words or less) outlining your interest in spine surgery and your career goals
·        Academic transcripts from your current medical school
 
Application Deadline:
All application materials should be sent to Sadie Sial at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery (saadia.sial@nm.org) Send application materials as soon as possible as decisions will be made on a rolling basis. The fellowship will begin on July 1, 2024.
 
Compensation:
This is a paid fellowship with a stipend of $20,000 per year.
 
Note:
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.

Current US med student who's been gunning neurosurgery since day 1 with no doubts about applying neurosurgery. I come from a first responder background and I recently started volunteering on a SWAT team as a medic as an extracurricular activity. The team's medical director is an ortho attending who also serves as an armed medic on the team. He does this on top of his full time academic ortho position. Not sure about his exact hours but he attends monthly training and goes to callouts/warrants when he can.

This seems to be fairly common nowadays for EM docs, orthopods, and trauma surgeons, but I haven't heard of any neurosurgeons doing this. I'm sure this is due to the nature of the job (longer surgeries, more call/emergencies, fewer neurosurgeons), but it's also a much smaller sample size and there is likely some selection bias of the kinds of people who go into neurosurgery.

I have no illusions or plans of being able to pursue this as a side activity to any depth as a resident because training >>> all else. I'm also willing to drop this completely if it will interfere with my ability to be a good neurosurgeon. That said, does anyone have any insight into if it would be possible to do something similar to the ortho attending as a neurosrgery attending once you get some more control of your schedule?

For anyone looking for a very practically useful iPhone app, check out "Neurosurgery: What's the data?".  It requires a (very cheap) subscription but allows you to review all the Class 1 evidence on a subject in seconds.  Very helpful before pimp sessions. 

There are also similar apps in neuro-oncology, cerebrovascular, and spine, but the neurosurgery app includes all the subspecialty references.  the other apps are mainly meant for non-neurosurgeons (neuro-oncology, stroke neurology, ortho spine, etc).

there is a free online version as well:  go to whatsthedata.com and click on "Web Resource".

Anyone know how long WUSTL takes to pre-screen for aways?

Orthopedic Surgery/Neurosurgery Research Year Opportunity: Adult Spinal Deformity Research under Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Peter Passias at Duke University (Durham, NC). 

Please apply here by filling out the application below:
https://forms.gle/ZGzJ2rN62gx1oGA16

Taking applications until 3/15, but earlier submissions will be priority-reviewed. M3/M4/post-doc students preferred, prior research experience preferred/necessary. Thank you!

We all know Citow is number 2 and AlHefty is number 3 but who is number 1.

I'm about to graduate and in the process of speaking with recruiters/interviewing for jobs. What are good (or not so good) questions to ask (about the practice, hospital, compensation, benefits, etc) when interviewing and to whom would be most appropriate (hospital recruiter vs. neurosurgeons vs. admin, etc)?

Heard that Dr Byrne is leaving Rush for Mayo Jacksonville. Anyone have any insight as to why / how this is gonna affect the program??

Why do you think neurosurgery forums are so malignant?

It appears that everyone on these forums considers themselves to be in the top 1% of applicants. Furthermore, nearly every program, except for a select few, is deemed subpar. According to this perspective, if you’re not in a top 5 program, you have no chance of becoming a competent neurosurgeon.

When someone seeks advice about their application or future, the prevailing attitude is not to assist them but rather to berate them for their perceived lack of intelligence or strength.

Similarly, when discussing specific programs, people readily label them as “garbage,” even if they lack firsthand knowledge. If anyone dares to express positivity about a program, they are promptly dismissed as a disgruntled resident who didn’t match into a “top 5 program.”

The online culture within neurosurgery can be dishearteningly malignant. However, it’s worth noting that when you meet residents face-to-face at conferences and courses, they tend to be friendly and welcoming. They share common concerns and frustrations about their programs, just as you do.

Why can’t we be more collegial toward our current and future colleagues?