I wanted to write a summary on my sub-i experience at at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). When I was searching for sub-is, I wanted to see different programs in focus, geography...etc and wanted to check out a program with tight group of residents and camaraderie.  I started asking my friends and colleagues and was pointed to UMMC. It was the first time for me to visit Mississippi but really enjoyed my month there. I can tell you that it is the best group of residents I have ever seen. I did multiple sub-is at different places including those top tier names but have never seen a great group as Mississippi. 

There are two services (vascular/tumors) and spine besides pediatrics. You have the choice to pick the cases you are interested in or you can ask the residents for their recommendation. Myself didn't spend a week in pediatrics and preferred to spend the 4 weeks with the residents. Teams work in shifts (6 am to 6pm) and nightfloat person starts at 6 pm. PGY2 and PGY3 alternate between spine/cranial/nightfloat blocks one month each. You show up around 6 am or before if you have cases to present so you can pre-round on patients. NICU dry rounds start at 7 am where residents, 1-2 neurosurgery attendings and neurointensivists attend for management plans. Then you go to the OR. If you finish before 6 pm, you can go to the residents' room for the sign out at 6 pm. You are not required to take night calls but I did take around 4-5 calls to see how nights look like. It's level one trauma center and the only neurosurgery program in the Sate so expect a lot of trauma- but extremely crazy. Grand rounds are every Wednesday. You are required to give a talk about your research or a literature review. It's a 30-45 minutes talk so be well prepared. You can go to clinics whenever you want. The research block is 8 months during your 4th year.

As I mentioned before, the work environment and collegiality makes this program very special and unique. Residents hangout together several times a month and they would like to talk with you and get to know you better. Even I remember that one attending invited me with the residents to his house for burgers over the weekend. I had a really great time with the residents and worked mostly with Kelsey, Chris, Paul, Joaquin, Patrick and Drew. The chiefs Jason, Ali and Brandon were great and graduated together last year so unfortunately you will not see them. Sorry if I don't recall all residents' names because it has been almost a year. 

All faculty are laid back and treat you as a colleague and part of the family. You get to see unique cases and some rare presentations. Drs. Luzardo and Washington are vascular/skull base. Dr. Luzardo is  the program director. He is very fast and does complex skull base surgeries like posterior petrosal approach for petroclival meningioma. Dr. Washington directs the research program and very interested to hear about your research. Drs. Harkey (the chair), Tullis and Marks are spine where you get to see deformity, MIS and all spine surgeries. Dr. Rey-Dios is tumor and skull base. Dr. Shifflet is the pediatric neurosurgeon (the only pediatric neurosurgeon in the State). Dr. Parent is the past chair and he attends the grand rounds and interviews but he doesn't operate anymore. Dr. Uribe is the new functional neurosurgeon and unfortunately I was unable to work with him because he was finishing his fellowship then. Dr. Perkins is a scientist and is involved in research and anatomical studies. He also gives the presentation during the interviews.

The staff and nurses are very friendly and nice. Ms. Robin French is the coordinator and she is always helpful and happy to answer your questions. Mses. Jennifer and Tammy are also very friendly and you will get to work with them in the clinic. The staff also help the residents in writing notes and discharge summaries which is another plus.

You will be interviewed during your sub-i, but if your sub-i is early in the season you will be given the choice to come back again for an interview during the interviews season if you want (this is what happened to me).  Jackson is big in sport which is typical in the south. It's very cheap and most of residents have family and own houses and cars. The crime rate is relatively high but it's not different than most of the cities I went for interviews e.g., Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit...etc.

I really liked the program and it was at the top of my list and will miss this great group and family. Sorry if I forgot to mention all names or part of the sub-i experience because it has been almost a year. Again, this place is unique and you will live very happy 7 years. The work shift of 6 am to 6 pm is special. Having a supportive staff who help in your notes and minimize the scut work is a huge plus. After you will be done with your sub-is/interviews and have a big picture on balance between neurosurgery, life and family, you will realize that happy 7 years are way important than malignant 7 years just because of the name. I will be happy to answer any question.

How often do fired residents get into other programs? 

Thinking specifically of a Barrow resident who was fired around two years ago. Did he ever get a new position? 

What happens if you get fired in general? Do you have to try and match again? What about a senior resident who gets fired? Is their only hope to get another position? It's unlikely another seniro position would be available so what? They're done? Years gone down the drain?

Hi all, some away rotations require a LOR on VSAS. Was wondering if this LOR has to be from a neurosurgery faculty is one from another attending okay? Or is it better if its from a NSG attending? I have done my elective with the NSG department and the residents seem to like me, but haven't had much facetime with the attendings to ask for a letter.

I'm in the market for a new navigation system. What are people using? What do you like or dislike about your system?

I was thinking of doing two away rotations in the same city.  I've been hearing some students worrying about regional bias. Some students believe that if you do two rotations in NY, west coast schools will be less inclined to offer interviews. Do other programs really care that much? Thanks.

I'm currently an M2 at a very suburban/semi rural school with no home department or teaching hospital so neurosurg research has been largely impossible to obtain. For rotations we move to the city where there are a few other schools with research focused departments and I'm considering reaching out to try and get involved with some clinical papers during M3. I have one basic neuroscience mid author paper from late undergrad and a poster from last summer relating to GBM imaging but failed to get the HHMI fellowship so I want to do something to establish myself a bit more and make some contacts in the field.

1) How feasible is trying to do some clinical review work (>80% remotely) during M3 at a school/hospital I don't rotate at. It will be difficult to be physically present during normal business hours because of our lack of a home department. Completely fine with putting in mad weekends when not on a rotation that day. 

2) Who's the best to contact? Residents, program coordinator, PD, or NSG PI?

Anyone know anything about preresidency program at Boston University ?
How good is the training there ? would it help you get into residency ?
I heard they have good track of fellows who matched into neurosurgery.

Hi all,

MS3 here from a US Southern MD program, planning to do one away in the East either at Pitt or UVa. Heard great things about both programs just wondering if you guys could provide some information?

Across the country, who are some of the academic neurosurgeons that are known as the best at teaching residents? any standout mentors/teachers

conversely

any that one should avoid?

Has anyone rotated here and can share their experience? Which hospitals do you rotate through (since there are multiple affiliated ones)? Considering a sub-I here.