Hello,
I'm an MSIII planning to apply for neurosurgery this upcoming cycle. My school does not have a home program so I'm planning to do 3 away rotations at top tier programs (hopefully). How many programs should I apply to for aways? I've heard overdoing it can look bad if you're accepted into a program and turn it down, but I also don't want to risk not getting 3 offers. I recognize this is a nuanced discussion, but I'm just looking for input.
Step 1 score: 261
Step 2: not taken yet
Clerkships: I've honored 4/4 clerkships thus far (IM, FM, neurology, psychiatry); not sure how many I'll have honored by the time my applications are being reviewed
Research: 2 pubs in clinical research, 1 poster presentation
How hard is it to get a position at an academic hospital if you didn’t train at a top 20 program? From what I’ve seen, residents at those programs have access to the resources and people who can make that much easier, it’s a self-propagating machine.
Hello all, current M3 interested in neurosurgery. Have 10+ pubs, 20+ posters, and competitive step score. However, I feel like my life has revolved around neurosurgery completely for multiple years. I did not take a gap year after undergrad, but I have been considering taking one now by choice so I can have the opportunity to travel and have time for self-reflection and self-discovery (not necessarily to publish or bolster my application). I have no doubts about neurosurgery, but I understand that once residency starts that I won't be able to take this kind of time for myself.
Would this be a major red flag? Or would programs/PD's understand the intention and respect the decision?
What's your practice for working up a patient with a newly-diagnosed "likely primary" brain tumor? If you have somebody with a new-onset seizure who's got what looks like a GBM on imaging, do you still get whole-body imaging to exclude mets?
Any residents compensated per consult? I know some other specialties do this in residency and it is more inline with what happens out in practice. Attendings' attitudes on bs consults is to see them, be nice to the consulting team and bill. For residents, bs consults just mean more work without any legit education or benefit, often leading to demeaning phone calls and interactions. If there was an extra little amount of money to see dumb consults, I think I would more easily tolerate it
The Department of Neurosurgery at Boston University is seeking physicians for pre-residency, post-graduate fellowship positions in neurosurgery beginning July 1, 2020. Pre-residency fellows work alongside 8 neurosurgeons, 6 neuro intensive care neurologists, and neurosurgical and neurology residents at Boston Medical Center (Boston MA) and nearby St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center (Brighton MA). The program provides broad clinical exposure in the neurosciences, and the duties of the fellow are primary neurosurgery inpatient coverage including call, first assist in the operating room, rotating on the neurocritical care service, performance of bedside procedures, and outpatient clinic. Fellows also participate in weekly didactic sessions including neurosurgical core conferences, multidisciplinary tumor board, neuroscience grand rounds, and critical care problem case conference. Opportunities exist for clinical or basic research both within the institution and the fertile Boston academic environment. Accepted candidates must commit to a minimum of 2 years. Completion of an internship in surgery or medicine is preferable but not a requirement.
Previous fellows have gained residency positions in neurosurgery (4), anesthesiology (1), pathology (1), and radiology (1).
To apply, please forward (email) a letter of introduction and curriculum vitae to:
