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The neurosurgical service at Mayo Clinic is one of the largest
in the United States. Each year, the entire spectrum of neurosurgical
conditions and disease is treated essentially at one site, which
ensures an unparalleled training experience.
Many cases are "straightforward" neurosurgical problems, which
include brain tumors, cerebral aneurysms, and spinal disease. This
allows neurosurgical residents to become skilled in the management
of typical neurosurgical problems. However, there are also many
complex cases which are referred to Mayo neurologists and neurosurgeons
for evaluation and treatment. These difficult cases will often require
a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care which broadens
the educational opportunities for residents.
The average neurosurgical caseload is approximately 3,400 major operations
per year, which includes:
- 600 operations for brain tumor
- 100 for trauma
- 230 for vascular diseases (aneurysm, AMV, carotid,
bypass)
- 110 transsphenoidal operations
- 290 operations for functional disorders (epilepsy,
movement, pain)
- 200 peripheral nerve procedures
- 150 endovascular procedures
- 1,270 spinal procedures including 70 for intraspinal
tumor and many cases of complex spinal disease involving instrumentation
- The average chief resident operative caseload
is approximately 400 operations per year
Faculty
In addition to caring for patients in their clinical practices,
Mayo Clinic's faculty members are committed to teaching and facilitating
the resident's development as a neurosurgeon. Many of the department
faculty have published and lectured extensively and are well regarded
for their specialty and subspecialty expertise. All residents have
close and frequent contact with these individuals throughout the
training experience.
Resident Mentor
At the start of the NS-1 year, you will select or are assigned a
neurosurgery faculty mentor. This relationship is established early
in the residency to encourage access to faculty members for advice.
Mentors are expected to give close attention to the resident's goals,
objectives, and spectrum of operative experience throughout the
training program.
The mentor can also help you chose a research project, give guidance
about post-residency career planning, and serve as an advocate in
post-training placement.
The chair of the Department is also intimately involved in counseling
and guiding each resident during their tenure. There are regular
individual meetings between the resident and the chair during the
training program.
Visiting Professors
Many prominent neurosurgeons visit Mayo Clinic each year. They present
their work at scheduled conferences and/or morning lectures and
participate in hospital rounds. These visits are scheduled to include
time for informal interaction between the visitor and residents
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