PGY-1 (Intern) Year

During the internship year, residents undergo comprehensive training in basic neuroscience, critical care, and structured patient care in neurosurgery at Tampa General Hospital (TGH). This includes a one month rotation in neuro-interventional radiology, guided by our endovascular surgeons, followed by five months of neurocritical care supervised by our neurocritical care intensivists, and six months on neurosurgical services. Interns are also introduced to several subspeciality outpatient clinics. Throughout this period, interns are tasked with mastering the neurological examination, developing proficiency in differential diagnosis, acquiring fundamental surgical skills, and becoming adept at bedside procedures like ventriculostomy and ICP monitor placement. 

PGY-2 Year

This year is spent as a junior resident of the TGH neurosurgery service. The primary focus of this year is to be proficient in neurocritical care. To this end, the resident will round each morning exclusively in the Neurological ICU on weekdays. Call is approximately 1 in 4 and is taken in-house. All junior and mid-level residents are included in the call pool. During call, the resident is responsible for all in-house and ER consults as well as the care of all patients on the neurosurgical service. The resident will frequently assist in the operating room where they are expected to gain experience with exposure and closure of complex cases as well as master more straight-forward procedures such as placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt or an evacuation of a subdural hematoma.

PGY-3 Year 

This year is divided into two six-month blocks. Six months of this year are spent on the Tampa General neurosurgery service. During this time residents will build on the skills they learned during the prior year. Residents will receive increased operative independence and are expected to assist in the training of more junior residents and medical students. The other half of the year is spent as the sole resident at the James A. Haley VA Hospital. During this rotation, the resident will have primary responsibility for the service under the direct supervision of the attending faculty. Responsibilities include the full breadth of patient care from the initial clinic evaluation, treatment strategy decision making, operative planning, performing the operation, acute postoperative care, and follow up care in the clinics. The resident is also responsible for all consults. Call is taken from home and weekend coverage is split with the Moffitt resident.

PGY-4 Year

This year is divided into two six-month blocks. One block is a dedicated pediatric neurosurgical experience at All Children's' Hospital. Here, the resident is exposed to a multitude of pediatric neurosurgical disorders such as hydrocephalus, brain and spinal cord tumors, pediatric trauma, and congenital spinal deformities. Call is taken from home and split with a team of physician assistants. The second block is spent as a mid-level resident on the TGH neurosurgical service. The resident is now able to perform many operations independently. At this point, the resident is involved in more complex cases including skull base tumors, spinal cord tumors, aneurysm clippings, and bypasses.

PGY-5 Year

The fifth year of residency is reserved for elective and research projects. Prior residents have done additional training in endovascular neurosurgery, complex spinal surgery, or neurosurgical oncology. Others have worked in the lab on a wide range of topics. This year is designed to allow the resident to explore a personal area of interest that will result in them becoming well-balanced physicians.

PGY-6 Year

The senior resident spends three months at Moffitt Cancer Center, providing invaluable experience in oncological disorders, including skull base and complex spinal resection and reconstruction. Working closely with medical and radiation oncologists, residents gain a profound understanding of the multidisciplinary nature of neuro-oncology. The final rotation comprises three months on the endovascular service at TGH and six months focusing on enhancing surgical skills and understanding the intricate needs of neurosurgical patients, culminating in a well-rounded training experience.

PGY-7 (Chief) Year

This is the chief year spent entirely at TGH. As a chief resident of the neurosurgical service, this resident serves as both clinical and administrative chief. At the completion of his/her training the chief resident has gained sufficient breadth of knowledge and surgical experience to pursue a career in academic neurosurgery, a career in private practice, or continue training in a subspecialty fellowship.