Educational Program: PGY-3
The PGY-3 year includes adult neurosurgery rotations and clinical neurosciences. The purpose of the PGY-3 year is to build on knowledge and skills obtained during the PGY-2 year in particular by assuming greater responsibility for patient care and by gaining more in-depth knowledge and skills of the subspecialty areas of pediatric neurosurgery and pain.
During this year, residents will demonstrate greater independence and responsibility for inpatient and outpatient care, including evaluation and decision-making. Residents at this level are expected to evaluate patients in the inpatient and outpatient settings, establish a differential diagnosis, identify appropriate diagnostic tests, and develop a treatment plan. They may implement non-critical aspects of the evaluation but are expected to report in a timely fashion to Senior and/or Chief Residents and faculty. Residents will refine their abilities to perform the neurosurgical history and physical examinations.
The PGY-3 resident will contintue to improve knowledge of indications and interpretation of laboratory and imaging studies, apply complex diagnostic and patient-management skills, including participation in inpatient and outpatient settings, establish and implement effective patient care plans, counsel patients on the risks, goals, limits and alternatives to neurosurgical procedures, perform selected surgical procedures under direct supervision, focusing on spinal neurosurgery (e.g., lumbar and cervical laminectomies, lumbar discectomy, anterior cervical discectomy with and without fusion), assist in major surgical procedures, and perform portions of the procedure that are appropriate to the resident's level of training under guidance, and practice critical care skills as required for inpatient neurosurgery. The PGY-3 resident will take the written examination of the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) for self-assessment.