Neurosurgery Program | Department of Surgery

Program Description

Program Goals

The Neurosurgery Residency training program at the University of British Columbia is dedicated to the comprehensive training and development of the next generation of leaders in all areas of neurosurgery. This encompasses an emphasis on clinical excellence in both knowledge and technical skills as well as scholarship, leadership, advocacy, and teaching. We strive to train clinically superior surgeons. We strive to equip our graduates with the academic, leadership, and teaching skills to be positioned to advance all spheres of our field over the course of their careers. We believe that regardless of the future career path of our trainees, all trainees must be fully equipped to practice in all areas of clinical neurosurgery. Residents in our program are expected to demonstrate clinical and academic excellence, exceptional interpersonal and teamwork skills, contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field, and have a sense of responsibility and dedication to the profession. Residents are expected to be active community members and demonstrate balance in life as evidenced by engagement in volunteer, extracurricular, or other types of activities.

9 blocks on the combined neurosurgery and orthopedic spine service and 6 blocks of community neurosurgery. Other rotations include 3 blocks of neuropathology and 3 blocks of neuroradiology.

Further training may also include further approved residency training in neurosurgery (including pediatric neurosurgery, spine or community neurosurgery), clinical or basic research, other approved training or research relevant to the field of neurosurgery, desired by the resident and approved by the program director. To allow broad experience, several specific rotations may be arranged where needed or requested, such as additional adult neurosurgery may be done in a community /rural private practice; option of additional spine program experience; additional neuroradiology; 1 or more years of research in an approved neurosurgical or related laboratory; and an elective period of training approved by the program director and head of the division. The resident is responsible for patient care activities under supervision, progresses according to his/her increasing capabilities, and is exposed to extensive operating experience.

Application & Eligibility

Canadian Medical Graduates

Canadian medical school graduates must apply through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS). Details on how to apply through CaRMS can be found on the CaRMS website.

Internationally Sponsored Trainees opportunity

There is an opportunity for internationally sponsored trainees. The program receives the application packages from the UBC Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Office.

An internationally sponsored medical trainee is a physician who is not a Canadian citizen or a Canadian permanent resident and whose tuition and salary are funded by a sponsoring agency in their home country. A postgraduate training agreement must be in place between UBC and the international sponsoring agency before PGME can process an application. Details on how to apply can be found on the PGME website.

Program & Curriculum Information

Program Curriculum

This residency program is for 6 years. Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.

PGY 1-2 (Surgical Foundation)

The first two years of training fall under the Royal College Surgical Foundation guidelines. Rotations are tailored to the resident’s needs and goals and generally include non-neurosurgery (off-service) rotations in other specialties with options such as ENT/Plastics/Orthopedics/Trauma surgery/ Vascular surgery/Emergency Medicine/ICU, and Neurology. The resident rotates multiple times with the Adult Intracranial Neurosurgery and Spinal Neurosurgery services during this period. There are weekly core surgery lecture series and a 4-week dedicated “CRASH” course to aid in the integration into surgical residency and preparation for the Surgical Foundations Examination.

PGY 3-6

The total amount of clinical neurosurgical training required by the Royal College is a minimum of 42 blocks of approved resident training in neurosurgery with progressively increasing responsibility for patient care. Included in the 42 blocks of clinical neurosurgery are 6 blocks of pediatric neurosurgery,

Training Sites

Vancouver General Hospital
BC Children’s Hospital
Royal Columbian Hospital
Lions Gate Hospital
Kelowna General Hospital
Victoria General Hospital

Academic Half Day

The teaching activities center around a weekly academic day with formal academic presentations, case presentations, correlative rounds (neurosurgery, neuroradiology, neuropathology), quality assurance ward audits, and topical seminar sessions. In addition, there are research rounds and Journal Cubs.

Research opportunities

In addition to the clinical-based training, the resident has an opportunity to attend several courses which may include the University of Calgary Spine Course, the University of Toronto Microsurgical Course, ATLS training, and various courses associated with neurosurgical meetings depending on the resident’s career goals and on approval by the program director. Residents are also expected to attend Neurosurgery Resident Boot Camp, as well as cadaver dissection sessions at the VGH Simulation Centre at Vancouver General Hospital.

Basic science research is encouraged but not a requirement. A supervised annual clinical research project is expected in PGY2 and above residents. Residents are expected to present their projects at the annual Resident Research Day and submit their papers to the annual Department of Surgery WB & MH Chung Research Day and BC Neuroscience Day. Trips to present papers at major neurosurgical North American meetings are funded by the division. The division has a full-time research coordinator that residents have access to for helping with research ethics, submissions, interactive reviews, statistics, funding applications, etc.

Clinical Investigator Program The UBC Clinician Investigator Program (CIP) is an opportunity for UBC residents to pursue Master’s, PhD, or postgraduate studies through a RCPSC accredited program. CIP is a fully funded two-year program that allows UBC residents the unique opportunity to gain research experience in world-class research facilities both locally and internationally. Residents at all stages of their residency training can apply to the program by the November 1^st deadline each year. For more information about the program and application process, visit the UBC CIP website.

Current Residents

Find the list of current residents here.

Resident Wellness & Respectful Environments

Neurosurgery program to provide a safe, positive, healthy learning environment for all residents by creating, promoting, and sustaining a culture of wellness and resilience within the program. Wellness and resilience are recognized as an important area of focus to optimize resident well-being and high-level performance. There is a Resident Counselling and Peer Support Office committed to ensuring resident wellbeing as well as resources to report Learner Mistreatment.

The program and residents will follow the wellness policy adopted by the UBC PGME policy