Our seven-year residency curriculum provides graduated responsibility, broad subspecialty exposure, and dedicated time for academic and professional development. Residents rotate through Tampa General Hospital, James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, and Moffitt Cancer Center, gaining experience across the full spectrum of neurological surgery.

PGY-1: Foundations of Neurosurgery

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: Core Neurosurgical Training

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 day and night float 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: Expanding Clinical Responsibility

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: Pediatric Neurosurgery Experience

This year is divided into two six-month blocks. One block is a dedicated pediatric neurosurgical experience at Johns Hopkins 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: Research and Elective Year

A hallmark of our residency is the dedicated PGY-5 research and elective year. Residents may pursue scholarly and professional development opportunities at USF or at institutions across the country. This flexible year is designed to support individualized career goals through clinical or basic science research, advanced coursework, focused subspecialty experiences, or visiting rotations. Previous residents have pursued additional training in endovascular neurosurgery, complex spine surgery, and neuro-oncology, while others have conducted laboratory and outcomes-based research across a wide range of disciplines. By providing protected time for academic growth and exploration, the PGY-5 year allows residents to cultivate their unique interests and develop into well-rounded neurosurgeons.

PGY-6: Advanced Subspecialty Training

During the PGY-6 year, residents complete focused rotations in neuro-oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center, endovascular neurosurgery at Tampa General Hospital, and advanced neurosurgical services. At Moffitt, residents gain extensive experience in the multidisciplinary management of complex intracranial, skull base, and spinal tumors, working closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, neuroradiologists, and other specialists. The endovascular rotation provides exposure to the diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular disease, including aneurysms, acute stroke, arteriovenous malformations, and other complex vascular pathologies. Throughout the year, residents continue to refine their operative skills, exercise increasing clinical judgment and autonomy, and develop the expertise necessary to transition successfully into chief residency.

PGY-7: Chief Residency

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.

Education extends well beyond clinical and operative training. Residents participate in a comprehensive academic curriculum that includes weekly conferences, multidisciplinary case discussions, board preparation, research meetings, and hands-on skills training throughout residency.