Message from the ChairThe Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery at McGovern Medical School is committed to advancing neurosurgical care, education, and research. As part of UTHealth Houston Neurosciences, we deliver exceptional patient care, drive innovative research, and provide premier training for future neurosurgeons.
We are expanding our clinical services to become a national and international leader in neuroscience, establishing Centers of Excellence in areas such as brain, skull base and pituitary tumors, cerebrovascular conditions, degenerative and deformity disorders of the spine, functional neurosurgery, neurotrauma, and others. Whether it is through unique multidisciplinary programs, such as the Texas Institute for Restorative Neurotechnologies (TIRN) or the planned Center for Neuroscience Innovation and Education (CINE) and other advanced programs, we will continue to uphold our commitment to academic excellence, multidisciplinary collaboration, and compassion for those who matter most – our patients.








Our Neurosurgery Residency Program is a seven-year program that accepts three PGY-1 residents per year. Our goal is to produce outstanding neurosurgeons and the next generation of neurosurgery leaders.
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston offers multiple post-graduate fellowships in various sub-specialties.
McGovern Medical School at UTHealth brings together a team of world-class clinicians, researchers and educators through UTHealth Houston Neurosciences – the largest neuroscience provider in South Texas and one of only a few institutions in the country to provide all aspects of neuroscience care, from neurology to neurosurgery to neurorehabilitation.
Continue reading on the UTHealth Houston Neurosciences and McGovern Medical School page
Our mission is to be the best locally, nationally, and internationally. To achieve this goal, we will focus on providing:
Jacques Morcos, MD
Professor and Chair, Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, Director, Mischer Neuroscience Institute, Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center