Neurosurgery Residency Program

Dear Prospective Residents:

The Residency Program at the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery at McGovern Medical School is driven by outstanding and dedicated faculty, a dominant clinical program with extensive numbers of complex neurosurgical cases, and a substantive research program geared towards developing new treatments and devices for patients in the near future.

We are committed to providing the best neurosurgical care to the citizens of Houston, to leading the world in advancing the art and science of neurosurgery, and to producing the next generation of neurosurgical leaders. All aspects of this mission are integrated into our daily practice. Clinicians collaborate with scientists, and all are involved in teaching.

Each faculty and staff member in the Department is committed to the goal of being the best and training the best. Residents are individually mentored, evaluated, and promoted, and are also regularly asked to evaluate the Program and participate in its continual improvement. Through this structure, our residents develop into excellent neurosurgeons, positioned to become leaders in any area of their career interest.

UTHealth Neurosciences is a leader in bringing innovations to the field of neuroscience, with a long list of firsts in the treatment of stroke, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, neurotrauma, brain aneurysms, and other complex neurological conditions. We are proud of the dedication of our team of physicians and scientists and invite you to learn more about our Residency Program.

Sincerely,

Dr-Jacques-Morcos Spiros Blackburn. M.D.
Jacques Morcos, MD,
FRCS, FAANS

CHAIR
Spiros Blackburn, MD
PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Residency Applicants

Application to the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Vivian L. Smith Neurosurgery Residency Program is done strictly through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS) using the National Residency Match Program (NRMP).

Medical students can apply to our program starting September 15th (refer to NRMP for official date). Applications are reviewed on a continuous basis. Invitations for interviews will go out beginning in mid-October.
Our Interview process will be conducted virtually on either a Monday or Tuesday from October to December.

  • Monday interviews will be conducted from 1pm to 5pm.
  • Tuesday interviews will be conducted from 8am to 12pm.

Typical Interview Day:
Our interview day will begin with an overview presentation by Nitin Tandon, M.D., Chair ad interim, and Spiros Blackburn, M.D., Program Director. Following that, you will have several twenty-minute interviews where you will get a chance to chat with our faculty and residents. Finally, your day will end with a resident chat room where you have a chance to get to know many of our residents in a more relaxed group session.

Per NRMP guidelines, Final Match decisions are submitted by the Residency Program on March 1st. Match Day – when the new incoming residents are identified – is in mid-March!

A Look at Our Program

At McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, our aim is to be the best — locally, nationally and internationally. Each faculty and staff member in the department of Neurosurgery has complete commitment to the goal of being the best and training the best. Residents are individually mentored, evaluated and promoted, and are also regularly asked to evaluate the Program and participate in its continual improvement. Through this structure, McGovern Medical School residents develop into excellent and academically oriented neurosurgeons, positioned to learn throughout their careers.

UTHealth Neurosciences is very proud of our neurosurgery residency program. Get to know what makes our program special from those who know it best – our amazing residents:

Also, watch this video to get an insight into the facilities where our residents train:

Faculty

The McGovern Medical School Residency Program is comprised of faculty in all segments of neurosurgery, including endovascular neurosurgery and Gamma Knife.

We also have faculty involved in critical care and neurology. This offers a complete resident education in all segments of neurosurgery cases, in and out of the OR.

Case Volume

The UTHealth Neurosciences Program offers one of the largest neurosurgical caseloads in the United States, with more than 4,000 surgical cases per year. This permits a significant resident operative experience, beginning at the PGY-2 level. Residents at all levels typically operate four days a week, with one day spent in a subspecialty clinic specific to the rotation.

Single Institution

All residency training is completed at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and Memorial Hermann Southwest. This allows for all residents to work together on a daily basis to maintain the entire neurosurgical patient population, and gives them minimal call requirements.

Technology

McGovern Medical School is at the cutting edge of technology, with physicians and staff continuously discovering and implementing new treatments and diagnostic tools. Advances used regularly in our Program include state-of-the-art intraoperative robotics, neuro-endovascular labs, interoperative CT, Gamma Knife® and computer-assisted surgery including navigation and neuroendoscopy.

Contact Information

For additional questions regarding the application process, contact:

Meredith Hamilton Suescun
Senior Residency and Fellowship Program Coordinator
6400 Fannin, Suite 2800
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 486-8056