Host Institution:                        Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center
Subspecialty:                            General Neurosurgery
Program Mailing Address:           Neurological Surgery Department
                                               4201 St. Antoine, 6E University Health Center
                                               Detroit, MI 48201
Program Physical Location:        3990 John R
                                               Detroit, MI 48201
Program Phone Number:            313-745-4523
Program Fax Number:                313-745-4099
Program email:                         mguthikonda@med.wayne.edu
Program Director:                     Murali Guthikonda, M.D.
Alternate Program Contact:        Vicki Diaz, M.S.N., Ph.D.

Introduction

History

The clinical fellowship in General Neurosurgery at Harper University Hospital began in 2001. The program has accepted 3 clinical fellows since the beginning of the fellowship. One is a practicing neurosurgeon in the United States and two are currently still in the fellowship.

Duration

The clinical fellowship is 12 months duration.

Prerequisite Training/Selection Criteria

Applicants applying to the program must have completed 12 months of general surgery. It is preferable that the applicant has completed neurosurgery residency training. Applicants must have a valid ECFMG certificate, appropriate visa, if necessary, and the ability to obtain a Michigan educational medical license.

Goals and Objectives for Training

The purpose of the fellowship is to train the neurosurgery fellow to diagnose and treat patients with a broad spectrum of neurosurgical disorders, including cerebrovascular, neuro-oncology, neurotrauma, spine, peripheral, epilepsy and pediatric problems.

Program Certifications

The neurosurgery residency program at Wayne State University is accredited by the ACGME and has trained neurosurgeons since 1946 for board certification by the ABNS. All activities of the fellowship stem from the residency program; however, the fellowship program is not accredited. Participation in the fellowship will not lead to board certification in the United States by the ABNS.

Resources

Teaching Staff

The fellow is primarily supervised by the Program Director, Dr. Murali Guthikonda, a board-certified and fellowship trained neurosurgeon. In addition, other Wayne State University neurosurgery faculty may provide surgical experiences for the fellow.

Facilities

The primary site for the general neurosurgery fellow is Harper University Hospital. The fellow also has the opportunity to rotate to Detroit Receiving Hospital for 3 months and/or Children's Hospital of Michigan for 3 months.

Educational Program and Basic Curriculum

Clinical and research components

The fellow spends one month rotating through all the neurosurgery services to become familiar with the university system. The clinical component of the fellowship is primarily in the adult population, with an optional experience in the pediatric population. The general neurosurgery fellow participates in approximately 10-20% of the 1,000 neurosurgery cases done each year at Harper University Hospital. The fellow becomes proficient in all aspects of the management of neurosurgical disorders, including diagnosis, preoperative assessment, intraoperative procedures and postoperative management. The fellow acquires knowledge and expertise in the use of specialized operative technology in state-of-the-art operating suites. The fellow also covers neurotrauma call on a rotating schedule with other fellows and residents. There is no formal research component for this fellowship, although clinical research during the fellowship can be arranged and tailored to the fellow's interests.

Participant's supervisory and patient care responsibilities

The general neurosurgery fellow is responsible for patients on the neurosurgery service, reporting to the attending and/or the fellowship director. The general neurosurgery fellow also takes five in-house calls per month covering the neurosurgery service and the neurotrauma service. The general neurosurgery fellow assists with teaching participating medical students during all phases of patient management.

Procedural requirements

The general neurosurgery fellow is required to keep an operative log of all cases performed. The log is to be turned in prior to leaving the fellowship. A certificate of completion of the fellowship will be issued to the fellow after the operative log is received.

Didactic components

The general neurosurgery fellow attends an active schedule of conferences including Neurosurgery Grand Rounds, Neuropathology Conference, Brain Cutting, Clinicopathological Conference, Morbidity and Mortality Conference. Special didactic lectures are offered monthly. The fellow also has the opportunity to attend special symposia and national meetings.

Evaluation

Describe the formal evaluation process used to assess the educational performance of the program participant

The general neurosurgery fellow is formally evaluated every 3 months following ACGME guidelines for evaluation of residents. The fellow is assessed in all areas of the General Competencies including Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Surgical Skills, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Professionalism, Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, and Systems-Based Practice. The fellow works closely with the Fellowship Director and is evaluated informally on bedside rounds, in neurosurgery clinic and during operative cases.