Curriculum

Challenge yourself to be the best

Neurosurgery residency training at Dalhousie University is a six-year program of progressive responsibility that develops graduates with a strong clinical and research experience. Residents are exposed to a large number and variety of neurosurgical cases and are encouraged during training to pursue their clinical and basic research interests. Our program emphasizes a close relationship between the staff and residents.

Our neurosurgical program is closely associated with other clinical neurosciences services, as well as with the large neuroscience research community at Dalhousie University. Our aim is to provide balanced clinical and research training so you can practice neurosurgery anywhere in the world.

PGY1 - PGY2

PGY1 consists of thirteen blocks, four of which are on the Neurosurgical Service. The experience is designed to provide exposure to emergency rooms, pediatric medical services and other surgical services to provide the clinical background for the Surgical Foundations program.

PGY2 consists of 7 blocks of Neurosurgery, 2 blocks Orthopedic Surgery, 2 blocks Neuroradiology, and 2 blocks Critical Care.

PGY3 - PGY6

The final four years of neurosurgical training (PGY3 – PGY6) are designed to meet Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada requirements, with three years of neurosurgery that includes one year as chief resident. You will also have three blocks of residency in neuropathology and three blocks in neurology. The PGY4 year is typically reserved for research and/or electives.

Residents are encouraged to attend conferences and/or present their research at scientific meetings, with funding available to help support these endeavours.

The majority of neurosurgery training occurs at the Halifax Infirmary and the IWK Health Centre, both in Halifax. Residents also do a rotation in another neurosurgical unit: Moncton, St John, and/or St John's. At these other training sites, they will typically be the only neurosurgery resident on the service. Throughout their training, residents will have the opportunity to train with faculty who have sub-specialized in pediatric neurosurgery, functional neurosurgery, epilepsy surgery, cerebrovascular (open and endovascular), peripheral nerve, skull base, and spine surgery.

Research

The Dalhousie Division of Neurosurgery is committed to research. We strongly believe that research ultimately translates into better patient care. Trainees have ample opportunities to pursue research interests, both in clinical and basic sciences. Up to 13 blocks (one year) may be used for research. We also encourage the pursuit of postgraduate degrees at the masters and PhD levels.