Although conferences are held throughout the week, Fridays are devoted to teaching conferences from 7:30am to 3pm. Elective surgery is not performed. The emphasis on teaching conferences is resident education; trainees present clinical problems and are questioned to sharpen their decision-making. The format is modeled after the oral neurosurgical board examination, therefore our residents are well prepared for this test by time they finish their training.
7:30 - 8:25 am
Cerebrovascular Conference
This conference is a combined neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology meeting run by Drs. Jafar Jafar of neurosurgery and Dr. Kim Nelson of interventional neuroradiology. Interesting and difficult cases are reviewed and decisions are made regarding the most appropriate management strategies'either craniotomy or endovascular management.
8:30 - 9:25 am
Spine and Peripheral Nerve Conference
This combined neurosurgery and orthopedic conference is held every Friday throughout the year under the direction of Drs. Paul Cooper and Anthony Frempong of neurosurgery and Drs. Thomas Errico and Joseph Dryer of the orthopedic spine service. Pre- and postoperative cases are presented and resident staff is asked to interpret imaging studies, and discuss management strategies and technical aspects of surgical procedures. One peripheral nerve case is reviewed per week.
9:30 - 11:30 am
Neurosurgery Grand Rounds
This conference is held every Friday between September and June. It is attended by all neurosurgery faculty, residents and interested community neurosurgeons. During the first hour, a lecture related to the neurosciences is given by medical school faculty, or visiting professors (about 5 per year). The second hour is devoted to presentation of interesting cases by residents followed by discussion of management by residents and faculty. The conference on the first Friday of the month is devoted to a discussion of morbidity and mortality occurring at the three teaching hospitals for the prior month.
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Pediatric Neurosurgery
Drs. Jeffrey Wisoff, Howard Weiner, and David Harter of pediatric neurosurgery and Dr. Edmond Knopp of neuroradiology lead this conference (over lunch). Management strategies for patients scheduled for surgery the upcoming week are discussed with active resident participation.
2:00 - 3:00 pm
Chairman's Rounds
At this conference, held every Friday except during July and August, residents present interesting and problem cases from Bellevue Hospital and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center to Dr. Kelly for discussion of imaging findings, management, and surgical strategies. This is a resident favorite.
