Neurosurgery

Geisinger School of Medicine offers a 4 week elective rotation in the Department of Neurosurgery. The rotation is based primarily at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa., with the option to spend one week at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes Barre, Pa.

Our department delivers state of the art neurosurgical care for patients across the lifespan — from newborns to older adults. Clinical exposure includes general neurosurgery as well as the full range of subspecialties, such as:

• Brain tumor surgery
• Cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery
• Complex spine surgery and reconstruction
• Neurotrauma and critical care• Pediatric neurosurgery
• Peripheral nerve surger
• Surgical neuromodulation for movement disorders, epilepsy and chronic pain
• Stereotactic radiosurgery

Student experience and expectations

Visiting medical students are expected to integrate fully into the neurosurgical service and participate actively in patient care in the operative, inpatient, and ambulatory settings. During the rotation, students will:

• Join daily rounds and assist in patient management
• Attend all educational conferences and didactic sessions
• Participate in surgical cases in the operating room
• Observe and assist with endovascular procedures in the angiography suite
• Attend stereotactic radiosurgery procedures in radiation oncology

Students will work closely with neurosurgery residents and fellows, receiving continual teaching and mentorship. Opportunities to take call with residents, PAs and attending physicians are available for interested students.

The rotation concludes with a 20 to 30 minute educational presentation delivered by each student during residency didactics on a neurosurgical topic of their choice.

Goals and objectives

The overarching objective of this rotation is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the breadth and depth of modern neurosurgical practice. Students will gain experience in the evaluation, work up and management of neurosurgical disorders across a wide spectrum of pathologies.

By the end of the rotation, students are expected to:

• Develop foundational clinical knowledge of common and emergent neurosurgical conditions
• Perform focused neurological examinations and deliver concise, accurate patient presentations
• Interpret key neurosurgical imaging studies and diagnostic tests
• Understand routine perioperative management, including pre  and post operative care principles
• Evaluate neurosurgery as a potential career path through immersive clinical exposure