Neurological Surgery Residency
Mission & Vision
The goal of our Neurological Surgery Residency Program is to train highly skilled neurosurgeons who are competent to deal with a wide range of neurosurgical cases. We plan to accomplish our objectives by delivering high-quality, compassionate healthcare; educating the next generation of medical leaders; leading life-changing discoveries; nurturing diversity, equity and inclusivity; promoting the health and well-being of our community and transforming patient care through innovative research.
Mission & Vision
The goal of our Neurological Surgery Residency Program is to train highly skilled neurosurgeons who are competent to deal with a wide range of neurosurgical cases. We plan to accomplish our objectives by delivering high-quality, compassionate healthcare; educating the next generation of medical leaders; leading life-changing discoveries; nurturing diversity, equity and inclusivity; promoting the health and well-being of our community and transforming patient care through innovative research.
Program Director’s Welcome
We aim to train neurosurgical leaders who are committed to academic excellence and passionate about neurosurgery. Our program provides the tools necessary for long-term success and we take pride in each resident’s career.
Program Director’s Welcome
We aim to train neurosurgical leaders who are committed to academic excellence and passionate about neurosurgery. Our program provides the tools necessary for long-term success and we take pride in each resident’s career.
Each resident rotates through different services at our sites. The wide range of neurosurgical cases presented at each of our sites provides ample exposure to both common and unusual neurosurgical cases. Our objectives align and are consistent with the overall mission of our program’s institution, which is to not only meet the needs of the community, but, adequately prepare all of our graduates in the areas of public health, leadership and research. Participation in ongoing neurosurgical clinical, laboratory-based research and scholarly activity are requirements for complete fulfillment of training requirements. These objectives are parallel to those of our university and institutions and are in accordance with the set standards made by the ACGME Common Program Requirements and our neurosurgical milestones.
Our faculty consists of more than 20 internationally recognized surgeons spanning the entire spectrum of neurosurgical care and performing more than 5,000 cases annually. Our trainees finish their residency with the confidence, knowledge and skills to meet every neurosurgical challenge. Moreover, we have a robust research infrastructure, as the department ranks in the top five neurosurgery programs in National Institutes of Health funding. The support for research is unparalleled and the opportunity to be academically productive is highly valued.
Most importantly, our residency is a family, with close bonds of friendship and an atmosphere conducive to education. Our program has a proud and distinguished tradition in academic neurosurgery. Our philosophy is focused on academic achievement, leadership development and surgical skills, with our graduates ascending to become prominent members of academic departments and within national neurosurgical societies.
-Ricardo J. Komotar, MD
Description
Our faculty consists of more than 20 internationally recognized surgeons spanning the entire spectrum of neurosurgical care and performing more than 5,000 cases annually. Our trainees finish their residency with the confidence, knowledge and skills to meet every neurosurgical challenge. Moreover, we have a robust research infrastructure, as the department ranks in the top five neurosurgery programs in National Institutes of Health funding. The support for research is unparalleled and the opportunity to be academically productive is highly valued.
Most importantly, our residency is a family, with close bonds of friendship and an atmosphere conducive to education. Our program has a proud and distinguished tradition in academic neurosurgery. Our philosophy is focused on academic achievement, leadership development and surgical skills, with our graduates ascending to become prominent members of academic departments and within national neurosurgical societies.
-Ricardo J. Komotar, MD
Fast Facts
Accreditation
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
Number of Residents per Year?
3
Duration of Residency?
7 years
Program Curriculum
Year 1 (Internship)
The first year, or PGY-1, is considered an internship year and is dedicated to learning the foundations and principles of neurological surgery.
Rotations:
Cranial/Spine – 4 months (UHealth Tower)
Neurology/ICU – 4 months (Jackson Memorial Hospital)
Cranial – 4 months (Jackson Memorial Hospital)
Year 2
The second year, or PGY-2, is the cornerstone of the neurosurgery services at Jackson Memorial Hospitalas the junior resident covering the cranial, neurotrauma and spine services.
Rotations:
Cranial – 4 months (Jackson Memorial Hospital)
Spine – 4 months (Jackson Memorial Hospital)
Trauma – 4 months (Jackson Memorial Hospital)
Year 3
The third year, or PGY-3, offers residents heavy operative experiences as VA Medical Center chief, UHealth Tower junior and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital junior resident.
Rotations:
Cranial/Spine – 4 months (UHealth Tower)
Pediatrics – 4 months (NCH/Jackson Memorial Hospital)
VA – 4 months (VA Medical Center)
Years 4-5
The fourth and fifth years, or PGY-4 and PGY-5, are elective years. Residents choose an enfolded fellowship in endovascular; functional neurosurgery; neuro-oncology; neurotrauma or spine, or initiate a mentored laboratory-based research project. Four months of this time will be spent learning the basics of neurointerventional procedures.
Rotations:
Neuroendovascular – 4 months (UHealth Tower/Jackson Memorial Hospital)
Research/Elective – 8 months
Year 6
The sixth year, or PGY-6, is when the resident becomes the lead resident surgeon with heavy operative experience on cranial services.
Rotations:
Chief Resident Cranial – 4 months (Jackson Memorial Hospital)
Chief Resident Spine – 4 months (Jackson Memorial Hospital)
Chief Resident Cranial/Spine – 4 months (UHealth Tower)
Year 7
The seventh and final year, or PGY-7, is a Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training-accredited fellowship year. Each resident can formally sub-specialize
in a fellowship of their choice (endovascular; functional; neuro-oncology; neurotrauma; pediatrics; peripheral nerve; spine or skull-base surgery). Select residents can continue a laboratory-based research project.
Rotations:
CAST-accredited fellowship/research – 12 months
Your Faculty
Adib Adnan Abla, MD
Professor of Clinical Neurosurgery, pending rank
Chief, Cranial Neurosurgery, Jackson Memorial Hospital
Director, Open Cerebrovascular Surgery
Carolina G. Benjamin, MD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Neurological Surgery
Ronald J. Benveniste, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Clinical Neurological Surgery
Director, Neuro-Oncology
Shelby Burks, MD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Neurological Surgery
Ian Côté, MD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Neurological Surgery
Chief, Spine Service
Barth A. Green, MD
Chairman, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
Professor, Neurological Surgery
Ashish Harish Shah, MD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Neurological Surgery
Roberto C. Heros, MD
Professor, Neurological Surgery
Gillian A. Hotz, PhD
Associate Professor, Research
Co-Director, Pediatric Neurotrauma Program
Director, Neurotrauma Outcome Research
Michael Ivan, MD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Neurological Surgery
Chief, Cranial and Neuro-Oncology Service
Jonathan R. Jagid, MD
Associate Professor, Clinical Neurological Surgery
Medical Director, DBS
Ricardo J. Komotar, MD
Associate Professor, Clinical Neurological Surgery
Co-Director, Neuro-Oncology
Director, Neurological Surgery Residency Program
Medical Director, Neuro-Oncology
Howard J. Landy, MD
Clerkship Director
Co-Medical Director, Cyberknife
Professor, Neurological Surgery
Allan D. Levi, MD, PhD
Chief of Service, Jackson Memorial Hospital
Professor and Chairman, Neurological Surgery
Heather J. McCrea, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Neurological Surgery
Director, Pediatric Neurosurgery, Holtz Children’s Hospital
Eric C. Peterson, MD, MS
Associate Professor, Clinical Neurological Surgery
Director, Endovascular Neurosurgery
Robert M. Starke, MD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Neurosurgery
Co-Director, Endovascular Surgery
Timur Urakov, MD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Neurosurgery
Associate Residency Program Director
Michael Y. Wang, MD, FACS
Chief of Service, Medical Director, Minimally Invasive Spine
Professor, Neurological Surgery
Dileep R. Yavagal, MD
Chief Interventional Neurology, Co-Director Endovascular Neurological Surgery
Clinical Professor, Neurology and Neurosurgery