Residency

Evaluation & Promotion

Resident Evaluation

TJUH - Neurosurgery - Evaluation and Promotion

The neurosurgical residency program curriculum and evaluation process has incorporated the six ACGME core competencies (patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal communication skills, professionalism, and system-based practice). Learning goals and objectives for each postgraduate year have been developed and we employ commensurate resident evaluation tools using a 360-degree evaluation instrument. Using this tool, residents are evaluated by the faculty and their fellow residents, as well as by the nursing and clerical staff.

The program director meets with each resident on a quarterly basis to discuss issues of knowledge, skill and academic growth, including professional conduct. The basis for this discussion will be the 360-degree evaluations concerning the performance of each of the residents.

Copies of these evaluations will be provided to and discussed with each resident. Advancement to positions of higher responsibility is based on evidence of satisfactory progressive scholarship and professional growth. The program director will also provide a written final evaluation of each resident upon completion of the program.

The residents will also have the ability to formally evaluate the faculty, the program, and the educational conferences on an annual basis. This feedback is considered to be quite important for the enhancement of the training program.

Each resident is responsible for the compilation and retention of the number and types of neurosurgical operative procedures performed in all institutions and facilities.

The primary written examination of the American Board of Neurological Surgery is administered yearly. Residents in the junior years are expected to take this examination each year for self-assessment. Prior to assuming the level of chief resident, they must achieve a passing score on the examination taken for credit.

Resident Promotion

Residents in Neurological Surgery must develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors and judgement necessary for them to assume responsibility for total patient care at the completion of their education. This process involves the sequential assumption of progressive responsibility, and trainees must demonstrate proficiency and fitness to move to the next level of training (promotion) or final completion of the educational program.

All Residents must demonstrate acceptable performance as judged by the program director, in consultation with the faculty and Senior Resident in the following areas:

Clinical Data Gathering and Interpretation Skills. The Resident must be able to obtain a complete clinical history, do a detailed neurological examination, record those materials into a concise medical record with appropriate differential diagnoses.
Patient Management and Clinical Judgement. Residents must demonstrate their ability to manage complex neurologic disorders. These decisions must be logical, and cost effective. Neurosurgical Residents must be rational, effective, and composed when faced with the most complex emergency and demonstrate that they took appropriate and efficacious steps in such emergency management.
Professional Attributes. Residents must continuously demonstrate the attributes of altruism, respect, compassion, empathy, honesty, and integrity in all their interactions with patients, families, nursing staff, or other caregivers, as well as to other Residents and Faculty.
Team Skills. The Resident must demonstrate the ability to work effectively with other trainers, medical students, nurses, and other professional staff and faculty to achieve the desired patient care and educational outcome.
Commitment to Education. The resident must demonstrate thorough evidence of preparation and retention of information in conferences, teaching rounds, and at the operating table. They must be able to share information with other members of the team. Included in such a commitment is progressive improvement of in-service examination scores.

Specific Promotion Requirements: PGY-1 to PGY-VI

PGY-I:

The Resident must satisfy requirements of the Surgery Department for three months of training, the Neurology Department for three months of training and the Department of Neurological Surgery for six months of training. Successful completion of PGY-1 in a formal written evaluation from the Program Director of each of these Departments will be necessary for promotion.

PGY-II:

The Resident is assigned to the in-patient clinical service at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (6 months) and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience (six months). The training emphasis is on intensive care, pre and post-operative management, and consultations. The resident’s performance will be evaluated and rated by the faculty and provided to the Program Director.

PGY-III:

The Resident must do further in depth clinical rotation for in and out-patient management at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (six months) and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience (two months). Operative skill assessments will be made by Senior Residents as well as the faculty. The Resident must also complete a rotation at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (four months). Formal written evaluations will also be prepared by the faculty and program director for this rotation.

PGY-IV:

The Resident has greater surgical independence at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, and evaluations of competence are performed by Senior Residents and Faculty. The resident will also have to demonstrate adequate knowledge and competence in stereotactic radiosurgery, interventional neuroradiology, cerebrovascular surgery, neuro-oncologic surgery, as well as functional neurosurgery including pallidectomy and image guided stereotactic surgery. Written evaluations are prepared by each of the above listed specialties concerning Resident progress in these highly specialized fields.

PGY-V:

Resident’s Research year. Evaluation by preceptor. The submission of a paper for publication is expected. The Resident must have passed the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) examination for credit and may not advance to PGY-VI without having done so.

PGY-VI:

Resident is expected to demonstrate even greater surgical independence at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, as well as beginning to show competence at conducting the clinical service. Written evaluations are prepared by each of the subspecialties within the Department concerning Resident progress in each of these highly specialized fields.

PGY-VII:

Resident is evaluated by faculty for conduct of entire clinical service, as well as operative independence, with operative morbidity/mortality remaining within institutional standards. The Resident will be rated by faculty members, who act as assistants with the Senior Resident as the responsible surgeon. If the entire neurosurgical faculty have found the Resident to be a safe and competent neurosurgeon he will be graduated as a fully qualified neurosurgeon.

Robert H. Rosenwasser, MD
Chair, Department of Neurological Surgery
Jewell L. Osterholm, MD Professor

Ashwini Sharan, MD
Residency Program Director

Department of Neurological Surgery
909 Walnut Street
Clinical Office Building
3rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 955-7000

Note: We are temporarily located on the 2nd Floor of Jefferson Hospital for the Neurosciences as our offices are under rennovation.

We participated in the National Residency Match Program and utilize the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

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