The residency training program in Neurosurgery at the University of Saskatchewan is a fully accredited program by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Our trainees have a proud record of success at the qualifying examinations for Neurosurgery and most have gone on to prestigious fellowships. Others have gone directly into neurosurgical practice without difficulty. We offer the resident a progressively increasing level of clinical responsibility over the 6-year program.

The trainee can expect to gain expertise in all major areas of current neurosurgical practice including oncology, pediatrics, skull base surgery, vascular, endovascular, epilepsy, functional, complex spinal disorders, peripheral nerve, and trauma. Emphasis is placed not only upon technical and academic proficiency, but excellent communication and interpersonal skills – especially towards patients and families coping with neurosurgical disease.

The first two years consist of surgical foundation training in neurosurgery, neurology, orthopedic spine, ICU, vascular, general surgery trauma, acute care surgery, and neurosurgery clinic rotation. The subsequent 4 years of neurosurgery training include rotations on neurosurgery, neurosurgery clinic, neuropathology, neuroradiology/endovascular neurosurgery and up to 12 months of elective time for research or clinical electives.

Our mission is the education of our neurosurgery residents. There is a graduated responsibility throughout the residency to reach the final goal of producing a competent Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada neurosurgeon.

Our goal of the neurosurgery program is to produce fully trained neurosurgeons that are able to:

• Successfully pass the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Specialty examination in Neurosurgery.
• Able to practice at a consultant level in Neurosurgery.
• Have a superior understanding of neurosurgery, neuroradiology/endovascular, neuropathology, basic neurosciences, neurology, and other related disciplines.
• Exhibit exceptional clinical knowledge in neurosurgery
• Exhibit proficiency in neurosurgery procedures.
• Act in a professional manner with excellent communication, manager, and health advocacy skills.
• Exhibit excellent leadership skills and abilities.
• Have an excellent understanding of research methodology.

• Our Neurosurgery Residency Training program is a smaller sized training program with a highly-dedicated program director and neurosurgery faculty members, with a committed department head.
• Our program offers a complete series of teaching rounds that are mandatory for the residents with neurosurgery faculty members in attendance.
• Our Neurosurgery Program’s Academic Half Day has a Protected Time Policy.
• Our Neurosurgery Program works as a “team” and the neurosurgery faculty have a collaborative relationship with our residents.
• Our Neurosurgery Program offers collaborative academic rounds with other surgical programs & non-surgical programs, as well as, other Universities.

The Neurosurgery Residency Training Program at the University of Saskatchewan is a six year program with the first two years spent rotating through Surgical Foundations. The final four years are spent in neurosurgery, neurosurgery clinic, neuropathology, neuroradiology/endovascular neurosurgery, and up to 12 months of elective time for research or clinical services. The academic year is divided into 13 blocks of four weeks.

For Neurosurgery Competencies, Neurosurgery Training Experiences, and Standards of Accreditation please visit: Royal College: Neurosurgery

Our mandatory Academic Half Day (protected time) occurs every Friday morning from 0700 to 1330. Our rounds consist of: Neurosurgery Grand Rounds, Quality Improvement Rounds, Combined Curriculum Rounds with the University of Manitoba, Medical Student Rounds/Basic Science Rounds/Chief Resident Rounds, Neuroscience Grand Rounds and Neuro-Oncology Rounds.

Our weekly rounds consist of Stroke Rounds and Multidisciplinary Rounds. Every two weeks, Spine Rounds occur. Research Rounds occur quarterly.

Our Neurosurgery Program accepts elective students. We welcome you to visit us in Saskatoon! If you are a medical student, please visit https://afmcstudentportal.ca/university-of-saskatchewan/. If you are currently a resident, please refer to the attached UofS Elective Guidelines and contact our program administrator at neuro.surgery@usask.ca, or the UofS elective coordinator at 1-306-966-5605.

• Electives Guidelines (non-USASK Residents)

• Faculty

usask.neurosurgery   @UsaskNeurosurg

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