Department of Neurosurgery

The University of Kentucky’s Neurosurgery Resident Program is one of a kind. Our residents are exposed to cutting-edge research, one-on-one teaching experiences and the most advanced health care techniques. UK is the seventh in the nation and the only hospital in Kentucky to add Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. Our residents are able to learn how to treat patients with neurological disorders and diseases without invasive surgery with the Gamma Knife Radiosurgery capabilities on-site. This system’s cutting-edge technology allows our specialists to operate on the brain without general anesthesia or incisions. Our goal is to provide an education in the theoretical and technical aspects of neurological surgery so that the resident will be equipped for either clinical practice or academic neurosurgery.

Off site electives based on a resident’s interest can be arranged. In the past we have had a number of residents do elective rotations at the CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda in East Africa, Helsinki University Central Hospital in Finland, Children’s Hospital in Boston, and the University of Tennessee.

There are research opportunities for up to one year for neurosurgery residents. Those offering guidance and technical support for residents involved in research include neurosurgery research personnel in SCoBIRC , The University of Kentucky Morris K. Udall Parkinson’s Disease Center of Excellence, Neuroanatomy/Neurobiology Departments, and the Neurosurgery Department research faculty. The PGY4 resident will ordinarily acquire 6 months of research experience by either working in a basic laboratory or completing a clinical research project.

Along with Departments of Anatomy and Neurosciences, UK's Department of Neurosurgery plays a key role in the NIH Blueprint Translational Neuroscience Training Grant entitled "Therapeutic Strategies for Neurodegeneration." This five-year grant, an award of $1,240,734, funds five predoctoral students per year and two post docs (Ph.D./M.D.) beginning the second year. Applicants should be interested in a career in translational therapeutic discovery in the areas of spinal cord and brain injury, stroke or Parkinson's Disease. Each of the Ph.D. trainees, in addition to pursuing therapeutically-oriented basic research training, will have clinical tutorials designed specifically for them that provides significant exposure to the clinical aspects of their neurological disorder of interest. These will include shadowing clinicians, participating in rounds and attendance at Grand Rounds and other activities. One of the post-doctoral positions is for a neurological or neurosurgical resident or fellow who desires to spend a year doing clinically relevant basic research in one or more of the basic science training faculty laboratories.