2W: Pediatric Neurosurgery

School of Medicine

Students participating in this elective will have an introductory exposure to the surgical treatment of neurologic disorders in children from infancy through adolescence. Each day will begin with attendance at morning report, where overnight consults and upcoming cases are discussed. Students will spend several days each week in the neurosurgical operating room, observing and participating in cases including resection of brain tumors, epilepsy surgery, and treatment of hydrocephalus, spine disorders, and trauma. Students will also spend time seeing patients in the clinic; participating in inpatient rounds and consults; sitting in on discussions between faculty, patients, and families; and attending conferences such as pediatric brain tumor board and journal club. In addition to case-based learning, students will read several key readings and discuss these with faculty. At the conclusion of the two-week elective, students will understand the basic paradigms used in the treatment of common neurologic disorders in children. They will be familiar with surgical techniques used to treat these disorders, and they will become familiar with non-operative strategies employed in both the outpatient and critical care settings and techniques for communicating difficult news to patients.