In a step towards accelerating their early clinical skills, Wilson Fisher, M.D., Tucker Oliver, M.D., and Jovanna Tracz, M.D., all first-year residents in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery, recently participated in the Society of Neurological Surgeons (SNS) Intern Boot Camp Course.

Held on July 12-13, 2024, at the Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center in Houston, Texas, this event was one of three regional courses hosted by the SNS throughout the month. Led by residency program directors from the region, these courses are designed to prepare postgraduate year one (PGY1) residents for their first year of training.

The intensive two-day course featured small group sessions, rotating through critical topics, along with a bedside neurosurgical procedures training and a craniotomy skills workshop. Invited faculty members, selected based on their neurosurgical subspecialties, enhanced the learning experience by providing hands-on guidance to the interns. The course also included an evening social and course dinner, fostering professional networking opportunities among participants.

According to the SNS, these sessions are structured to help PGY1 neurosurgery residents develop essential clinical, professional and communication skills in a systematic and safe environment.

The UAB Department of Neurosurgery's seven-year residency program is highly competitive and is dedicated to the clinical, surgical and professional development of its residents. Throughout the duration of the program, trainees participate in a contemporary neurosciences educational model, gradually taking on increased responsibility in the care and management of neurosurgical patients. In addition to technical training, the program focuses on the professional development of residents, aiming to create future leaders in the field of neurosurgery. Graduates of the program often pursue fellowships, academic neurosurgical junior faculty positions and private practice opportunities worldwide.

Through their engagement in the SNS course, Fisher, Oliver and Tracz have taken an important step in their training to becoming skilled neurosurgeons, reflecting the commitment of the Department of Neurosurgery to providing exceptional development opportunities for its residents.