Neurosurgery Residency
Program
receives accreditation
The Neurosurgery Residency Program of the School of Medicine has been re-accredited
by the Neurosurgery Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council
for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), a national accreditation organization.
The program’s full accreditation comes after it was placed on probation
by the RRC in January 2003, mainly for conflicts within the department. The
program has been approved for a full three years, the maximum amount allowed
between reviews.
“We are pleased that the ACGME has recognized the substantial value
of our neurosurgery residency program,” said Dr. Kevin Lillehei, interim
chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery. “The department offers an
outstanding and comprehensive range of neurosurgical subspecialties, and our
residents receive superb training.”
CU School of Medicine Dean Dr. Richard Krugman said, “The leadership
in the Department of Neurosurgery has been outstanding, and I am pleased the
RRC has recognized their work and determination to build an excellent program.”
The Neurosurgery Residency Program provides six years of postgraduate training
to physicians specializing in neurosurgery. Neurosurgery is a discipline of
medicine and specialty of surgery that provides both surgical and non-surgical
management of disorders of the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous
systems. Non-surgical services include prevention, diagnosis, evaluation,
treatment, critical care, and rehabilitation.
The program gives physicians the essential surgical training, academic advancement
and research investigation skills necessary to prepare them for general neurosurgical
practice.
The training program in neurosurgery must include a minimum of one year of
training in an ACGME-accredited program in general surgery or one year of
a program accredited in fundamental clinical skills, including at least six
months of surgical disciplines other than neurosurgery.
The training program lasts an additional 60 months, including 36 months of
clinical neurosurgery at the sponsoring institution or one of its approved
participating institutions.
Training programs in neurosurgery are accredited by the Residency Review Committee
(RRC) by authority of the ACGME. To be accredited, a program must be in substantial
compliance with both the program requirements for Residency Education in Neurological
Surgery and the institutional requirements of the Essentials of Accredited
Residencies in Graduate Medical Education. Programs must be able to demonstrate
their compliance with these requirements during a site visit and subsequent
review.
When a change in leadership occurs within an accredited neurosurgery residency,
the program must be site-visited within 18 months and reviewed by the RRC
within approximately two years following the appointment of the new program
director.
With an integrated program at University of Colorado Hospital, The Veterans
Administration Medical Center, Denver Health and the Children's Hospital,
CU School of Medicine neurosurgery residents are exposed to a wealth of neurosurgical
pathology.
“These are particularly exciting times for neurosurgery in Denver,”
said Dr. Gary VanderArk, director of the CU Neurosurgery Residency Program.
“We are embracing an ambitious agenda that will enhance every facet
of our already thriving programs.”
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