​​​​​

Neurosurgery Residency

By integrating our research and technology development into our program, we not only train residents to provide quality care but also provide them the foundation to contribute to the discovery process.

The Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine - Scott & White Neurosurgery Residency is a seven-year program that is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Our program is focused on clinical care, research and education led by a variety of fellowship-trained faculty members in all areas of neurological surgery. Our primary training facility offers comprehensive neurological care at the only Level 1 Trauma Center between Austin and Dallas.

We are not just using but also are creating novel technologies and breakthroughs in medicine, including several NIH-funded projects and patents. This is an exciting time to practice neurosurgery. The ever-changing face of healthcare requires unending evolution to meet the growing demands of the current medical environment and the needs of the people that require our help.

We accept one resident per year.

Curriculum

Our goal is to give our residents a high-quality educational experience. Neurosurgery residents will train at both Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple and Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center in Temple.  

While we will do our best to maintain this schedule, adjustments are sometimes required and should be expected. Our program is designed to create well-trained neurosurgeons using the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education surgery training program. 

Year July to December January to June
PGY-1 One month pediatric surgery
Three months neurosurgery
One month SICU/NsICU
One month trauma

One month plastic surgery
Three months neurosurgery
One month SICU/NsICU
One month trauma
PGY-2 Two months neuropathology
Two months neuroradiology
Two months radiosurgery		 Six months neurology/cerebrovascular/stroke
PGY-3 Six months neurosurgery Six months neurosurgery
PGY-4 Six months neurosurgery (pedi senior) Six months neurosurgery (pedi senior)
PGY-5 Research Research
PGY-6 Six months endovascular chief Six months neurosurgery senior resident
PGY-7 Six months neurosurgery chief resident Six months neurosurgery chief resident

We collaborate in a highly interdisciplinary environment that crosses departmental lines to treat skull base tumors and anomalies, craniofacial disorders and cancer affecting the nervous system, stroke, movement disorders, epilepsy, pituitary diseases, neurofibromatosis and complex spine problems. There are several one-hour weekly and monthly multidisciplinary case conferences and lectures where collaboration raises the education and improves patient care.

Type Frequency Description
Neurosurgery Case Conference Bi-weekly Various difficult or unusual cases brought for discussion of potential treatment or outcomes.
Grand Rounds Monthly Various topics related to all aspects of neurosurgery.
Journal Club Monthly Discussion of latest publications or areas of interest
Neuro-oncology Conference Bi-weekly Case discussion of various neuro-oncology diagnosis and treatments
Morbidity and Mortality Monthly Case discussion of unexpected outcomes
Neuroanatomy/Neuropathology Bi-weekly Various tissue and other pathology of or relating to the brain
Multi-disciplinary Spine Conference Monthly Various complex spine cases presented for discussion and collaboration for the best outcomes
Neuroscience Research Group (NRG) Seminar Bi-weekly Research led conference for all medical students and residents
Neuroradiology Conference Monthly  

Our residency program teaches all major neurosurgical conditions and procedures, including but not limited to the following:

  • Complex intracranial vascular disease such as aneurysms/AVMs
  • Complex spinal disorders
  • Congenital/tethered cord problems
  • Adult and pediatric tumors
  • Adult and pediatric epilepsy
  • Complex peripheral nerve, including brachial plexus, grafting and tumors
  • Extracranial cerebrovascular disease
  • Surgical management of movement disorders and chronic pain
  • Frame and frameless stereotactic craniotomies
  • Head and spine stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy
  • Adult and pediatric craniotomy-brain tumor
  • Adult and pediatric craniotomy-trauma
  • Adult craniotomy for intracranial vascular lesion
  • Endovascular therapy for tumor or vascular lesion
  • Adult cranial-transsphenoidal-sellar/parasellar tumors
  • Adult cranial-extracranial vascular procedures
  • Adult radiosurgery
  • Adult functional procedures
  • Adult and pediatric VP shunt
  • Pediatric spinal procedures
  • Adult spinal-anterior and posterior cervical approaches for decompression/stabilization and craniocervical junction
  • Adult spinal-lumbar discectomy
  • Adult spinal-thoracic/lumbar instrumentation fusion
  • Adult spinal-peripheral nerve procedures
  • Adult and pediatric craniotomy-epilepsy
  • Craniofacial
  • Spinal tumor/AVM

Resident call schedules are designed to maintain compliance with the ACGME's 80-hour work-week restriction. Call schedules are provided on a monthly basis and include information including resident call, advanced practice practitioner call and days off/vacations for all on the call schedule. 

The program director views the residents’ scholarly activity as a high priority. Such activity is important to develop habits of scientific inquiry as a continuing professional responsibility. Each resident is encouraged to undertake a research project (clinical research or basic science) at the end of the PGY1 year continuing into the beginning of the PGY2 year. The Baylor Scott & White Office of Sponsored Research Administration (OSRA) is available as a resource for the residents. Training and courses on research skills are taught by OSRA.

Examples of research courses include:

  • Statistical analysis
  • Understanding design of scientific studies
  • Evaluating research findings
  • Human subject considerations
  • Ethical conduct of research

Residents are also allowed to use their elective time to participate in approved projects, and residents are assigned a mentor who will directly supervise them and evaluate their performance. These evaluations and project status updates are provided to the program director to allow monitoring and opportunities for additional training.

Focused, intensive and dedicated research training is provided in PGY-5. During this research dedicated year, residents identify a research faculty supervisor and work in the faculty’s lab for that year. The research activity is expected to result in submission of an abstract to a national neuroscience or neurosurgery meeting and as a manuscript for peer-reviewed publication.

  • Train at one of U.S. News & World Report's top hospitals in Texas

    Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple is a 640-bed teaching and research hospital with a Level I trauma center.

    Snapshot of our campus

How to Apply

We use the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) to electronically accept residency applications, letters of recommendations, dean’s letters, transcripts and other credentials directly from your medical school.

Deadline for applications is October 15.

Visit ERAS to apply

Application Requirements

Eligible candidates should provide:

  • MSPE or Dean's letter from medical school
  • At least three letters of recommendation, one of which should be from a department chair or a residency program director of neurological surgery
  • Medical school transcripts
  • USMLE or COMLEX transcripts for parts I and II

Our program does consider non-US applicants. International applications should provide:

  • J-1 Visa (H-1B visas cannot be accepted)
  • Evidence of clinic experience in US (observerships, etc.)
  • USMLE or COMLEX transcripts for parts I and II
  • ECFMG certificate
Learn more about Baylor Scott & White's housestaff appointment eligibility, including guidelines for international medical graduates.

Contact Us

Robin Hill
Phone: 254.724.5390
Fax: 254.724.5779
Robin.Hill1@BSWHealth.org

Neurosurgery Residency
Baylor Scott & White Health
2401 S. 31st St.
MS-01-610A
Temple, TX 76508

Working at Baylor Scott & White Health

Compensation and Benefits

In addition to competitive stipends, we offer our residents a full menu of employee benefits. We help offset the cost of many of these benefits; others are options you can choose to pay for yourself.

Learn more

Life in Temple

Temple uniquely offers a combination of access to big-city conveniences while maintaining a small-town atmosphere. Temple has also been ranked among the Top 20 Fastest Growing Cities in Texas and one of America's most affordable places of 2015.

Learn more

Why Baylor Scott & White

As the largest not-for-profit health care system in Texas and one of the largest in the United States, Baylor Scott & White Health includes 48 hospitals, more than 900 patient care sites, more than 6,000 active physicians and more than 40,000 employees.

Learn more

Check out all of our programs in North and Central Texas

View all GME