Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship
About
The UCLA Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship is a one year CAST accredited program taking place at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (RRUCLA). Fellows learn to preform advanced Neurosurgical Oncology procedures while joining multi-disciplinary teams devoted to promoting the highest level of patient care for patients. Fellows are given time to research and publish to begin building a foundation for an academic career.
The UCLA Neuro-Oncology Program is the premier Brain Tumor Program in Southern California with advances in novel surgical, radiation, chemotherapy, biologic, genetic and immune therapy approaches for primary brain tumors and the CNS complications of systemic cancer. The UCLA Brain Tumor Program at RRUCLA cares for more than 800 patients a year who have tumors of the brain, skull, spinal cord, spine and peripheral nerves. Clinical services are provided to enhance individual care and provide access to cutting edge clinical trials. A multi-disciplinary brain tumor board meets weekly so patient care management may benefit from the input of specialists in radiation oncology, medical oncology, neuro-pathology, neurosurgery and neurology.
The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA/UCLA Medical Center Residency Program sponsors the UCLA Neurosurgical Oncology Fellowship Program. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (RRUCLA) campus is the location of the:
We have been effective in rapidly bringing promising basic research to the clinic. Learn more about our current clinical trials and research projects »
Goals for Fellows
Become integrated into the program and department and share in clinical/surgical care of neurosurgical oncology patients. Take on instructional/educational roles to the Neurosurgery residents with the aim of elevating academic discourse surrounding neurosurgical oncology.
Learn to recognize the indications for surgery, clinical pitfalls and contra-indication for surgery. Acquire the necessary technical skills to complete neurosurgical oncology procedures and avoid surgical complications.
Achieve level 5 operative surgical Milestones: Perform advanced craniotomy for brain tumor (resection of petroclival meningioma, vestibular schwannoma, central neurocytoma, tuberculum sella meningioma, third ventricular colloid cyst or stereotactic radiosurgery of a parasellar tumor).
Safely and expertly perform advanced spinal oncologic surgery and reconstructive procedures (laminectomy for intradural, intramedullary lesion, vertebral metastases, primary bone tumor).
Learn when to consult and how to coordinate care with expert academic and clinical faculty in:
Endocrinology | | Neuro-Anesthesiology | Neuro-Endovascular | Neuro Critical Care | Neurology Neuro-Oncology | Neuro-Otology | Neuropallative Care | Neuropathology | Neurophysiology | Neuroradiology | Nuclear Medicine | Ophthalmology | Orthopedics | Plastic Surgery | Radiation Oncology | Rehabilitation Medicine | Speech Pathology | Vascular Surgery
Understand and employ the use of complementary cancer treatment modalities; radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Be able to explain to patients the risks, benefits and alternatives and how they integrate with surgical oncologic treatments. Understand and advise patients on clinical trials in neurosurgical/neuro-oncology and how to integrate these endeavors with the standard of care treatments and standard clinical practice.
Utilize patient outcome data for clinical/outcomes analysis research, quality improvement or development of adjunctive therapy protocols. Actively engage teams in process and system modifications to promote patient safety, improve care transition practices within and across health care systems. Create, implement and assess quality improvement initiatives for neurosurgical oncology patients. During the fellowship year, fellows are expected to be involved in the analysis of data and preparation of manuscripts for clinical trials.
Accumulate a research and publication foundation for an academic career.
Become competent members of multidisciplinary teams involved in the care of neurosurgical oncology patients. During the fellowship, fellows have the opportunity to engage in multidisciplinary activities including the following:
Lead multi-disciplinary Brain tumor board.
Lead multi-disciplinary CNS radiation oncology board.
Lead multi-disciplinary Pituitary tumor board.
Learn how to be effective instructors/educators in neurosurgical oncology.
Present Grand Rounds for the Neurosurgery Department.
Present and lead discussion at Journal club.
Present didactic sessions and prosectioning for neurosurgical anatomy lab approaches relevant to neurosurgical oncology.
Supervision
The Neurosurgical Oncology (NO) faculty closely supervises fellows in the outpatient clinics, wards, and operating room. Our program is one of graduated responsibility, where fellows gain more independence as they learn and demonstrate clinical and technical competence. Surgical procedures are performed with NO faculty with fellows acting as first assistant surgeon, in proportion to their experience and the complexity of the case. All final management decisions regarding consults will be cleared and approved by a faculty member. Outside the OR fellows work with faculty in outpatient clinics and assist in pre- and post-operative management of patients.
Evaluation
The fellowship director maintains accurate case logs of the neurosurgical oncology case material operated annually within the institution while the fellow maintains an accurate prospective case log including CPT codes of their operative cases throughout the fellowship and their level of responsibility (assistant versus primary surgeon). The fellow's case logs are reviewed by the fellowship director during the biannual evaluation process to ensure the fellow will meet the procedural requirements and minimum case volume for all neurosurgical oncology cases including: supratentorial intra-axial, infratentorial intra-axial, extra-axial, meningioma, intra-ventricular, vestibular schwannoma, transsphenoidal sellar/parasellar, skull base approaches, radiosurgery, spinal tumors, intrameduallary, extrameduallary/mets and LITT/biopsy/stereotactic. Considering the fellow's case logs and professional goals, a plan to focus on specific interests can be tailored.
The evaluation criteria is competency-based using Brain Tumor Specific milestone-based evaluations. Assessments occur biannually, conducted by the fellowship faculty and the fellow's preformance is discussed at the residency program Clinical Competency Committee, giving all faculty a chance to provide input. The fellow is given feedback by the fellowship director. The evaluation process mirrors the current procedures for the UCLA Neurosurgery residency program.
Schedule
Monday-Friday
Monday: OR and Case conference (weekly)
Tuesday: Clinic, NF & Lateral Skull Base Board meeting (weekly)
Wednesday: OR and Departmental conference, Radiosurgery conference, Brain SPORE meeting & Brain Tumor Board meeting (weekly). Pituitary Tumor Board meeting (monthly)
Thursday: OR and research
Friday: OR and research
Call and Conferences
On call every 4th week
Monthly M & M conference
Fellowship Information
Fellowship Duration 1 year
Accreditation CAST
Location Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (RRUCLA)
Fellowship Salary Based on PGY status
Fellowship Application Period January to March
Typical Source of Funding Departmental
Number of Positions Funded Per Year One
How to Apply
- CV
- Personal statement
- USMLE scores
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- All applicants must be eligible for a Medical License with the State of California
Submit all items to Fellowship Program Coordinator, Abigail McCann.
Contact
Richard Everson, MD
Fellowship Director
Abigail McCann
Fellowship Program Coordinator
Fellowship Mailing Address
UCLA Neurosurgery
BOX 956901, 300 Stein Plaza, Ste 420
Los Angeles, CA 90095-6901