Residency Program Information

The Neurosurgical Residency Program at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus accepts one (1) categorical resident annually.

All qualified applicants are considered for interviews. However, due to the large number of applications we receive, we are not able to offer an interview to all qualified candidates.

About GME programs at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus

The Inova Fairfax Medical Campus is constantly growing, recently reaching over 1,000 beds with the addition of a new Women's and Children's Hospital, adding to the main hospital and the Inova Vascular and Heart Institute. The Inova Fairfax Campus is home to a satellite of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, training over thirty medical students per year in the students’ third and fourth years of medical school.

There is a long history and deep commitment to graduate medical education (GME) throughout the Inova Health System to ensure a high quality educational and clinical experience for all trainees. Inova Fairfax Hospital and Inova Children's Hospital are also major affiliates for Georgetown University, George Washington University, Howard University, the National Capital Consortium, the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University.

See all of our Current ACGME- and CPME-accredited residency programs and fellowships at Inova 

Resident physicians within the neurosurgery residency will have the benefits of both large clinical volumes and the opportunity to participate in the training of medical students. We feel that the experience gained in the Inova Fairfax Neurosurgery Residency will rival any experience in neurosurgery training in the country. We look forward to the challenge and opportunity of training our first complement of neurosurgery residents.

ERAS / Application Information

Candidates must submit all required information through ERAS by November 1. Paper applications are not accepted. Candidates for our residency program are selected in conjunction with the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

Complete applications contain all of the documents listed below:

• Personal Statement
• Three (3) Letters of Recommendation from U.S. or Canadian physicians. International Medical Graduates (IMGs) must have letters of recommendation which clearly document U.S. or Canadian clinical experience.
• Dean's Letter (MSPE) or equivalent
• Medical school transcripts
• Results of standardized tests: USMLE and ECFMG certificate (IMGs)
• NOTE: Osteopathic applicants: While we will gladly accept and review your COMLEX scores, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores are required. We will accept either Step 2 CS or COMLEX Level-2 PE.

Eligibility

• Applicants must have graduated from medical school/osteopathic medical school (independent or ACGME, AOA, or AACOM accredited residency).
• All applicants must have a minimum of three (3) months of U.S. or Canadian direct patient care activity. Externships must have included direct patient care. Observerships do not fulfill this requirement.
• We do not have a minimum score requirement. Each application is carefully reviewed on its' own merit by our faculty.

Important links

MyERAS

• ERAS ACGME ID: 1605100091

National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)

• NRMP program code for Inova Neurological Surgery program is 3199160C0

About Inova's Neuro Academic Program

The academic program of the Inova Neuroscience and Spine Institute consists of a coordinated schedule of conferences and lectures in the basic and clinical neurosciences, as well as a structured curriculum. The teaching conference schedule is structured to involve faculty participation and interaction.

Regularly scheduled conferences include:

• Cerebrovascular case conference
• Journal club
• Multi-disciplinary epilepsy case conference
• Neurodiagnostics Case Conference
• Neurology peer review (M&M)
• Neuroradiology and trauma case conference
• Neurosciences school
• Neurosurgery peer review (M&M)
• NSICU teaching rounds
• Ortho-neuro spine conference
• Vascular conference

Continuing Medical Educational Symposia

Several times a year, INSI sponsors multi-disciplinary, symposia, designed to provide medical and clinical participants education intended to improve patient care by enhancing the skills of health care professionals in an engaging, thought provoking environment.

Grand Rounds

The Inova Neuroscience and Spine Institute’s faculty are invited several times a year to assist the physician audience with improving knowledge and building on the core values of the Hippocratic Oath.

Medical Student Clerkship

Medical students have the opportunity to participate in a four-week clerkship in the Department of Neurosciences to enhance their skills in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating neurosurgical or neurological patients.

Published research articles

PDF: Inova Department of Neurosciences Collection of Scholarly Activity, January 2008 - December 2015

Neurosurgery Residency Structure

The PGY-1 year is spent in four three-month rotations: neurosurgery, neuro critical care, neurology, and general surgery trauma and vascular surgery. All of these rotations take place at Inova Fairfax Hospital except the neurology rotation which is at the Walter Reed Medical Center.

PGY-2 and PGY-3 years are spent on the neurosurgery service at Inova Fairfax Hospital as the junior resident. Each year, there are four services that are rotated through on a three- month basis including spine and peripheral nerve, vascular and endovascular, chairman’s service and pediatrics, and Functional Epilepsy and neuro-oncology. These years are spent developing the basic skills and knowledge necessary for the successful practice of neurosurgery.

The PGY-4 year is spent in research and/or clinical sub specialization. This can take the form of clinical or basic science research at Inova Fairfax Hospital or at another reputable research facility in collaboration with Inova. It could also be spent in the pursuit of clinical sub- specialization in an enfolded fellowship at Inova Fairfax Hospital or another institution. This time is flexible based upon the individual resident’s interests, but must have a formalized, written structure with written goals and deliverables expected at the end of the year.

The PGY-5 and PGY-6 years are spent at Inova Fairfax Hospital as senior resident, mostly doing the same neurosurgery rotations outlined in the PGY-2 and PGY-3 section with increased responsibilities, but also completing a three-month rotation in neuroradiology. These years are focused on developing more independence in decision making, patient care, and surgery, as well as providing guidance to the junior residents.

The PGY-7 year is spent on the neurosurgery service at Fairfax Inova Fairfax Hospital as chief resident. The chief resident will not do specific sub-specialty rotations to give him or her the flexibility to cater surgeries and patient care experiences to his or her needs in completing a well-rounded education. The year is focused on becoming independent in patient care and surgery, and in running the neurosurgery service while helping train the more junior residents.

Questions?

For more information about any of our programs, please contact Alexandrine Tuitt, Residency Program Coordinator, alexandrine.tuitt@inova.org or 703-776-6375.