The pediatric neurosurgery fellow at Arkansas Children’s Hospital will be exposed to the full range of pediatric neurosurgical procedures including, but not limited to, hydrocephalus, ventricular endoscopy, epilepsy surgery, brain and tumors, open and endoscopic craniofacial surgery, trauma, spinal dysraphism, tethered cord, etc.
For the first three months, the fellow will be under full supervision of the faculty. After that time, the fellow may be given full hospital privileges allowing him or her to take faculty call and care for selected patients independently. A faculty neurosurgeon will always be available.
Eleven months of the year will be spent on the pediatric neurosurgery service. The fellow will round with the resident on a daily basis, Monday – Friday, and on weekends when on call. He or she will develop plans for patients and be responsible for updating the faculty on the status of their patients. In the operating room, the fellow will serve as primary surgeon or first assistant on all cases. The fellow will also spend time in clinic once per week, on average.
For one month, the fellow will be assigned to the orthopedic spine service working with the deformity surgeons in clinic and in the operating room learning evaluation and management of children with complex spinal deformities.
Research Opportunities
The fellow will be encouraged to participate in at least one research project during his/her time at ACH. Any area of clinical research is available to the fellow. Neurotrauma research is particularly robust due to availability of biostatisticians on staff, a comprehensive trauma database, and funding from the trauma program at ACH. ACH participates in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program for Pediatrics (Peds-NSQIP) and the National Trauma Databank (NTDB). The fellow will be encouraged to submit an abstract to the AANS/CNS Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery annual meeting and to submit at least one manuscript for publication.
Educational Conferences
Pediatric Neuroscience Conference – This is a weekly conference held in conjunction with the pediatric neurology division. One hour is spent reviewing interesting cases with a pediatric neuroradiologist. The second hour consists of a grand rounds talk. The fellow will present one to two times during the year.
Pediatric Tumor Board – This is a working conference held every other week. Pediatric patients with cancers of all types, including brain and spine tumors, are reviewed. The fellow should attend when a neuro-oncology patient is being presented.
Multidisciplinary Surgical Epilepsy Conference – This is a working conference held one to two times per month in conjunction with the epilepsy group at UAMS. Patients being considered are discussed with neurosurgery, neurology, neuroradiology, and neuropsychology.
Morbidity and Mortality Conference – This conference is held monthly with the Department of Neurosurgery at UAMS. The fellow should attend and be prepared to discuss the pediatric cases.
Pediatric Neurosurgery Case Conference – This is a monthly teaching conference for the residents. Cases will be prepared by the resident on service; however, the fellow should attend to discuss the case.
Salary and Benefits
The fellow will be paid a salary commensurate with his or her post-graduate level and will be provided with healthcare benefits. Funding will also be provided for the fellow to attend the AANS/CNS Joint Section on Pediatric Neurological Surgery Annual Meeting.
Application
This is a post-residency fellowship and applicants should have completed residency or be in their final two years of residency training. Trainees and graduates of foreign residency programs are encouraged to apply, however preference will be given to residents and graduates of US and Canadian residency programs. The ACH pediatric neurosurgery fellowship program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowships and participates in the San Francisco Matching Program.
If interested in applying, please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and three to four letters of recommendation to Dr. Albert through the online application. Letters of recommendation should be sought from the applicant’s chair and/or program director, pediatric neurosurgery faculty member, and at least one letter from a non-physician (PA, APN, or nurse).
Please contact Dr. Gregory Albert, fellowship program director, at galbert2@uams.edu with any questions.