Neurosurgery
Contacts
Specialty Advisor, Specialty Interest Group Faculty Advisor and Surgical Subspecialty Acting Internship Faculty Lead
Residency Program Director
Specialty Interest Group Email
Specialty Overview
Neurological Surgery constitutes a medical discipline and surgical specialty that provides care for adult and pediatric patients in the treatment of pain or pathological processes that may modify the function or activity of the central nervous system (e.g., brain, hypophysis, and spinal cord), the peripheral nervous system (e.g., cranial, spinal, and peripheral nerves), the autonomic nervous system, the supporting structures of these systems (e.g., meninges, skull & skull base, and vertebral column), and their vascular supply (e.g., intracranial, extracranial, and spinal vasculature).
Treatment encompasses both non-operative management (e.g., prevention, diagnosis—including image interpretation—and treatments such as, but not limited to, neurocritical intensive care and rehabilitation) and operative management with its associated image use and interpretation (e.g., endovascular surgery, functional and restorative surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, and spinal fusion—including its instrumentation).
Neurological Surgery | Careers in Medicine (AAMC CiM log in required)
How long is this specialty's residency?
Residency training for this specialty is seven years.
Websites for Reference
American Association of Neurological Surgeons - AANS
Away Electives
Away Electives
Yes
How many aways should I do?
2-3
Order of Away vs Home
Home rotation BEFORE away rotation
Programs where ISMMS students have completed away electives.
AZ
Barrow Neurological Institute
2
CA
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
3
CA
Stanford University
2
DC
Georgetown University School of Medicine
2
DC
University of Washington
1
FL
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
2
GA
Emory University School of Medicine
1
IL
Northwestern University
1
MA
Massachusetts General Hospital - Harvard Medical School
2
MD
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
3
MI
University of Michigan
3
MO
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WUSM)
2
NY
University of Rochester School of Medicine
1
NY
Weill Cornell Medical College
2
OH
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
2
OH
OSU Wexner Medical Center
1
PA
University of Pennsylvania
1
PA
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
1
TX
Baylor College of Medicine
1
WA
University of Washington School of Medicine
2
Comment from Specialty Advisor:
Meet with Dr. Morgenstern to discuss applying in Neurosurgery and plan for away electives for the beginning of year 4. Students should do an Acting Internship on the neurosurgery service here at Sinai and should arrange at least two away electives as well. They should remain engaged with the neurosurgery department here, attending grand rounds, etc.
Match Statistics
Information provided by the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) Charting Outcomes in the Match, last updated August 2024
Mean Number of Contiguous Ranks
16.7
Mean USMLE Step 2 CK Score
255
Mean Number of Research Experiences
5.8
Mean Number of Abstracts, Presentations and Publications
37.4
Competitiveness
Source: 2025 Match Advanced Data Tables
In the 2025 Match there were 268 positions in 121 programs, 85.1% of positions were filled by U.S. MD Seniors.
Application Information
Application System
ERAS
Match System
NRMP
Signaling
Source: ERAS Signaling and 2025 ERAS Data
How Many?
25
Signal Home Program?
Yes
Signal Away Program?
Yes
Average Number of Applications Submitted
67.57
Comment from Specialty Advisor:
Signal programs where you hope to receive an interview and diversify your list to have a few "safer options". Work with your mentors and specialty advisor on your signal list to optimize it.
Letters of Recommendation
Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE)?
Yes, students should get 3 SLOEs by requesting from the director of each visiting and home rotation.
Departmental/Chair Letter?
No
Who should other letters come from?
1 SLOE from home rotation
At least 2 SLOEs from away rotations
1 from a mentor who knows you best
Interviewing and Post Interview Communication
Applications are downloaded by programs...
On the first date they are available- students should submit everything prior to that date
This specialty’s MSH program interviews all ISMMS students who apply.
Yes
Interviews are sent out...
Fridays in October after 4pm
Thank You Emails
Definitely a good idea
Letters of Intent
Yes, letters of intent are helpful to programs and applicants but make sure you're only sending to one program if you are telling them they are #1 on your rank list. Consult with an advisor before sending.
ISMMS Match Data 2020-2025
Barnes-Jewish Hosp-MO
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
Barrow Neurological Inst at SJHMC-AZ
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
Cleveland Clinic Fdn-OH
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
Hosp of the Univ of PA
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
ISMMS Mount Sinai Hospital-NY
0
0
1
0
0
1
2
Mayo Clinic School of Grad Med Educ-MN
1
0
1
0
0
0
2
MedStar Georgetown Univ Hosp-DC
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Methodist Hospital-Houston-TX
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
MGB-Massachusetts Gen Hosp
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
NYU Grossman School Of Medicine-NY
0
1
0
1
0
0
2
Temple Univ Hosp-PA
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
U Rochester/Strong Memorial-NY
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
U Washington Affil Hosps
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
UCLA Med Ctr-CA
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
UPMC Medical Education-PA
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
Zucker SOM-Northwell NS/LIJ-NY
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
Possible 'At Risk' Identifiers
Low board scores, few publications, limited experience in neurosurgery
Last updated