Neurological surgery residency

The Spectrum Health/Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Neurological Surgery Residency is a seven-year program, accepting one resident annually. We are committed to producing highly qualified neurosurgeons with the confidence to undertake their craft of clinical decision-making and surgical expertise with distinction.

Training is conducted at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Blodgett Hospital and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. A large array of technical assets in both diagnostic and therapeutic domains, coupled with the clinical expertise of specialty-focused staff, serve to supplement the training experience to prepare trainees for future practice

The Spectrum Health department of clinical neurosciences has over 150 senior faculty and advanced practice providers. It includes neurology, neurosurgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neuropsychology, clinical psychology and pain management. Several programs constitute the department – oncology, vascular, epilepsy, spine, movement disorder, neuromuscular, behavioral/cognitive, immunological – bringing together an interdisciplinary team to manage conditions by the relevant expertise.

Our surgical faculty consists of 12 senior surgeons. Three are pediatric neurosurgery, two are orthopedic spine surgeons and seven neurosurgeons are focused on adult patients. They are supported by 17 APPs and a large body of technical staff. Highlights include an iMRI, hybrid angiographic suites, Leica and Zeiss operating microscopes, ROSA (1) and Mazor (2) robotic systems, Storz neuroendoscopic system, Visualase LITT, NICO Myriad/Brain Bath, O-arm (3), Starfix and Leksell stereotactic frames, Clearpoint system, StealthStation navigation systems (8), Artis Q biplane systems and the Novalis Tx stereotactic radiosurgery system.

Program Aims

1. Technical competency in surgery
2. Sound decision making
3. Ethical practice
4. Spirit of serving
5. Desire to teach and innovate
6. A commitment to solving clinical problems

Training locations

1. Butterworth Hospital - Level 1 Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center; over 800 beds, a Neurocritical Care Unit, dedicated Neuroangiography suites (2) and operating facilities (3) with state-of-the-art technical assets in all neurosurgical programs
2. Blodgett Hospital - site for the majority of elective spine surgery
3. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital – site providing for entire scope of pediatric neurosurgical procedures

Teaching Opportunities

In addition to teaching medical students from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, residency programs are present in both neurology and neurosurgery, in addition to fellowships in neuropsychology, epilepsy and stroke/vascular neurology. The department manages the highest volume of thrombectomies in Michigan and undertakes cases of the highest complexity in all the mentioned programs.

The educational environment at Spectrum Health provides sufficient exposure in all ACGME required neurosurgery domains, including pediatrics. The program will provide for a means by which high caliber graduates may be recruited within the department to perpetuate a strong academic standard and clinical performance.

Research is supported by the Spectrum Health Office of Research and Education and collaborations are established with several research enterprises, including Michigan State University, Van Andel Institute and Grand Valley State University. Opportunities exist to establish clinical and translational research projects in collaboration within the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, as well as with faculty in these neighboring institutions. Departmental faculty are engaged in several clinical trials, government-supported projects and graduate studies programs.

All candidates must possess U.S. work authorization or be eligible for J-1 status.

For DO applicants, we prefer USMLE Steps 1 and 2, but will accept COMLEX 1 and 2.

For more information on our program, contact Samantha Riley our program coordinator or email us at neurosurgery@spectrumhealth.org.

All visiting medical student applications must be submitted through the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities program (formerly known as VSAS). For more information on visiting medical student opportunities, please visit the Visiting Learner page.