The Surgical Neuro-Oncology Fellowship is a clinical fellowship focused on the training of neurosurgeons in the surgical and clinical care of patients with tumors of the nervous system, primarily brain tumors. Fellows will also have the potential to gain experience in the treatment of tumors of the skull, skull base, spine, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. The fellowship is available to neurosurgeons who have completed residency training and would like to pursue specialized training in this area. The fellowship duration is 12 months. Candidates from outside the US with appropriate training and credentials are eligible. Although neurosurgeons with a goal of pursuing an academic career are preferred, this is not mandatory.
Surgical and Clinical Component
One of the primary roles of the fellow will be to oversee the Surgical Neuro-oncology Service at the University Hospital, working in collaboration with the residents, nurse practitioners, and other support staff. The fellow will be responsible for surgical patients who have tumors of the brain, cranium, skull base, spine, and spinal cord, specifically in terms of pre- and intraoperative evaluation and management and postoperative care. The fellow will be exposed to both standard and complex cranial and spinal surgical procedures used for neuro-oncologic cases. Additionally, the fellow will practice techniques in frameless navigation for stereotactic biopsy and for surgical adjuncts (e.g., functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging). Other skills gained will include the use of intraoperative MRI for brain tumor surgery; intraoperative mapping for motor and speech cortex including awake surgical techniques; implants for brain tumor adjunctive therapy (i.e., I-125 seeds, chemotherapy wafers); and microsurgical and endoscopic surgical techniques. The fellow will also play an active role in stereotactic radiosurgery cases, both in evaluation of patients and treatment planning, and will gain expertise in both frame-based and frameless radiosurgery techniques. The fellow will have the chance to work with both Novalis and Trilogy radiation technology.
Evaluation of patients in the clinic and involvement with both medical neuro-oncology and radiation oncology in multi-disciplinary clinics will be an important part of the fellowship. The fellow will see patients in the multi-disciplinary neuro-oncology clinics supervised by Dr. McPherson and Dr. Warnick. The fellow will be responsible for organizing, supervising, and contributing to the weekly multi-disciplinary Brain Tumor Board.
Research Component
Clinical research is a key portion of the fellowship as at least 1 day per week will be devoted to clinical research projects. The fellow is expected to complete two clinical research projects for submission; at least one submission should be an original clinical research project for a peer-reviewed journal. The second project can be a review for journal submission or chapter. The fellow is responsible for at least one grand rounds presentation.
Finally, development of clinical trials is also an important aspect of the fellowship. The fellow will play an active role in evaluating and screening patients for clinical trials. In addition, it is expected that the fellow will prepare at least one clinical trial for IRB review by completion of the fellowship.
Neuro-Oncology Service at The University Hospital and Mayfield Clinic
Unique characteristics of our program include:
- Well-known and respected regional referral source for the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors.
- Active neuro-oncology team, including a multidisciplinary neuro-oncology clinic and weekly Brain Tumor Board.
- Active radiosurgery unit for treatment of tumors with special focus on frameless radiosurgery. Novalis and Lexar technologies are used.
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Access to multiple clinical trials that cover the range of brain tumors.
- More than 10 years experience using intraoperative MRI for brain tumor surgery.
- Special emphasis on surgical implants for brain tumor therapy including I-125 seeds, chemotherapy wafers, and use of combination therapy.
- Well-funded Brain Tumor Center supported by the University of Cincinnati, the University Hospital, and the Mayfield Clinic.
- 20-bed Neurosurgery ICU with dedicated critical care team.
- Well-respected residency program that accepts 3 residents per year with an active teaching staff.
- Medical communications department that provides medical illustration, photography, and editorial assistance for all publications and projects.
Evaluation Process
The Fellow will be evaluated semiannually by the Director of the Surgical Neuro-Oncology Fellowship program and members of the neurosurgical faculty team who participate in the care of patients of the Surgical Neuro-Oncology service.
Teaching Staff
Christopher M. McPherson, M.D., Director, Surgical Neuro-Oncology Fellowship
Ronald E. Warnick, M.D., Director, UC Brain Tumor Center
John M. Tew, M.D., Medical Director, UC Neuroscience Institute
Philip Theodosopoulos, M.D., Director, Division of Skull Base Surgery
John Breneman, M.D., Radiation Oncology
Jessica Guarneschelli, M.D., Radiation Oncology
Olivier Rixe, M.D., Ph.D., Neuro-oncology
Jeffrey T. Keller, Ph.D., Research Director, Division of Education
Contact
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Department of Neurosurgery
231 Albert Sabin Way
PO Box 670515
phone 513-558-3903
fax 513-558-7702
email: pschwab@mayfieldclinic.com
Director: Christopher McPherson, MD
