Neurosurgery Conferences and Enrichment

Didactic teaching is carried out in a wide variety of weekly conferences for neurosurgery residents, faculty and medical students. They focus on a broad range of neurosurgical topics, as well as topics from other disciplines, promoting interdepartmental collaboration among providers. 

Skull Base Teaching

During this educational conference, Neurosurgery and ENT faculty analyze skull base cases with residents.

• Mondays – 7 to 7:30 am

Cerebrovascular

Neurosurgery faculty and residents review cerebrovascular cases for the benefit of resident education.

• Wednesdays – 5:45 to 7:30 am

Integrated Spine

Faculty and residents from both Neurosurgery and Orthopedics convene to evaluate the literature and treatment of interesting spine cases.

• 2nd and 4th Thursdays – 5:15 to 6:15 pm

Faculty Case

This conference is led by a neurosurgery faculty member on a rotating basis with a focus on case analysis and in-depth discussion on neurosurgical conditions and treatments.

• Thursdays – 7 to 7:30 am

Neurosurgery Grand Rounds

The Department of Neurosurgery Grand Rounds series provides opportunity for didactic teaching and discussion across Neurosurgery faculty, residents and APPs on relevant topics and updates in the field. Led by residents, faculty and guest speakers, areas covered encompass neurosurgical subspecialties, neurological multidiscipline, clinical best practices and professional development. The medical and professional content covered should be incorporated in attendees' clinical practice to improve patient care and practitioner expertise.

• 1st, 2nd and 3rd Thursdays – 7:30 to 8:30 am

Morbidity and Mortality (M&M)

Individual cases and accompanying complications are chosen by the Quality Assurance Officer, Gary Schwartzbauer, MD, PhD, and the neurosurgery faculty from services across UMMC, Shock Trauma and the VA. The conference consists of a relevant clinical summary, identifying the complication, a short-referenced presentation on the topic and outlining a management plan to prevent the complication in the future.

• 4th Thursdays – 7:30 am to 8:30 am

Journal Club

This conference brings residents together to critically evaluate scholarly journal articles written about various neurosurgical conditions. In-depth analysis and discussion amongst the residents are the primary focus of this conference. At least 1 to 2 faculty members are present to answer questions and foster discussion.

• Monthly – 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Henderson Lecture

This annual lecture is presented by an outstanding neurosurgeon chosen by the residents and faculty during a selection process. This lecture is funded by a benefactor in honor of the deceased neurosurgeon, Dr. Charles M. Henderson, who practiced in Baltimore for 26 years. Dr. Henderson was the first president of the Maryland Neurosurgical Society and belonged to many national neurosurgical societies.

• Annually – Spring

Ibrahimi Lecture

The annual Ibrahimi Lecture is to honor the memory of David Ibrahimi, MD, who completed his neurosurgical residency at University of Maryland in 2012 and practiced with the Department of Neurosurgery before passing in 2017. The lecture focuses on his specialty of spine surgery.

• Annually – Fall

Mock Oral Boards

Mock oral boards are conducted to prepare residents for the American Board of Neurological Surgery Oral Examination (oral boards), which are taken following residency.

• Biannually

Stryker-MedStar Neuroanatomy Workshop

The neuroanatomy workshop is held in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Hospital neurosurgery residency program. Faculty lead various dissection workstations which residents can explore throughout the day.

• Biannually

National Conferences

Residents of any year are fully supported to attend conferences for oral presentations.

Multidisciplinary Conferences

• Neurointerventional Radiology – Mondays – 7:15 am
• Epilepsy Surgical – Mondays – 3 to 5 pm
• Skull Base/Pituitary Tumor – 3rd Monday – 4 to 5 pm
• Tumor Board – Wednesdays – 4 to 5 pm
• Vascular Stroke Neurology – Thursdays – 11 am
• Neurocritical Care – Fridays – 7:30 am