Conferences

As part of your training, you'll experience different weekly conferences that are held by our department, with many of them taking place in our new Collaboration Center. During these meetings you'll be exposed to the latest neurological cases, concepts, techniques, problems, and solutions. Both faculty and residents are regular participants in these collaborative programs with the goal to discuss different ideas to best treat patients for varying circumstances. Many of these conferences will include teaching presentations on a specific topic for that given week.

 

Departmental conferences

Grand rounds

Multiple times throughout the year, our department will ask experts from other prestigious institutions throughout the country to give a lecture to our faculty and residents. They will give a presentation on a clinical or research topic of their chosen expertise relevant to neurosurgery. These monthly lectures include 6 named visiting professorships in tumor, vascular, spine, functional, trauma, and pediatric neurosurgery each year.


Clinical case conference

Clinical case conferences allow for difficult cases to be discussed amongst the group. A lecture style presentation is given by a resident who assisted with the case, and then different clinical faculty and residents are able to chime in with questions and discuss various treatment options that could've also been done.

Journal club

For Journal Club, a topic will be chosen for the week with three different papers that focus on this specific area. Three residents are then selected to read and present on each of the papers to the department. Afterwards, there is an open discussion between faculty and residents about the topic and different ideas are exchanged.

Resident didactics

The resident curriculum includes a series of weekly lectures covering the full gamut of neurosurgery. These conferences are taught using a variety of formats including case-based discussion, anatomic dissection, journal article review, didactic lecture, and hands-on workshops by attending neurosurgery faculty. All residents are excused from duties to attend.

Cadaver curriculum

A cornerstone of the Penn Neurosurgery educational experience is our comprehensive cadaver-based surgical training curriculum. Residents have 24/7 access to a dedicated neurosurgical dissection laboratory, providing opportunities for both independent practice and faculty-guided instruction throughout residency. The laboratory serves as an extension of the operating room, allowing trainees to develop a detailed understanding of three-dimensional neuroanatomy, rehearse surgical approaches, and refine microsurgical and endoscopic techniques in a hands-on environment. This commitment to deliberate practice helps residents build technical proficiency and confidence while fostering a deeper appreciation of the anatomical foundations of neurosurgery.

The curriculum includes multiple cadaver-based educational events each year, including dedicated skull base, spine, and peripheral nerve dissection courses led by Penn Neurosurgery faculty and visiting professors. Residents gain exposure to a broad range of operative approaches spanning cranial, skull base, cerebrovascular, endoscopic, spinal, and peripheral nerve surgery, with particular emphasis on complex skull base anatomy and technique. Through a combination of structured courses, faculty mentorship, and unrestricted laboratory access, residents are able to repeatedly practice and master surgical approaches throughout their training and pursue independent research projects in the laboratory. This longitudinal curriculum complements operative experience and reflects Penn Neurosurgery's commitment to providing exceptional technical education and preparing residents for independent practice in the full spectrum of neurosurgical disease.

Case based conference

Neuro-trauma conference

Our trauma team at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center holds conferences throughout each month to discuss the latest neurosurgery cases that come into our emergency rooms. Things such as presenting conditions, treatments issued on arrival and follow up care among many other things are discussed thoroughly between both staff and residents.

Spine conference

The faculty within our Spine and Peripheral Nerve division lead a Spine Conference every two weeks at Pennsylvania Hospital, the location of our Penn Spine Center. New and interesting cases related to the spine are presented by faculty and then openly discussed among the group to determine the best course of action for moving forward on a specific surgical treatment for the patient.

Endowed lectures