Curriculum

The MSK-MSO Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Fellowship curriculum includes: ​

Accelerated learning in the clinical setting:
Patient Intake: taking patient history; performing exams; diagnosing and implementing treatment.
Patient Care and Aftercare include ordering and interpreting tests, managing critical conditions, and following up after treatment and postop.
Patient Education: guiding patients on preventive health care, informing them of non-surgical treatments, and assisting them with patients’ rights.
Research Opportunities: assisting with the research, writing, and publication of peer-reviewed papers and case reports.

Hands-on training in the hospital setting:
‍Mastering OR first-assist techniques with cerebrovascular surgery, surgery of the peripheral nervous system, spinal surgery, cranial and skull base surgery, neurosurgical trauma surgeries and stereotactic and functional neurosurgery.
Performing procedures under supervision.

Hands-on training in the ambulatory surgery setting:
‍Mastering OR first-assist techniques with surgery of the peripheral nervous system, spinal surgery, and functional neurosurgery.
Mastering first-assist techniques with pain procedures such as epidural steroid injections, facet blocks, nerve ablations, and spinal cord stimulators
Performing procedures under supervision.

On-the-job evaluations and tests:
‍Reading and interpretation of X-rays
Grand round presentations
Demonstration of skills
Neurosurgery and pain management staff review

Fields of Study:
‍Neurosurgical oncology
Neurosurgical critical care
Pain management and physical medicine and rehabilitation
General and stroke neurology
Neuroradiology Neurosurgical trauma ​​

Schedule:
‍Our Fellows will be expected to commit to 8 to 10-hour days, five days a week. Fellows will also be on call several days a month, including some weekends. ​​

Didactic events:
‍Learning:
SDNeurosurgery Grand Rounds: Once a month, the Practice covers a topic with a virtual hour-long presentation that Fellows should participate in.

Scripps La Jolla Neuro-Intensive Nursing Case Conference: Once a month, a Neurosurgeon virtually presents cases to Neuro ICU nurses, which the Fellows should attend.

San Diego Spine Foundation Spine Conference: Once a week, there is a virtual meeting that the Fellows should attend to listen to Spine

Fellows present spine topics with other Spine Surgeons.

Scripps La Jolla Tumor Board: Once a week, and Fellows will present neuro-oncology cases when we have them.

Tri-City Medical Center Tumor Board: Once a week, and Fellows will present neuro-oncology cases when we have them.

Teaching:
SDNeurosurgery and South Bay Neurosurgery have vibrant premed Internship programs for college students. They run the Grand Rounds mentioned above. They also try to shadow and round with our current NP. They often come to the OR with us as well. The Fellow would be expected to teach them.