Wednesday Conferences
Neurosurgery Grand Rounds
This is a mandatory, educationally rich conference for faculty and residents. These rounds are didactic presentations on clinical and basic science topics from both internal and external speakers. Dr. Ellenbogen is responsible for oversight of this conference with the consultation of the entire faculty. The quality and consistency of these conferences is maintained through CME reviews and CME certification undertaken by the Chairman on an annual basis.
Neuropathology Conference
This conference presents neuropathology studies by neuropathologists and neurosurgical residents. The photomicrographs of the permanent slides and sections are presented and discussed by our UW neuropathologists. Following these presentations, discussion ensues concerning neuropathological differential diagnosis and postoperative management. Neuro-oncologists and radiation oncologists attend. Selected neuropathologic specimens from all four institutions are presented. In some instances this conference is two hours long and begins at 7:00 a.m.
Neuroradiology Management Conference
The Chief Resident of each institution presents two to five cases from each of the four institutions. The Chief Resident, in concert with the Service Chief, selects the most interesting cases from the last week or two to maximize the learning opportunity for the conference. Appropriate operative photos and movies are used to illustrate technical points. The conference includes the neurosurgery faculty and residents, community neurosurgeons, interested neurology attendings and residents, neuroradiology faculty and fellows, and other faculty or residents, as appropriate.
Spine Grand Rounds
The Spine Conference at HMC involves the entire Department of Neurological Surgery as well as Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Spine faculty, residents and fellows. This conference involves either a didactic conference with specific topics (e.g., management of spinal deformity or neuroradiology of the spine) or involves evaluation and case management of specific series of patients. Dr. Randall Chesnut, Professor in Neurological Surgery is responsible for oversight and organization of this conference.
M & M Conference
This is a mandatory conference attended by all residents and attendings. Patient complications at all three hospitals are submitted a week in advance to Dr. Ellenbogen. Relevant clinical material is then presented by each of the Chief Residents and all appropriate imaging studies are shown. A critique of case management ensues. The Chief Resident and appropriate Service Chief are responsible for presenting an academic discussion.
Resident Education and Board Review
Each Wednesday morning, residents meet for an education and board review session. This curriculum is designed to cover sentinel articles and important aspects of neuroscience, neurology, neuroanatomy, and neurosurgery. Each meeting begins with a case presentation, followed by resident presentations on specific topics. Presentations are stored online for future reference and review for the primary examination.
Site-Specific Conferences
Harborview Medical Center (HMC)
Gamma Knife Conference: Monday 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (optional resident conference)
The focus of this conference is to review all Gamma Knife referrals, discuss, evaluate and recommend treatment options for each patient.
Epilepsy Conference: Monday 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
The focus is to review all Epilepsy referrals and determine surgical and non-surgical treatment options.
Neuro-Endocrine Conference: Wednesday 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm (monthly)
The focus of this teaching conference is to review the management of pituitary disease before and after surgery and the treatment of all diseases or injuries of the hypothalamic/pituitary axis.
Pre-Operative Conference: Thursday 7:45 am - 8:30 am (mandatory for all HMC Residents)
The focus of this teaching conference is to review all operative cases scheduled for the following week and to discuss surgical decision making issues, operative issues and unique patient care management issues.
Spine Conference: Thursday 8:30 am - 9:00 am (mandatory for all HMC Residents)
The focus of this teaching conference is to review all operative cases scheduled for the following week and to discuss surgical decision making issues, operative issues and unique patient care management issues for these patients. This conference includes both Neurosurgeons and Orthopaedic surgeons involved in the multi-disciplinary spine service.
Skull Base Tumor Board: Thursday 4:30 - 5:30pm (Weekly). NJB 14th floor conference room.
University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC)
Spine Conference: Tuesday 7:00 am - 8:30 am (weekly)
The focus of this teaching conference is to review all surgical spine patients at HMC/UWMC/SCH/VA scheduled for surgery the following week, and to discuss surgical decision making issues, operative issues and unique patient care management issues for these patients. This conference includes both Neurosurgeons and Orthopaedic Surgeons involved in the multi-disciplinary Spine Team.
Epilepsy Surgical Management Conference: Monday 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm (Monthly)
Interdepartmental working conference during which complex cases are reviewed from each of the UW affiliated hospitals and diagnostic/treatment plans are established.
Neurological Surgery Case Management Conference: Wednesday 5:00 - 6:30 pm (Weekly)
In-patient films are reviewed and cases discussed with members of the Neurological Surgery faculty. All residents and fellows not in the operating room are required to attend. The junior resident often presents a topic of interest for discussion among the faculty.
Neuro-Oncolgy Tumor Board: Wednesday 9:30 am - 11:00 am (Weekly)
Interdepartmental working conference where cases from the UWMC, Harborview and PSVAHCS are reviewed and diagnostic/treatment protocols are planned.
Neuro-Endocrine Conference: Monthly, Monday 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Endocrinology faculty and fellows join the Neurosurgery faculty and residents to review pituitary tumor cases.
Head and Neck Tumor Board: Wednesday, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm (Weekly)
Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery faculty and residents meet with Radiology faculty and the skull base neurosurgery team to review upcoming cases.
Seattle Children's Hospital (SCH)
Pediatric Neurosurgery Pre-Operative Conference: Monday 7:45 am - 8:30 am (mandatory for SCH Resident)
The focus of this teaching conference is to review all operative cases scheduled for the current week and to discuss surgical decision making issues, operative issues and unique patient care management issues for these patients. The Chief Resident presents each case to the faculty at this conference.
Pediatric Epilepsy Conference: Thursday 7:30 am - 8:30 am
Cases are reviewed for surgical consideration with Neurology, Social Work, Neuropsychology and Neurological Surgery of surgical and non-surgical options. EEG interpretation is also reviewed.
Craniofacial Conference: Monday 7:45 am - 8:30 am (optional for SCH Resident)
The focus of this conference is to review all craniofacial referrals to SCH. Conference includes a multi-disciplinary team including neurosurgeons, otolaryngologists, craniofacial plastic surgeons, pediatricians, geneticists, maxillofacial surgeons, dentists, nurses, social workers and other ancillary services. Patient referrals are reviewed, evaluated, discussed, and recommended treatment options are determined for each patient. Scheduled surgical cases are reviewed and discussed.
Tumor Board Conference: Wednesday 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm (mandatory for SCH Resident)
The focus of this conference is to review all neuro-oncology patients referred to SCH by a multi-disciplinary team including neurosurgeons, oncologists, pediatricians, radiation oncologists, endocrinologists, neurologists, and pathologists. Patient referrals are evaluated, discussed and a recommended treatment option is determined for each pre- and post-operative patient. Review of pertinent literature and protocols is presented at this work/didactic conference.
Other Mandatory/Elective Conferences
Program Director’s Conference
The Program Director meets with the residents one evening per month from 7:00-9:00 PM. This is mandatory for residents and covers both educational issues related to the residency, as well as a forum to handle resident, faculty and program evaluations and specific personal educational matters.
Laboratory Conferences
All laboratories have organized teaching conferences. These conferences frequently involve review of publications with analysis and critique by the resident/investigator. The faculty investigator supervises these conferences.
Neurology Grand Rounds
Neurology Grand Rounds are held from 4:00 - 6:00 pm at UWMC. This conference is organized by Neurology and is mandatory for the neurosurgery resident while on the Neurology rotation. Topics, both clinical and basic, are presented by a variety of speakers.