Letter to Applicant

Dear Neurosurgery Resident Applicant:

Thank you for your interest in the Neurosurgery Residency Program of Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.  All candidates must complete their application through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) sponsored Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), and the web-based National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and direct the request to our facility. Please complete your application early for the best considerations for an interview. 

During the application and interview process you will learn a great deal about our program, its dedicated faculty, the wonderful facilities and the beautiful city where you would spend the next seven years. Operating as a fully integrated program at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, trainees are exposed to a wealth of neurosurgical pathology. First and foremost, they learn fundamentals of surgical skills, the care of critically ill patients, and the principles of neurologic clinical evaluation, differential diagnosis and interpretation of neuro-imaging. These goals are facilitated by clinical rotations on ancillary services and in the various neurosurgery hospital and clinic services. A rich and graduated surgical experience and close mentorship by the sixteen full-time clinical faculty allow the development and maturation of outstanding operating skills. The technical and clinical experiences are complemented by emphasis on clinical judgment, evidence-based outcome assessment, and thoughtful analysis of morbidity. These and core neuroscience educational objectives are covered at scheduled weekly conferences, in bedside teaching and in the operating room.

The program has had a tradition of encouraging residents to participate in clinical and basic research studies and presenting papers at national meetings, with exposure to emerging concepts and innovations. Numerous visiting professors come to Boston and interface with our trainees.

On behalf of each faculty member of the Department of Neurosurgery and our team of residents, we can affirm that we have no mission more sacred than that of training the future generation of neurosurgeons. Specific educational curriculum objectives shall guide your development at every stage. We are committed to adding value to every facet of your training. You shall be taught and individually mentored, evaluated and promoted, and also asked to evaluate us and help the Program integrate numerous innovations. Most of all, you will differentiate into a competent and credible academically-oriented neurosurgeon, positioned to learn throughout your career.

While a student clerkship experience in our Department is not required for application, it is highly recommended, as it will allow us to get better acquainted.  Rotations can be arranged at any time during the junior or senior medical student years.

Please do not hesitate to contact us directly at any stage of the application and matching process if we can answer any of your questions.

Sincerely,

Edward R. Laws, MD
Program Director
Brigham & Women’s/Boston Children's Hospitals/Harvard Medical School