A detailed knowledge of neuroanatomy is a requirement for becoming an excellent neurosurgeon. In an effort to promote knowledge of neuroanatomy, the ABNS has decided to create a curriculum and a neuroanatomy examination. The curriculum will be provided to the new PGY1 residents at the start of residency. The Neuroanatomy Exam will then be given a year later in July of the PGY2 year. This neuroanatomy exam will supplement the ABNS Primary Exam which is generally taken later on in residency. The neuroanatomy exam will be different from the ABNS primary exam. The test can only be failed if it is not completed. The test will consist of 100 “mostly fill in the blank” neuroanatomy questions. The first time the resident takes this exam, the percent correct will be reported to the resident, as well as to their residency program director. The resident will learn which questions they answered incorrectly. After a “lock out” period of 1 week to allow for study of the questions missed, the resident will log back into the exam at a time of their choosing and answer questions similar to, but not identical, to the questions they got wrong the first time. After the second test, the resident will again be informed which questions they answered incorrectly, be locked out for a week, and then be expected to log back in to answer the incorrect questions again. The resident will have up to a total of 4 attempts to get every question correct. The Program…
The ABNS believes that the culmination of neurosurgery residency training is chief residency (PG-6 or 7), during which the resident evolves during that 12-month experience into an independent and safe neurosurgeon (Milestones 4). Fellowship is advanced clinical training (Milestones 5) in which subspecialty expertise is developed based on the experiential platform of residency training commencing as a PG-1 resident through chief residency. Commencing on July 1, 2021, the ABNS will only recognize enfolded fellowships completed in the PG-7 year after chief residency in the PG-6 year, two exceptions apply. See below: Enfolded fellowships in neurocritical care may be taken prior to the trainee’s chief resident year CNS endovascular training requires an initial training experience in the performance of angiography. This training period may occur prior to the chief resident year. The second year of CNS endovascular interventional training, as of July 1, 2021, must occur after the chief resident year, thus PG-7 For avoidance of doubt, the ABNS does not require fellowships (enfolded or otherwise) as a requirement for initial ABNS certification. A fellowship may be required for neurosurgeons who wish to achieve an ABMS “Focused Practice Designation” in certain areas of neurological surgery practice.
“The new MOC/CC test is a VAST improvement over what it was previously! A major high-five to whoever realized that at this point in our careers, one does not need to necessarily calculate the acid gap in an ICU patient nor remember every esoteric muscular dystrophy to take good care of patients. If you have not had a chance to look it over, it is now based on Level 1 evidence data and recent randomized clinical studies. Please extend my thanks to whoever had the good sense to finally fix this!!!
Patients want peace of mind when it comes to their care. Being board certified means physicians are skilled, knowledgeable and experts in their specialty. It also means they’ve met a higher standard. To learn more about board certification, view this new Certification Matters video or visit www.CertificationMatters.org
Neurological Surgeons participating in the American Board of Neurological Surgery MOC satisfy the American College of Surgeons COT continuing educational requirements necessary to participate in Level 1 Trauma Center coverage. No additional trauma related CME are required. The ABNS considers trauma and emergency neurological practice and principles part of every diplomates “core knowledge”. The ABNS will use their MOC/continuous certification process to update and educate our diplomates on these emergency neurological surgery principles as new evidence based data evolves.
