Enfolded fellowships recognized in PGY-7

The ABNS has recognized enfolded fellowships during the PGY-7 year, after completion of the chief residency year during PGY-6, since July 2021. Fellowship is advanced clinical training in which subspecialty expertise is developed, based on the experiential platform of residency training, commencing as a PGY-1 resident through chief residency.

There are two exceptions:

1. Enfolded fellowships in neurocritical care may be taken prior to the trainee’s chief resident year
2. CNS endovascular training requires a prerequisite experience in the performance of angiography. This training period may occur prior to the chief resident year and does not require ABNS pre-approval if completed in the resident’s home program. If the prerequisite year is being completed at an outside program, ABNS approval is required for an Away Rotation.
   If the CNS endovascular fellowship training is occurring during residency, it must take place after the chief resident year, i.e. PGY-7, and ABNS pre-approval for an Enfolded Fellowship is required.

The ABNS does not require fellowships (enfolded or otherwise) as a requirement for initial certification. A fellowship may be required for neurosurgeons to achieve an ABMS “Focused Practice Designation” in certain areas of neurological surgery.

To submit credit requests, please log into SMapply as an Applicant abns.smapply.org . Navigate to Programs (top right), browse the applications, and select the “Requesting Credit For Enfolded Fellowships” application. This can be completed by a Program Director or Program Admin/Coordinator.