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 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 must occur after the chief resident year, thus PGY-7

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.

Written request for ABNS approval may be sent to abns@abns.org