Residency Program

The UCSF Neurosurgery Residency Program is committed to training the next generation of academic neurosurgeons who will continue to advance the field.

Since it was established in 1934, the UCSF Neurosurgery Residency Program has grown into a seven-year, innovative program that ensures a thorough immersion in every sub-specialty of neurosurgery. The program focuses on teaching the most cutting-edge practices in both research and clinical medicine, while encouraging residents to take advantage of the many collaborations the Department has established to train them on how to work in an academic environment. Over 74% of our graduating residents go into academic neurosurgery. We consider the training of academic neurosurgeons a responsibility and our contribution to the vitality and advancement of our discipline.

We are consistently ranked as the #1 neurosurgery residency program in the country, and offer a rigorous, comprehensive program that includes both clinical and laboratory training.

The strengths of our clinical training include the large volume of cases treated at our hospitals, encompassing a wide spectrum of neurosurgical disorders. Residents will rotate through services at:

•  UCSF Medical Center
•  Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center
•  San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center 
• UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco
• UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland

As the field of neurosurgery becomes increasingly subspecialized, residency training at UCSF has shifted to provide immersion into these various subspecialties. Residents will rotate through services in:

• Cerebrovascular Disorders
• Brain Tumors
• Epilepsy
• Neurotrauma & Neurocritical Care
• Movement Disorders
• Pediatric Neurological Disorders
• Peripheral Nerve & Pain
• Radiosurgery
• Spinal disorders

Our research program represents a wide range of interests, with both clinician scientists and basic scientists interested in disease-based research. We are the #1 awarded institution for NIH funding in neurosurgery research.