Medical Students
The Department of Neurological Surgery offers elective third-year clerkships and fourth-year subinternships to undergraduate medical students at the Feinberg School of Medicine. Students who meet Feinberg’s general application criteria for the visiting student elective program may be considered. See that page for application information and browse below to learn more about our opportunities.
Research Opportunities
A number of our clinical faculty conduct primary research in addition to their clinical work caring for patients with neurosurgical disorders. These neurosurgeon-scientists partner together with a number of basic science researchers also within the department to advance our understanding of neurosurgical disorders and how to best treat them. Find a more expansive description of the research going on in our department by visiting our Research Page. Please contact lab personnel directly about the possibility of joining one of our research teams.
Medical Student Scholar Program
The department of neurological surgery will support a limited number of medical students via our Medical Student Scholar Program. If you are currently doing research with a member of our faculty, please download and fill out our Medical Student Scholar Program Application and email it to education coordinator Nate Arnold for review.
Applications will be reviewed twice yearly, July 1 and March 1 for the academic school year and summer research blocks, respectively. Notifications will be made by e-mail by July 15 and March 15 respectively.
No multi-student projects are permitted. Support totals $2,500 for part-time work between September 1 and March 1 (academic school year block) or for full-time work between March 20 and July 20 (summer block).
Third Year Selective
Feinberg students who are interested in getting a deeper look into neurosurgery are invited to rotate with our team for two weeks during the third year of medical school. One week is spent with our cranial team and one week with our spine team. Selective students are expected to round with the residents in the morning, attend cases in the OR throughout the day and attend resident and student teaching conferences as they occur throughout the two weeks. Call is not expected but is invited if the student is interested.
Visit Us
Medical students committed to careers in neurological surgery from around the country are invited to join our team as sub-interns for four weeks during the summer and fall of their fourth year of medical school as an opportunity to get to know us better. This rotation is divided into four one week rotations to ensure exposure to all of the important parts of our dynamic service including our adult and pediatric neurosurgical services.
Visiting sub-interns are expected to round with the residents in the morning, prepare for and attend cases in the OR throughout the day, assist with the call pager, attend selected faculty clinics and attend resident and student teaching conferences as they occur throughout the month.
Visiting sub-interns are expected to take call approximately every four days with the understanding that they observe resident work hour restrictions.
Visiting sub-interns are asked to present a brief talk on the neurosurgical topic of their choosing toward the end of the experience with our team.
Visiting sub-internships are encouraged to apply for rotation with our team between May and September in order to complete the experience and obtain a letter of recommendation prior to submitting your application for neurosurgical residency. Please note, many of our faculty are away during the month of August, therefore sub-interns may gain less exposure to our faculty during that month.
Completion of a sub-internship does not guarantee an invitation for a residency interview
Visiting students are invited to apply for a rotation with our team via VSAS.
Pre-requisite: fourth-year medical student in good standing.
International medical students who are attending medical school with one of Northwestern University’s Global Partners are welcome to spend a month with us as a sub-intern between November and May. Please contact our Center for Global Health for more information.
Learn more about Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Life in Chicago.
Contact Us
Clerkship Director
Katie Bandt, MD runs both programs. You can contact her at 312-695-6200.
Clerkship Coordinator
For more information, please contact Nate Arnold at 312-695-6283.
MD Teaching Opportunities
Passionate teachers are critical to the success of Feinberg medical students. The Augusta Webster Office of Medical Education is looking for Feinberg faculty to inspire future leaders by teaching in our MD Program. We offer teaching formats and schedules that can accommodate your needs.