Residency program
Most, but not all, residency programs have some component of basic science or clinical research. Neurosurgeons may pursue additional training in a fellowship, after residency, or sometimes as a senior residents. These fellowships include pediatric neurosurgery, trauma/neurocritical care, functional and stereotactic surgery, surgical neuro-oncology, radiosurgery, neurovascular surgery, Interventional neuroradiology, peripheral nerve, spine surgery, and skull base surgery.
In the U.S., neurosurgery is considered an extremely competitive specialty composed of only 0.6% of all practicing physicians and attracts only the top students of medical schools per year (with a <60% match rate and highest average USMLE scores).