University of Cincinnati Medical Center-College of Medicine Program

Program Identity & Fit

The University of Cincinnati Neurosurgery program is a high-acuity academic residency built around one of the nation's most sophisticated Level 1 trauma and comprehensive stroke platforms, with subspecialty divisions spanning cerebrovascular, neuro-oncology, skull base, spine, epilepsy, pediatric neurosurgery, and neurofunctional surgery across UC Medical Center, Cincinnati Children's, and West Chester Hospital. The department's identity is anchored in advanced multimodality neuromonitoring, spreading depolarization research (a nationally recognized niche led by Dr. Hartings' group), and a dedicated cadaveric microsurgery lab (Goodyear), signaling a strong bench-to-bedside translational orientation. Career progression is explicitly fellowship-oriented, with in-house post-residency pathways in complex spine, endovascular surgery, and neurotrauma that groom graduates for academic leadership roles such as neurotrauma director. The program values residents who can engage seriously with clinical research infrastructure (active trials, quality improvement, manuscript output) alongside high-volume complex cranial, spinal, and vascular case exposure.