Training Program

The Southern Philippines Medical Center Neurosurgery Training Program is a Philippine Board of Neurological Surgery (PBNS)-accredited program. It is also the apex DOH-deisignated Advanced Comprehensive Brain and Spine Care Center in Mindanao.

Clinical Neurosurgery Posting for Residents

Level I residents rotate on a weekly schedule at the ER, ICU and Wards, and out-patient clinic at SPMC.

During this level, trainees learn the basic principles in Neurosurgery. The resident is expected to develop clinical skills in recognition and management of neurosurgical emergencies.  They are expected to master the pre- and post-operative management of basic neurosurgical principles focused in trauma.

The trainees on this year level develop basic surgical skills in doing ventricular access and spinal tap procedures. They are taught basic opening and closing techniques in craniotomies, emergency burr holes / trephination procedures, and evacuation of extradural hematomas.

The level II resident is in charge of neurosurgical urgencies (vascular, infection, and non-complicated hydrocephalus among others). He also supervises the outpatient clinic.

The level III resident directly supervises the level I and II residents. He is in-charge of the neurosurgical ICU and critical care management, and operates on common elective procedures.

The level IV resident is designated as the senior resident, which is primarily responsible for the overall non-surgical management of cases.  He operates on uncommon elective procedures.

The level V resident serves as the chief resident. He oversees the entire service but has primary designation of deciding on the surgical management of cases. He operates on complex and specialized neurosurgical procedures.

The residents have a longitudinal referral system to the senior and chief residents, and ultimately, the faculty assigned. 

The training officer (alongside the training program coordinator acting as assistant training officer) has oversight supervision of both surgical and nonsurgical management of cases including their outcomes. All of these are ultimately presented and discussed with the program director.

Residents also rotate in different neurosurgical subspecialties during their training. These include Neurology, Neuropathology, Neuroradiology, Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery (Philippine Gamma Knife Center), Endovascular and Interventional Neurosurgery, and Spine.

Daily Schedule of Activities of Residents

Clinical Rotations