I heard this rumor from a friend who heard it from a program director, which is why this is in the “Gossip” category.  According to him, all neurosurgery residencies are now required to have 6 clinical years instead of 5.  Thus if programs that want to stay a six year program will have no research and programs keeping two years of research will now be eight years long.  This will affect the med school graduating class of 2009.

Has anyone else heard this and any confirmation for or against?

I imagine this is another way of stating that neurosurgery programs are taking over the intern year starting next year.  That will make your concern moot.

Madness - 18 September 2008 11:51 AM

I heard this rumor from a friend who heard it from a program director, which is why this is in the “Gossip” category.  According to him, all neurosurgery residencies are now required to have 6 clinical years instead of 5.  Thus if programs that want to stay a six year program will have no research and programs keeping two years of research will now be eight years long.  This will affect the med school graduating class of 2009.

Has anyone else heard this and any confirmation for or against?

During my away rotation in July at one of the programs out there, the program director had made a presentation regarding changes to neurosurgical programs. He confirmed what you said. The reason is that there is a consensus that the 80 hour work rule has negatively impacted training, and it is felt that the graduates coming out today aren’t at the level that graduates had been before the work hour restrictions. Hence the change. The program director also confirmed the changes about the intern year. Hope that helps friend.

there is a consensus that the 80 hour work rule has negatively impacted training, and it is felt that the graduates coming out today aren’t at the level that graduates had been before the work hour restrictions.

I find that funny since not a single program I’ve been to comes close to 80 hours.