As a resident of the Neurosurgery training program, you’ll spend seven years training alongside our excellent surgeons and researchers. Our training program consists of a one-year internship, four clinical training years (this includes neurology, neuropathology, pediatric neurosurgery, endovascular neurosurgery, neuroradiology, and radiosurgery rotations), one year of protected research and a dedicated chief year with a transition to subspecialty neurosurgery practice.
Neurosurgical Oncology
Our program provides outstanding patient and family-centered care. We are recognized for our development of innovative therapies and surgical technologies for brain tumors. Neurosurgery residents are exposed to cutting-edge technology for the microsurgical and endoscopic management of brain tumors. Residents learn both endonasal and intraventricular neuro-endoscopic techniques for the management of skull based and intraventricular tumors. Residents also learn from the multidisciplinary management of patients with malignant brain tumors with a weekly Brain Tumor Board held across the three main campuses of the Mount Sinai Health System (Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai West). Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is now available within the Mount Sinai Health System for the treatment of certain brain tumors that have relapsed despite surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
The skull base program is a multidisciplinary group of neurosurgeons and ENT surgeons offers a new and less invasive form of surgery to patients who require surgery for skull base tumors. Neurosurgery residents learn this approach and are taught the surgical approaches and treatments necessary for skull base surgery including minimally invasive microsurgery, endoscopy, and neuronavigation.
The Pituitary and Parasellar Tumors Treatment Program is a multi-disciplinary group of neurosurgeons and endocrinologists that specialize in caring for patients with pituitary tumors. Residents learn advanced surgical and medical techniques for treating pituitary and parasellar tumors.
In the Spine Tumor Program, complex instrumentation and minimally invasive procedures are used to treat patients with metastatic spine tumors. Neurosurgery residents participate in the individualized surgical care of each patient and are exposed to all spine techniques and technologies to provide state-of-the art care for spine tumor patients.
Spine Neurosurgery
Mount Sinai offers one of the most comprehensive and high-volume spine surgery training experiences in the country. Neurosurgery residents receive extensive exposure to the full spectrum of spinal disorders, from degenerative spine disease and trauma to complex deformity, tumors, and revision surgery. Training includes open, minimally invasive, and robotic-assisted techniques, as well as the use of advanced intraoperative navigation and augmented reality systems.
Residents rotate through multiple spine-focused clinical sites, including The Mount Sinai Hospital, a major referral center for complex spine cases, and Mount Sinai West, a high-volume hub for minimally invasive spine surgery. The program provides early and progressive operative responsibility under the guidance of faculty who are national leaders in spinal neurosurgery and clinical research.
Vascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
Mount Sinai offers neurosurgery residents unparalleled training in vascular and endovascular neurosurgery, grounded in a robust clinical volume and cutting-edge research infrastructure. The Vascular Malformations Research Center serves as a national and international leader in understanding and treating complex vascular malformations, including arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs), venous and lymphatic malformations, and aneurysms. Residents benefit from access to one of the largest patient databases worldwide, enabling exposure to a broad spectrum of rare and challenging cases. This immersive environment fosters expertise in both open microsurgical and advanced endovascular interventions, with opportunities to participate in pioneering clinical trials, translational studies, and novel device development, including tissue engineering and multiomic approaches that drive personalized vascular care.
Training at Mount Sinai uniquely integrates comprehensive stroke care through the Cerebrovascular Center and the Mobile Interventional Stroke Team, both recognized for innovations that improve outcomes in acute ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Residents gain hands-on experience with endovascular thrombectomy for large and distal vessel occlusions, carotid angioplasty and stenting, and minimally invasive clot evacuation using advanced technologies such as the Apollo/Artemis and Aurora® Surgiscope systems. These clinical opportunities are complemented by Mount Sinai’s leadership in national and international stroke trials, allowing residents to engage deeply with evolving endovascular stroke therapies and real-world clinical research, preparing them to deliver state-of-the-art cerebrovascular care.
Mount Sinai also leads in the diagnosis and management of less commonly addressed vascular conditions, including pulsatile tinnitus and cerebrospinal fluid flow abnormalities related to vascular dynamics. Research efforts focus on refining advanced imaging protocols—such as dynamic 3D and 4D cerebral angiography—and optimizing interventions for venous sinus stenosis, dural fistulas, and related disorders. For residents with a strong interest in vascular imaging and intervention, the program offers a dedicated year on the diagnostic neuroradiology service, enhancing expertise in cerebral angiography and endovascular decision-making. This comprehensive, multidisciplinary training environment uniquely equips Mount Sinai neurosurgery residents with the clinical skills, research acumen, and innovative mindset essential for leadership in vascular and endovascular neurosurgery.
Functional and Restorative Neurosurgery
The Center for Neuromodulation focuses on the treatment of medically refractory movement disorders with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is also performed for the treatment of generalized epilepsy and chronic depression. Mount Sinai physicians are pioneering the use of DBS for obsessive-compulsive disorders, chronic depression, Tourette syndrome, and epilepsy. They are also using motor cortical stimulation to enhance motor recovery after stroke and treat atypical facial pain and secondary dystonia. Programs in neural transplantation and in vivo gene therapy are in their planning stages.
Neurosurgery residents are intimately involved in the pre- and postoperative daily care of all inpatients. They gain an understanding of advanced stereotactic techniques including the use of frameless DBS lead implants and intraoperative single-cell microelectrode recording. Residents participate in all aspects of the DBS procedures including frame application, surgical planning, patient positioning, and the interpretation of physiological parameters.
Epilepsy Surgery
Mount Sinai offers exceptional epilepsy training for neurosurgery residents, combining high surgical volume with cutting-edge technology and a multidisciplinary approach. Residents gain hands-on experience with the full spectrum of epilepsy procedures, including temporal lobectomies, lesionectomies, laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), responsive neurostimulation (RNS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), stereo-EEG (sEEG), and a high volume of robotic-assisted surgeries. As a leader in RNS research and innovation, Mount Sinai provides residents with unique opportunities to contribute to advancements in neuromodulation for drug-resistant epilepsy. Working alongside world-class neurosurgeons, epileptologists, and neuropsychologists, trainees develop expertise in surgical planning, intraoperative mapping, and minimally invasive approaches, preparing them to lead comprehensive epilepsy surgery programs.
Peripheral Nerve Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery residents at Mount Sinai receive focused training in peripheral nerve surgery through dedicated rotations with the Department’s Director of Peripheral Nerve, gaining hands-on experience in the diagnosis, surgical management, and reconstruction of a wide range of nerve pathologies. This includes brachial plexus and lumbosacral plexus injuries, entrapment syndromes, nerve sheath tumors, and nerve transfers for functional restoration. Residents are exposed to advanced microsurgical techniques and intraoperative nerve monitoring, and participate in multidisciplinary care involving neurology, orthopedics, and rehabilitation medicine.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
The Stereotactic Radiosurgery Service at Mount Sinai Health System and NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst collaborates closely with the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics, as well as the Cancer Center, to provide state-of-the-art, minimally invasive treatment for brain and spine tumors and vascular malformations. This multidisciplinary program utilizes both Novalis shaped beam surgery and Gamma Knife technology to deliver highly precise stereotactic radiation to cranial and extracranial targets. Neurosurgery residents are actively involved at both sites, participating in frame placement, treatment planning, treatment delivery, and the clinical and radiographic follow-up of patients, as well as post-treatment care. Residents gain hands-on experience in integrating radiosurgery into comprehensive care for neuro-oncologic and neurovascular conditions.
Neurotrauma
Mount Sinai provides unparalleled neurotrauma training for neurosurgery residents through its close partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, a Level 1 Trauma Center, and Mount Sinai Morningside, offering a high-volume, diverse patient population with complex head and spine injuries. Residents gain extensive hands-on experience managing acute traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), and other neurotrauma cases in a multidisciplinary, fast-paced environment. The program’s strong research focus on clinical outcomes and novel acute interventions further enriches training, with ongoing studies exploring the effects of coagulopathy and platelet dysfunction on TBI, the impact of acute alcohol intoxication on injury outcomes, and the benefits of ultra-early surgical decompression for SCI. Residents have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge multi-center trials, including global neurotrauma outcome studies and innovative device and biologic therapies, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to advance the field of neurotrauma care and improve patient outcomes.
Pediatrics
Mount Sinai offers exceptional pediatric neurosurgery training through its multidisciplinary programs at the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital and its affiliates, where residents care for children with the full spectrum of neurosurgical conditions. These range from congenital malformations of the brain and spine to pediatric brain tumors to epilepsy, craniofacial disorders, and complex spine pathologies. Under the mentorship of nationally recognized pediatric neurosurgeons, trainees gain hands-on experience in advanced techniques such as minimally invasive endoscopic surgery, minimally invasive epilepsy surgery, skull base surgery and microsurgical treatment of pediatric vascular lesions. Close collaboration with pediatric neuroendovascular surgery, neurology, oncology, craniofacial surgery, plastic surgery, genetics, and critical care teams ensures comprehensive exposure, while opportunities to participate in innovative clinical trials and translational research prepare residents to become leaders in the care of children with neurosurgical disease.
Neuroradiology
Morning conferences are held twice per week so that the entire resident and staff group can review all service films. The Neuroradiology Division is equipped with seven clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, more than eight advanced computerized tomography (CT) scanners, dual bi-plane rotational neuroangiographic suites, and three in-section sites for advanced post-processing of image data.
Neurophysiology
All neurosurgical operating rooms have equipment for intraoperative monitoring (IOM) which is used to monitor patients’ sensory and motor evoked potentials. Members of our intraoperative monitoring team perform microelectrode recordings of single units in patients with movement disorders who are undergoing surgery for the implantation of deep brain stimulating (DBS) electrodes. Residents are trained in clinical neurophysiology by our IOM physicians. The IOM program runs a laboratory, housing basic neurophysiological and neurological studies.
Mount Sinai BioDesign
Neurosurgery residents at Mount Sinai have a unique opportunity, to gain hands-on experience in medical device innovation through Mount Sinai BioDesign, an incubator that transforms physician insights into commercially viable technologies. Working alongside engineers, scientists, and industry partners, residents participate in every stage of development—from identifying unmet clinical needs and designing prototypes to refining devices, protecting intellectual property, and bringing products to market. Founded by Joshua B. Bederson, MD, and led by Scientific Director Benjamin I. Rapoport, MD, PhD, BioDesign specializes in minimally invasive surgical technologies and has developed devices for both open and endovascular neurosurgery. Strong industry partnerships enable rapid testing and adoption, equipping residents with the tools, mentorship, and real-world experience to become physician-innovators who shape the future of patient care.
Brain-Computer Interface
At Mount Sinai, neurosurgery residents are directly involved in two of the most groundbreaking brain-computer interface (BCI) programs in the world, led by Thomas Oxley, MD, PhD, and Benjamin Rapoport, MD, PhD. Dr. Oxley’s Stentrode pioneered the first U.S. implantation of a permanently implanted, endovascular BCI, performed here at Mount Sinai, opening new possibilities for restoring communication in patients with severe paralysis without the need for open brain surgery. Dr. Rapoport’s Layer 7 Cortical Interface pushes the boundaries of neural mapping, offering unmatched resolution of brain surface activity and recently achieving its first-ever extra-operative use in our operating rooms. Through active participation in these programs, residents train in a setting where the future of neurotechnology is being created in real time.