The American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS)

1. The American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) Carolina Acosta Administrator

2. ABNS Staff • Mary Louise Sanderson – Executive Director • Carolina Acosta – Administrator • Erica Cleveland – MOC Coordinator • Shantel Santellana

3. Annual Survey of Residents in Place (Internship) Neurosurgery 1 NS 2 NS 3 NS 4 NS 5 NS 6 NS 7+

4. Addendum • All residents entering the program • All residents leaving the program

5. Annual Survey of Residents in Place (Internship) Neurosurgery 1 NS 2 NS 3 NS 4 NS 5 NS 6 NS 7+

6. Outside Rotations Dear ABNS, I am sending Dr. Smithson to Boston Children’s Hospital for pediatric neurosurgery training under Dr. Michael Scott July through December of this year. Please grant 6 months elective credit for this outside rotation. Sincerely yours,

7. Annual Survey of Residents in Place Fellows July 2010 – June 2011 List all fellows who will be training in your program but are not filling one of your own RRC allotted slots. Include dates and type of fellowship, i.e. spine or pediatric. Guillermo Lopez-Gonzalez, MD: endovascular neurosurgery 1/12-12/13 Eric Westheimer, MD: neuro-critical care 7/11-6/12 Sign and return the original to the Board by June 1

8. J1 VISAS Letters • Fellow’s Name & ECFMG # • Name of Fellowship • Director of Fellowship • Timeframe (1 year? Possibility of a 2nd? 2 years?) & Start Date • Brief Description of Fellowship • Where to send letter (to you? to Kathleen Kaufman at the ECFMG?)

9. Letters to Fellows • Specifically, we emphasize that time spent as a fellow, rather than enrolled as a resident, does not apply toward meeting training requirements for ABNS certification either now or from a retrospective viewpoint in the future. • Likewise, fellowship training after residency, while highly commendable, does not extend the five-year time period allowed for completion of the certification process. In addition, no cases done during the timeframe of a fellowship may be used to fulfill the ABNS requirement for practice data.

10. Previous Training Dear ABNS, Dr. Hoo was full trained as a neurosurgeon at Kitasato University School of Medicine in Japan before entering my residency program. Enclosed are recommendations from his program and confirming certificates. Please consider granting retroactive credit toward completion of residency. Sincerely yours,

11. Transferring Residents Dear ABNS, Dr. Whang has just transferred here from the University of Alaska neurosurgical residency. Enclosed is a letter from his Program Director granting 36 months neurosurgery, 3 neurology and 3 fundamental clinical skills credit for his training there. I am accepting only 24 months neurosurgery, plus the neurology and FCS. Sincerely yours,

12. Primary Examination • The Primary Examination is open to all residents in neurosurgical training programs accredited by the ACGME. • Any resident in such a program may take it for self-assessment or credit toward certification as determined by his or her program director. • Individuals beginning neurosurgical residency training after June 30, 1998 must pass the Examination for credit during residency in order to complete training. Those who do not are not considered by the ABNS to be in the certification process.

13. Primary Examination I will take the Primary Examination for: • Credit toward Certification • Self-Assessment I am making a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act: • Yes • No Program Director’s Signature Check for the Application Fee: $485.00 Deadline for Receipt: December 2 Deadline for Changes: December 9

14. Primary Examination 2011 • Primary & Cognitive Examinations - March 12 2012 • Primary & Cognitive Examinations - March 17 2013 • Primary & Cognitive Examinations - March 16

15. Graduates • Graduate Evaluations • Narrative Summary by Program Director • Graduate Rotations • Graduate Addresses

16. The primary purpose of the ABNS is to conduct examinations of candidates who seek certification and issue Certificates to those who meet its educational training and practice qualification requirements, and satisfactorily complete its written and oral examinations. In addition, the ABNS, with the RRC and ACGME, works to improve the standards of training in neurosurgical residency programs throughout the United States.

17. Oral Exam Application Process • In order to apply, candidates had to successfully complete all residency requirements, including passing the written Primary Examination.

18. Oral Exam Application Process • Graduates have 5 years to be scheduled to take examination. • Deadline based on calendar year, not academic • Waivers routinely granted • Application process takes anywhere from 12-18 months If a candidate falls out of the process, he/she must retake and re-pass the written Primary Examination (given every March by residency programs)

19. Oral Exam Application Process • Scaled application fee: 0-36 months $1000, 37-48 months $2000 • Submission and approval of Practice Data • Training reference letters (residency/fellowships/outside rotations) • Current/Past practice reference letters • Verification of licensure and hospital privileges • List of all published medical papers/books

20. Oral Exam Application Process • Once approved candidates have three chances to pass the exam before having to restart the process. • After first failure, they have 2 years to retake • After second failure, they have another 2 years to retake • After third failure, they must re-pass written Primary Examination and reapply

21. Oral Examination Process • Given over 3 days in May and November in Houston, TX • Five 1/2 day sessions (3 - 1 hour sessions) • Typically 15 candidates per session (though at times 18) • Generally, notified ~5-6 months prior to examination • Can drop up to 1 month before exam without penalty (assuming still within their 5 yr period)

22. Oral Examination Process • Examinees are notified approximately 3 weeks after the examination • Program Directors are sent copies of the pass/fail letters

23. Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Through its Maintenance of Certification program, the ABNS helps Diplomates to keep up with changes in the specialty and improve their patient care.

24. Maintenance of Certification (MOC) • All Diplomates certified as of 1999 are required to participate in Maintenance of Certification • One of the requirements of MOC is taking and passing the computer-based Cognitive Exam

25. ABNS Updates