In the third year, medical students have the option of choosing neurosurgery as their three-week elective during their required surgery clerkship. The neurosurgery elective expands student skills through exposure to the outpatient office setting, as well as the acute-care hospital setting. This includes operating room essentials of neurosurgery.

The goal of the program is to familiarize students with the diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system and spine disease or trauma which includes the interpretation of diagnostic imaging studies. The student will gain further understanding of neurosurgical diagnosis by performing neurological exams from the standpoint of neurosurgery.