Fellowship Program in General Neurosurgery

MISSION:

The General Neurosurgery fellowship program at Lakeland Regional Health has the goal to provide the trainee an exceptional exposure to a variety of neurosurgical disorders with a specific emphasis on the application of skull base surgical techniques to ordinary and extraordinary tumor, vascular lesions, as well as the surgical treatment of complex spine disorder from traumatic injury to degenerative spinal conditions.

Why Train at Lakeland Regional Health?

We are a community-focused program centered on developing academic surgeons who will be leaders within their specialty and use the most up-to-date practices and evidence-based medicine.

  • Lakeland Regional Health has the second busiest emergency department in the entire country.
  • Long-standing, state-designated Level II Trauma Center and the only designated trauma center for Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties
  • Faculty with diverse training and background from some of the premier training institutions around the country
  • Training is patient-centered with a strong emphasis on clinical and technical training
  • Our fellows treat the entire patient and are “physicians that also operate”
  • Lakeland Regional Health named on Forbes 2022 “Best-In-State Employers” list

The 910-bed Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center is the primary clinical site for the General Neurosurgery Fellowship Program and provides extensive opportunities for fellows to gain hands-on clinical experience with an underserved population that has a large diversity of pathology and medical needs.

The objectives of this fellowship are:

  • To provide sufficient clinical experience in general neurosurgery.
  • To support the clinical experience with applied research suitable for promoting an academic career.
  • To provide an opportunity to publish and establish expertise in a sub-specialty area.
  • To gain experience in teaching students and residents diagnostic and operative techniques.
  • To gain experience as a member of the neurosurgical team.
  • To gain experience in Clinical neurosurgical research with a specific emphasis on skull base surgery.

Curriculum & Didactics

Clinical Program: The General Neurosurgery Fellowship is focused on clinical training in the assessment, surgery, pre-and post-operative management, and long-term-follow-up of patients with complex oncologic and vascular lesions, as well as patients suffering of degenerative spinal conditions, spinal cord injuries and oncological lesion to the spine. The fellow will assess patients in the hospital, ER and office before and after surgery, participate in decision-making, participate in all operative cases, participate in post-operative management of hospitalized patients, and participate in discussions regarding adjuvant therapies at the multidisciplinary boards.

The fellow will participate as an integral member of the multi-disciplinary team that incorporates a neurooncologist, radiation oncologist, neuroradiologist, trauma surgeons, and critical care physicians. The fellow will participate in a robust educational program with multiple in-person and online educational conferences.

Educational Program

The fellow will participate in the weekly educational conferences at Lakeland Regional Health and at the University of South Florida such as: Grand Rounds, cerebrovascular conference, spine conference, neurooncological tumor board, Journal Club, Mortality and Morbidity conference.
The General Neurosurgery Fellowship is designed to prepare the fellow for an academic career. The fellow will develop and deliver presentations on Skull base or spine-related topics for local, national, and international neurosurgical audiences. The fellow will demonstrate skull base surgical techniques to neurosurgeons at all levels of training using the University of South Florida Microsurgery Laboratory in Tampa. They will also serve as a faculty member for the annual Masters’ Course in Skull Base Surgery and will be expected to participate.

Research Program

The research component of the General Neurosurgery fellowship year is both clinical and basic. Basic research focuses on development of innovative surgical approaches or refinement of existing approaches supported by cadaveric dissection in the University of South Florida Microsurgery Laboratory in Tampa. Analysis and publications of clinical cases and series are also a mandatory component of the research program, which runs concurrently with the clinical program. In preparation for an academic career, preparation, and publication of peer-reviewed and solicited writings are mandatory. Grant submission is encouraged but optional.

  1. At the completion of the fellowship, trainees will be able to provide advanced clinical and surgical care (when appropriate) in a multitude of neurosurgical disorders, such as in skull base surgery, cerebrovascular disease, and spinal pathologies.
  2. The fellowship will provide trainees with organized, comprehensive, supervised, full-time educational experience in the field of general neurosurgery. This should include comprehensive patient care, diagnostic modalities, the performance of surgical procedures, post-operative care and the integration of non-operative and surgical therapies into clinical patient management.
  3. Fellows will receive broad exposure to skull base, cerebrovascular diseases and spinal disorders, which will include training in clinical evaluation and selection for both operative and non-operative management.
  4. At the completion of the fellowship, trainees will be able to participate in and lead clinical research, suitable for promoting an academic career in neurosurgery. Fellows will be evaluated on their scholarly output including publications and presentations on local, regional, and national levels.
  5. At the completion of the fellowship, trainees will be prepared to pursue post- fellowship employment at an academic institution or tertiary-specialty institutions. Fellows will be competitive applicants for positions and will be able to secure employment with an institution of preference.
    • Program faculty will provide mentorship and guidance throughout the application process. The Program will track fellows’ job placement following residency to assess overall efficacy of this goal.

Evaluation Process

The General neurosurgery fellow will be evaluated bi-annually by the Fellowship Director with input from the faculty members of all specialty departments. The fellow will evaluate the fellowship director and the overall program at the completion of the fellowship year.

Weekly Schedule

The fellow will spend 3 days a week in the operating room learning surgical techniques, this will guarantee an exposure of >250 cases in a year.
One day will be spent in the outpatient clinic focusing on the pre and postoperative management of patients.
The fellow will dedicate one day a week for academic/research activities.

Accreditation:

The program is unaccredited.

Certification:

After successfully completing the program, graduates receive a certificate from Lakeland Regional Health Graduate Medical Education to recognize their time with us.

Program Leadership

Croci_square copy

Davide
Croci, MD

Read Bio

Dr. Davide Marco Croci, born and raised in Switzerland, is fluent in four languages: Italian, French, German, and English. He completed two very competitive fellowship programs in both complex spine and complex cranial neurosurgery. Along with his exquisite clinical skill, his academic credentials are equally. He was named as a member of the North American Skull Base Society, The Congress of Neurological Surgeons, and The European Association of Neurosurgical Societies.

Specialties:

  • Complex Cranial Surgery
  • Aneurysm Surgery
  • Complex Spine Surgery
  • Skull Base and Brain Tumors
  • Cranial and Spinal Surgery Outcomes

Program Benefits and Highlights

Lakeland Regional Health offers a competitive benefits package. Click here to view the benefits package provided to LRH team members.

Beyond our standard tuition reimbursement program, retirement plans, paid time off and a comprehensive health and benefit plan, we also offer the following extended benefits for residents of our Graduate Medical Education Program:

  • Meal subsidy for on-call residents
  • Educational stipend for professional development
  • LRH GME Fitness Center

About Lakeland

Lakeland, the largest city in Polk County, has kept its small-town personality over the years and yet continues to become a vibrant and growing city. Conveniently located between Tampa and Orlando, Lakelanders have many ways to celebrate the climate, culture and opportunities available both in the local area and throughout Central Florida. World-class shopping, major sports franchises and entertainment venues in Tampa and Orlando and beaches on both the east and west coasts of Florida are all a quick drive away.

How to Apply

Start Date: 
July 1

Eligibility:
US and International medical graduates who fulfill the following perquisites:

  • Diploma from US medical school or ECFMG Certificate
  • Full Medical licensure in the home country
  • Completion of a neurosurgery residency program
  • English proficiency sufficient for patient care

 

Medical Licensure:
Fellows will need a Teaching Medical licensure from the Florida Board of Medicine

Submit Applications Here
Please include 3 letters of recommendation.

Contact Us

diaz

Program Administrator

Elizabeth Diaz

863-687-1100 Ext. 1531

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