All members of the division participate in undergraduate education by supervising clerkship and elective students, involvement in OSCE examinations, and teaching clinical skills during the formal transition period from lecture and seminar-based studies to the clinical clerkship. Several division members undertake a heavier formal teaching role in years 1 and 2 by providing undergraduate lectures and supervising cased based learning groups in the neuroscience curriculum.

External clerks

Medical students from other universities frequently choose to take their electives at the University of Ottawa through our Division of Neurosurgery as part of their surgical clerkships. Candidates are required to apply through the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Medicine and can do so anytime throughout the year.

Please contact:
Electives Coordinator at [email protected]
Undergraduate Medical Education electives page

Additional information

You may also find more information on the University of Ottawa medical degree program page.

The Division is affiliated with the Medical School at the University of Ottawa. Medical students are welcomed by the Division of Paediatric Neurosurgery for Observerships, Selectives and Electives.

Contact the Office of Education Undergraduate Program Administrator for more info.

The primary goal of the Neurosurgery Residency Program of the University of Ottawa is to train consultant neurosurgeons that are capable of dealing with the broad range of problems encountered in neurosurgical practice. This training is provided in an environment that allows residents to meet and exceed the objectives set out by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada while stimulating and supporting their interest in academic inquiry and reflection.

This is a six-year Program which enables residents to acquire all the necessary knowledge and skills to meet all the training requirements of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in the Specialty of Neurosurgery and to obtain the Certification of the College.

The training comprises a mandatory, initial Surgical Foundations program which encompasses the core foundations of surgical competencies. This program concludes with the successful completion of the Surgical Foundations Examination in the PGY2 year.

Resident training at the University of Ottawa is conducted with special emphasis in the following clinical areas:

• Oncology: The surgical and non-surgical treatment of brain, spine, and peripheral nerve tumours with special emphasis on skull base surgery including endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery and acoustic neuroma surgery.

• Cerebrovascular: Endovascular and microsurgical management of cerebral aneurysms, vascular malformations and intracranial/extracranial occlusive vascular disease.

• Pediatric Neurosurgery: Management of pediatric brain tumours, congenital malformations of the nervous system, hydrocephalus, and trauma to the child’s central nervous system

• Trauma: The surgical and non-surgical management of head/spine trauma and peripheral nerve injuries

• Spine: Treatment of degenerative, neoplastic and traumatic conditions of the spine in collaboration with the Division of Orthopedic Surgery.

• Minimally Invasive Neurosurgical Techniques: Advanced minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of skull base, craniovertebral junction, brain parenchymal and spine lesions

Application Information

• Application to our residency program must be made through the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS).

The Pediatric Neurosurgery curriculum for the Residents from the University of Ottawa Neurosurgery program is delivered by the Division at CHEO. This comprises rotation for periods of one to three months, with a maximum of six months during the entire Residency training.

Residents from Pediatrics and Pediatric Neurology on occasion rotate through Pediatric Neurosurgery and the Division regularly welcomes elective placements for residents of other programs.