Message from the Director

The Department of Neurosurgery at Rush University Medical Center is dedicated to excellence in neurosurgical education. Through our team of sub specialized neurosurgical faculty, adjunct faculty, administrative and research staff, we offer a comprehensive curriculum, an abundant operative experience, research and academic opportunities, and a firm foundation for future success. Our clinical rotations cover all fields of neurosurgery giving each resident a broad surgical education. Our elective and research experience gives our residents time to develop subspecialty academic interests and pursue innovation through research throughout their career.

Our department has finished another year of unprecedented growth. The last two years have marked the busiest years in our program’s history. This has been largely fueled by additional dedicated academic faculty, and the growth of programs in vascular neurosurgery, spine surgery, and brain tumor surgery. Although we are pleased by the growth in volume, our primary focus will always remain on quality. University Health Consortium (UHC) data on outcomes has routinely placed some of our programs among the top performers in outcome in the nation.

In addition to the solid foundation of our current program, we look forward to new additions and developments here at Rush. Our hospital campus has begun the transformation process that will lead to an additional new state of the art hospital and outpatient facilities. In the new hospital, our current 17 bed neuroscience ICU will be expanded to 24 beds, and our OR capacity will increase to 6 neurosurgical OR suites including intra-operative MRI. In addition to recent additions including an updated neurosurgical endovascular suite and Trilogy stereotactic radiosurgery, this new hospital will make certain that the Rush Department of Neurosurgery has the tools needed for future success in patient care and resident education.

As a team, we offer an excellent experience in operative neurosurgery, a firm background in neuroscience, a commitment to innovative research, and a dedication to professionalism. Our goal at Rush is to train tomorrow’s leaders in neurosurgery.

Vincent C. Traynelis, MD
Professor Program Director