The Department of Neurologic Surgery at the University of Iowa encourages medical students from the University of Iowa, as well as students from other medical schools, to experience four weeks immersed in the Iowa neurosurgical service.
Students are usually senior medical students interested in pursuing a career in neurosurgery with a desire to get more hands-on experience and see how the residency program works.
Sub-Internship Schedule
As a sub-intern, medical students spend time on the adult and pediatric services. Time is split between daily rounding with the residents, scrubbing into operating room cases, working-up patients with on-call residents, and spending time working directly with faculty in clinic.
During rotations, students have the opportunity to give a presentation to the department on a topic of their choice. This is usually a research topic they have spent time working on.
A sample schedule for a typical week as a sub-intern is as follows:
Sub-interns typically take one buddy call shift per week with a junior resident, spend 1-2 days in the OR, and spend 1-2 days in clinic with faculty members. They are expected to attend weekly conferences; current conference schedule is included in the above sample schedule.
Sub-Internship Application
The application for a sub-internship in neurologic surgery is through the Carver College of medicine as a Visiting Student Elective. UIHC does not participate in the VSLO application platform. You can access the application main page and the application itself using the links below.
If you have any questions about the application or the sub-internship itself, please reach out to Kathy Escher (kathy-escher@uiowa.edu).
Iowa Scholarship for Visiting Students in Neurosurgery
We offer financial support to visiting medical students who wish to complete a four-week advanced elective or ‘sub-internship’ rotation with one of the nation’s premier neurosurgical services.
The scholarship is available to medical students who have successfully completed their third year at an LCME-accredited institution. Each year, one or two exceptional students attending medical school outside Iowa are selected for this award, designed to assist with domestic travel and housing expenses during their rotation.
Applications for the Iowa Scholarship for Visiting Students in Neurosurgery must be submitted alongside or after applying for a visiting elective no later than May 15. To apply, please email Kathy Escher (kathy-escher@uiowa.edu) with a personal statement – including a paragraph explaining your interest in a rotation at the University of Iowa – as well as a letter of recommendation from a faculty member at your medical school. More information on the scholarship can be found using the link below.