Residents in UB’s neurosurgery program achieved among the 10 highest scores on the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) primary examination five times over the past 21 years, according to data compiled and released by the ABNS.

UB’s program was one of 14 resident programs nationwide cited by ABNS for achieving among the 10 highest scores on the exam, which is administered each March to residents in accredited neurosurgery residency programs.

“Our excellent ranking is a testament to the exceptional quality of residents that participate in our program,” said Elad Levy, chair of the Department of Neurosurgery in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, “as well as the innovative research conducted by our faculty and hard work of our entire team at UB Neurosurgery.”

Other programs cited for consistently high scores on the exam included those at the Mayo Clinic, Duke University, Washington University, Stanford University, University of Miami, University at California-San Francisco and others.

The primary examination is an important step for a resident to become a neurosurgeon. Overall, residents spend seven years in training after medical school to become neurosurgeons. It is designed to evaluate knowledge and provide direction for continued learning. The exam covers information on basic sciences, critical care, fundamental clinical skills, neuroanatomy, neurosurgery and other topics. It is used by many training programs as a measure of their teaching skills.

“We are one of only 101 programs in the country and to rate in the top 10 on the exams is something for us to be proud of,” said Mary Ann Kedron, the program’s academic administrator. 

The neurosurgery residency training program is one of UB’s 60 residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Approximately 780 residents and fellows represent the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences throughout the hospitals of Western New York.