Division of Neurosurgery
Education
Present Undergraduate commitments
1. Lecturer in the neurosciences block - undergraduate MBChB 3
2. Lecturer to 3rd year undergraduate Physiotherapy & Occupational therapy student
3. Examiner final year undergraduate Surgical examinations
4. Weekly tutorials for 5th and 6th on neurosurgery during Surgical sciences rotation
5. Regular supervisor of elective students both local and international
Postgraduate:
Name of Program: MMed (Neurosurgery)
Code: (0902 875)
Admission and selection requirements
Must be in possession of MB.,Ch.B. (or recognised equivalent) for at least two years.
Must be registered by the Medical and Dental Professional Board of the HPCSA
Recommendations: Post-graduate M.Med. Surgery part 1a/FCS part 1a, ATLS , surgical experience.
Recognition is given for surgical experience from another accredited Surgical or Neurosurgical unit
Program structure and contents
Primary Phase:
Basic sciences:
1. Neuro-anatomy which includes the anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous system; Regional anatomy relevant to neurosurgery. 871 (20)
2. Human physiology including neurophysiology. 872 (20)
3. Anatomical pathology. 873 (20)
Intermediate Phase:
Principles of surgery and Intensive care management. 874(30)
Final Phase:
Neurosurgery 875(270) this relates to the principals and practice of Neurosurgery. The contents include the following major groups of conditions of which it is expected that the pathology, clinical presentations, management and surgery must be known in detail. (congenital, neuro-oncology, neuro-vascular, neuro-spine, neuro-infective, management of pain, in both adults and children.)
Dissertation 808 (120)
Assessment
1.Primary phase:
Assessed by the surgical primary examination of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa and, or the primary examination in Neurosurgery at the Faculty of Health Sciences. It is expected that the student should pass this examination within 18 months of starting the program and cannot progress further until this examination has been passed.
2. Intermediate phase:
Assessed by the intermediate surgical examination of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa and, or the surgical intermediate examination of the faculty of health sciences at the University of Stellenbosch. It is expected that this examination be completed with 3.5 years of registering in the program and cannot progress further until this examination has been passed.
3. Final phase:
Assessment by the final examination in Neurosurgery of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa and, or of the Department of Neurosurgery of the health sciences faculty is taken in the 4th to 5th year of study.
A dissertation of publication standard is an absolute requirement that has to accompany the final phase before the degree is conferred.
Students who fail the examinations are allowed to rewrite as long as they complete the examination within the required period as stipulated above. In certain circumstances depending on approval by the health sciences faculty of the University of Stellenbosch extension may be granted depending on the merits of the case.
Enquiries
Name of programme co-ordinator: Prof HB Hartzenberg
Telephone number: 27-21-9389265
E-mail: hbh@sun.ac.za
Clinical Neuroscience:
The Division of Neurosurgery also forms an integral part of the Clinical Neuroscience unit.
To access the clinical neuroscience data base which is centered on a clinical, neuro-radiological and neuro-pathological data base devoted to teaching and reseach: individual users can register on http://neuroscience.sun.ac.za
