Leo M. Davidoff Department of Neurological Surgery
Neurological Surgery Residency Program Virtual Tour
Serving the diverse patient population of the Bronx, Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley, our Neurological Surgery Residency Program exposes trainees to a high volume of cases and a wide range of pathologies, all varying in complexity. Our program is known for its dedication to education and research, and is guided by a mission to improve patient care through innovation, quality and technology.
Emad Eskandar, MD, MBA, Chairman, Neurological Surgery
Welcome to our program
The philosophical foundation of our training program centers on our faculty’s commitment to fostering and developing our residents’ careers. That constitutes a major strength of the Montefiore Einstein experience and its neurosurgical training. Our educational program is developed around a comprehensive surgical and educational curriculum that includes grand rounds, subspecialty conferences, cadaveric courses and interdisciplinary specialty and research conferences in both the clinical and basic neurosciences.
Our operative education is based on a groundbreaking approach to residents’ training in the operating room using innovative, educational software technology and training modalities that allow for a standardized methodology to identify individual strengths and weaknesses. From that standardized platform, we can design individualized modules that optimize surgical training to meet the required educational standards, while also catering to each physician’s unique needs.
Residents finish our program with the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to pursue their field of choice. Our commitment to our residents continues beyond the training years, and our faculty continues to be a guiding influence on their careers. Thank you for your interest in the Neurological Surgery Residency Program at Montefiore Einstein. We look forward to contributing to your success, and we strongly believe that our training program can provide you the tools needed to facilitate your goal of becoming a leader in neurosurgery.
Vijay Agarwal, MD, Assistant Director, Neurological Surgery Residency Program, and David Altschul, MD, Associate Residency Program Director, Neurological Surgery Residency Program
Why our program could be right for you
While providing care for Montefiore Einstein’s more than 1.4 million patients, residents gain broad surgical experience with some of the most unique and complex cases. Residents typically manage patients from low socioeconomic backgrounds who don’t have access to primary care, and, in many cases, their pathology is more progressed than average upon initial presentation. Our residents join a department that’s currently expanding, with the addition of new faculty and the active hiring of new attendings.
What sets Montefiore Einstein apart
At Montefiore Einstein, we are guided by a mission to heal, to teach, to discover and to advance the health of the communities we serve. Comprising 11 member hospitals and more than 300 specialty care sites, Montefiore Health System provides highly specialized, coordinated care for diverse populations in the New York region, across the country and globally.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, home to nearly 1,000 students in its MD, PhD and combined MD/PhD programs, is one of the nation’s preeminent centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. Through the joint efforts of Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Einstein is able to advance research and accelerate discoveries, benefiting patients and ensuring access to state-of-the-art healthcare for all.
- Montefiore’s medical specialties ranked as top 1% in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
- Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein (CHAM) recognized as one of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine ranked a top 50 “Best Medical School for Research in the Country, 2023” by U.S. News & World Report
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Einstein $192M+ in research funding in 2023, placing Einstein in the top 35 among 154 schools of medicine
- 850+ clinical trials
Catherine C. Skae, MD, Vice President and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education
Graduate Medical Education at Montefiore Einstein
Representing one of the top 10 largest medical and surgical training programs in the country, Montefiore Health System and our Albert Einstein College of Medicine provide postgraduate clinical training to more than 1,400 residents and fellows per year. Clinicians across Montefiore Einstein’s numerous educational programs actively mentor and cultivate a new generation of healthcare leaders.
Our mission to improve access and quality of care for our diverse community draws residents and fellows from top medical, dental and PA schools from around the world. We develop and expand programs designed to advance teamwork, communication and decision-making, and our progressive focus on comprehensive care provides an ideal training ground for our residents and fellows.
To make the process of working and training at Montefiore Einstein more seamless, we offer a variety of services for our house staff, physician assistants and interns, including assistance with credentialing and orientation, institutional resources, visas, contracts, HR documents, payroll, notary services and specialty training and certifications.
Montefiore Einstein by the numbers
7.7 million+
patient interactions annually
1.1 million+
patients annually, representing the largest network in the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley
200+
specialty care locations, with more coming soon
40,000+
employees
Home to notable programs and our Centers of Excellence
Moses Campus is a quaternary care hospital, which receives transfer patients with the most complex neurosurgical cases. Moses is home to a dedicated neurointensive care unit and a joint commission-accredited advanced comprehensive stroke center. As a premier academic medical center serving the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley, Montefiore Einstein offers its postgraduate trainees comprehensive exposure to a broad diversity of patients and pathologies. The diverse range of experience available prepares our postgraduate trainees for future careers in their chosen field, be it in the research or clinical and/or non-clinical setting.
The vision for this program is to improve patient care and outcomes through innovation, technology and quality.
David Altschul, MD
Associate Director, Neurological Surgery Residency Program
An ambulatory surgery center and specialty care location
Home to our Pain Center, Hutchinson Campus is also the location of the Montefiore Spine Center, an innovative and comprehensive spine program that combines rehabilitation and physical medicine, orthopedics and neurosurgery. A multidisciplinary, patient-centered facility, Hutchinson Campus is where all ambulatory spine surgeries are performed. Together with our Integrated Spine Rotation Program, we have developed a unique educational environment, wherein Orthopedics and Neurological Surgery Residents work as a team to care for all surgical spine patients under a unified clinical service composed of neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons.
A world-renowned faculty
Residents
Joshua Benton, MD
Neurological Surgery Resident, PGY3
Sertac Kirnaz, MD
Neurological Surgery Resident, PGY3
Anna Nia, MD, PhD
Neurological Surgery Resident, PGY2
Kainaat Javed, MD
Neurological Surgery Resident, PGY2
Dileep Monie, MD, PhD
Neurological Surgery Resident, PGY1
Daniel Popoola, MD,PhD
Neurological Surgery Resident, PGY1
An unmatched diversity of experience
In addition to providing our trainees a rigorous academic and clinical curriculum, the well-being of our residents is of paramount importance. We strive to foster an environment of camaraderie, support and fellowship that allows for the creation of enduring personal and professional relationships.
Faculty and scientists at the forefront of research
Live and work close to the best of everything
The Bronx, New York City’s northernmost borough, is a culturally rich neighborhood placed at the intersection of Manhattan and its surrounding regions. Our postgraduate trainees typically live in hospital housing or off-site in nearby Riverdale, Lower Westchester or Manhattan, and have access to an unmatched diversity of experiences beyond the program itself.
In the Bronx, with its ample parks and gardens, you’ll learn first-hand why it’s known as “the City’s Greenest Borough.” The neighborhood offers plenty of local food, art, sports and culture, and is just a subway ride away from Manhattan’s famed theaters, museums and attractions.
As a resident of the Tri-State region, you’ll have unmatched access to the city’s cultural offerings, not to mention the bounty of outdoor excursions that are available just beyond. Day-trips and weekend excursions to the Hudson Valley, Catskills, Long Island or New Jersey provide ample opportunities for swimming, hiking, biking, skiing and other seasonal activities.
Drag map or zoom to explore things to do in the Bronx, Manhattan and beyond.
Residency Application Information
We’re seeking residents who will shape the future of healthcare.
If you would like to apply to become a Neurological Surgery Resident at Montefiore Einstein, here is some information to keep in mind.
- February 1—Ranking opens
- March 3—Rank Order List certification deadline
- March 15—Match Day
Montefiore Einstein recognizes that having a diverse and inclusive institution is critical to success, and we reaffirm our fervent commitment to fostering a culture in which diversity is a central tenet.
Have questions? Get in touch.
Katherine Ramirez
Interim Residency Program Coordinator
katramir@montefiore.org
718-920-8056
Learn More about the Montefiore Einstein Leo M. Davidoff Department of Neurological Surgery