It is a great privilege for me to assume the role of Neurosurgery Program Director at the University of Pennsylvania. I am a proud product of this residency program, and I believe it did a tremendous job of preparing me for both my clinical and academic careers. This sentiment holds true amongst my co-residents. As such, I am committed to carrying on the long tradition of excellence that has been a hallmark of Penn’s neurosurgery residency program.
Our mission is to develop compassionate, driven individuals into exceptional clinicians and surgeons who will transform the field of neurosurgery through leadership, excellence, and innovation. Thus, while upholding the program’s traditions, I also strive to make use of my intimate knowledge of the residency program to push it to even greater heights. There are several developments in the program that will help us achieve this goal. Sub-specialty expertise has become a focus of our department with its newly minted divisions in cerebrovascular, functional, spine, and tumors. We are transitioning the clinical rotations to a new schedule that mirrors this sub-specialty focus and takes full advantage of our new efforts. On the academic front, the institutional R25 for research training in the clinical neurosciences is now available to our residents. We are also implementing highly individualized career planning and mentorship for each resident to allow them to fully utilize the immense translational resources available at Penn and the broader “Cellicon Valley.” Last but not least, we are developing programs that encourage the holistic growth of each resident so that they become not only outstanding neurosurgeons but also well-rounded individuals.
This is an exciting time in neurosurgery and particularly at Penn. There is incredible growth and energy in our department, which creates an ideal environment for neurosurgical trainees. We look forward to sharing all of this with you!
My very best,
H. Isaac Chen, M.D.