Stanford Operative Neuroanatomy Course

The Stanford School of Medicine is now offering its first-ever Operative Neuroanatomy Course in Virtual Reality coupled with exquisite cadaveric dissections.

Hosted by the Stanford Neurosurgical Simulation and Virtual Reality Center, and led by Stanford Medicine instructors well-versed in the use of virtual reality, the NSUR210: Operative Neuroanatomy using Virtual Reality and Cadaver Lab Course offers a unique approach to teaching surgery and neuroanatomy to our medical students.

This course is a survey that will introduce you to commonly encountered neurological conditions that require neurosurgical intervention both using virtual reality headsets and cadaveric specimens. More specifically, our hope is to:

·      Introduce the fundamentals of use of virtual reality in surgical practice
·      Facilitate conceptualizing complex neuroanatomic relationships in 3D and their long-term retention
·      Strengthen your recognition of abnormal anatomy
·      Advance your understanding of the pathogenesis of the common disorders of the nervous system and the neurosurgical interventions used to address them
·      Provide a space for you to explore a career in surgery, neurology, psychiatry, neuroscience or clinical research

i. 5 Talented instructors from Italy, Argentina, Canada and the United States

ii. 15 Students enrolled

iii. 20- 25 Patient-specific anatomical cases in VR, coupled with beautiful cadaveric dissections to teach surgical approaches and relevant neuroanatomy to our cohort of students

Students enrolled are in Stanford's MD or PA Programs:

- 60% first year
- 30% 2nd or 3rd year
- 6% already working in clinical settings