Katherine Locke, MD

I think the most beneficial aspects have been the combination of graded autonomy, high case volume, and strong mentorship. The way our residency program is structured you start incredibly busy managing neurosurgical patients after surgery and helping them get back home. As time goes on you start seeing consults and are the first line of contact for all neurosurgical emergencies that come through the door. In the operating room we have the same graded autonomy where we are given increasing responsibility and deepen our clinical judgement.

The breadth of pathology and number of cases that we see has accelerated my ability to recognize patterns and anticipate complications. I have also found some incredible mentors throughout this process. These are attendings who I know truly want the best for me and are willing to help shape me into an excellent surgeon.

When applying for residency I knew I wanted to be at a large (i.e., more than one resident per year) academic program with a high case volume and leadership that would be able to help me find my way in this very small community. The goal of residency is to become a safe and competent surgeon. When I interviewed here, I knew that I would be in excellent hands to achieve that goal. Not only was I impressed by the talent of UBNS leadership, I was further drawn in by how close the residents were and how welcoming they were on my interview day.

We are all very close and often hang out outside of the hospital. When your entire cohort of residents is 21 people across all seven years your program becomes more of a family than coworkers. We experience things that are difficult to explain to people outside of the hospital or even to other specialties, and I have come to find great comfort in the people who stand shoulder to shoulder with me on a daily basis.