Medical student elective in neurosurgery

The Neurologic Surgery Residency at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, welcomes fourth-year medical students interested in exploring a career in neurosurgery. We offer sub-internship and clinical elective opportunities and are currently accepting applications for the 2026 and 2027 academic years.

How to apply

Fourth-year medical students (both U.S. and international) who are considering the neurosurgery match are encouraged to apply. There is no fee to apply. To be considered, submit the following materials through the online application through the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities™ (VSLO®) portal:

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• One letter of recommendation, emailed directly by the recommender
• Your preferred four-week rotation timeframe. The rotation blocks follow the Mayo academic calendar. Alternate blocks will be considered upon request.

Applications for the 2026 program are accepted on a rolling basis and will remain open as long as spots are available. The window may close early, so timely submission is encouraged. You will receive an email confirmation once all preliminary materials have been received.

Full completion of registration through the Clerkship Coordinator following preliminary acceptance is an important next step in the process.

If you have questions, please contact Kaisorn Chaichana, M.D. (chaichana.kaisorn@mayo.edu) or Selby Chen, M.D. (chen.selby@mayo.edu).

Please note: Completion of a visiting sub-internship is not required to match into the Neurologic Surgery Residency at Mayo Clinic, and many of our current residents did not complete a visiting rotation here. A sub-internship does not guarantee a residency interview.

About the rotation

Mayo Clinic neurosurgical faculty perform more than 4,000 operations annually at the Florida campus. The program is organized into three services (cranial, vascular, and spine) each led by a chief resident with junior resident and APP support.

Rotations are typically four weeks in length, with each week spent on a different service to ensure a well-rounded experience. As a visiting student, you will participate in conferences, inpatient rounds, operating rooms, and outpatient clinics across each service.

Rotation goals

• Cerebrovascular surgery: Students will develop working knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology underlying cerebrovascular conditions, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and vascular malformations affecting intracranial, extracranial, and spinal vessels, and how these conditions typically present clinically.
• Neurosurgical oncology: Students will build an understanding of the anatomical, physiological, and pathological basis of cranial tumor-related diseases and their clinical presentations.
• Spinal surgery: Students will develop familiarity with the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of spinal disorders, including conditions affecting the vertebral column, spinal ligaments, spinal cord, cauda equina, and nerve roots, and how they present in practice.

Neurosurgery conferences

As a visiting medical student, you are invited to join faculty and residents for daily teaching conferences covering oral and written board preparation, as well as spine, vascular, and tumor topics.

Regular conferences:

• Neurosurgery Grand Rounds: Bi-weekly, Mondays at 7 a.m., Mangurian 4110 and Zoom
• Neurosurgery Morbidity and Mortality Conference: Monthly, Mondays at 7 a.m., Mangurian 4110 and Zoom
• Neurosurgery Resident Education Days: Monthly, Mondays, 7 a.m.–5 p.m., Mangurian 4110 and Simulation Center

Multidisciplinary clinical conferences:

• Neuro-Oncology Conference (Adult)
• Skull Base Conference
• Neurovascular Conference
• Epilepsy Conference
• Spine Conference

What to expect

Your first day

On your first day, please be sure to:

1. Confirm all registration steps have been completed as outlined by the Clerkship Coordinator.
2. Obtain your Mayo Clinic identification badge from the ID office.
3. Complete any required training modules.
4. Meet with Dr. Kaisorn Chaichana, Dr. Selby Chen, and the chief resident.

Your last day

On the final day of your rotation, please:

1. Return your Mayo Clinic ID badge to the ID office.
2. Provide your evaluation form to Jennifer Barcom, neurosurgery residency programs administrator.

To learn more about the elective, including clerkship goals, activities, and how to apply through Mayo Clinic’s Visiting Medical Student Clerkship program, visit the Neurosurgery (Florida) elective page.

Program leadership