Structure and Relationship with Other Educational Units:
The Academic Division of Neurosurgery is part of the Department of Neurosurgery and ENT. It is a relatively autonomous and indivisible structural unit, functionally connected with other departments and academic divisions, including the Departments of Neurology, Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Paediatrics, Obstetrics, Clinical Laboratory, and Radiology.
Facilities:
The Academic Division of Neurosurgery is based at the Neurosurgery Clinic, providing students with access to practical training and direct engagement with patients. Two dedicated training rooms, constructed and financially sponsored by the clinic staff, are available for seminars, discussions, and colloquia. Additionally, computers equipped with lecture notes on clinical neurosurgery in Bulgarian are accessible to both the unit and the students.
Faculty staff:
The Academic Division of Neurosurgery is staffed by a team of qualified faculty members, including three habilitated academics (one professor and two associate professors), four senior assistant professors, one regular assistant professor and two honorary assistant professors.
Teaching Activities:
The teaching staff of the Academic Division of Neurosurgery provide theoretical and practical training for fourth-year medical students (including English-taught programs), as well as for interns and resident doctors specialising in neurosurgery, neurology, and other surgical specialties. Medical students in their fourth year, including those enrolled in English-taught programs, receive neurosurgery training through eight lectures and eight practical sessions during the summer semester of each academic year. The training aims to introduce students to the fundamentals of modern neurosurgery, including methods for diagnosing and treating neurosurgical patients. A special focus is placed on the early diagnosis of various neurosurgical diseases and the indications for their surgical treatment. Further emphasis is placed on emergency conditions in neurotraumatology, neuro-oncology, and vascular pathology. Students are expected to have a solid understanding of anatomy and general neurology to ensure effective learning.
Lecture Course:
Comprised of eight lectures (16 academic hours). The detailed lecture topics are presented in a separate schedule. An additional four lectures are provided for interns and neurosurgery residents. The lectures are delivered using multimedia presentations, allowing for continuous updates with new diagnostic and treatment techniques relevant to the audience.
Practical Sessions:
Eight practical sessions (16 academic hours) conducted at patient bedside. Some practical sessions include training in neuroradiology.
Learning Control and Assessment:
Continuous assessment is conducted at the end of each nosological group. The semester exam is conducted by a committee of three examiners, always preceded by a practical exam.
