Neurosurgeon - Spine Program Leader (Associate Professor/Professor)

The Department of Neurosurgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is seeking a board-certified neurosurgeon to join our academic practice serving the greater Milwaukee area and eastern Wisconsin.

This is an outstanding opportunity to lead a pioneering, comprehensive, multi-disciplinary spine practice within one of the Midwest's leading academic health systems. Spine Care at MCW has a rich history, being one of the earliest multi-disciplinary spine programs in the country. The MCW Department of Neurosurgery was the first to train a spinal surgery fellow in the U.S. The Spine Care and Pain & Spine programs include various clinicians in the Departments of Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Anesthesiology. These departments offer a broad range of services, including the breadth of spinal surgery, rehabilitation, chiropractic medicine, pain medicine, sports medicine, diagnostic and interventional procedures, physical and occupational therapies, patient education, pediatric care, and more.

The Department of Neurosurgery Faculty includes 28 actively practicing neurosurgeons, 5 chiropractors, 11 research faculty, and numerous adjunct and emeritus faculty. Our ACGME-accredited residency has enjoyed excellent reviews from the ACGME and just this year expanded from 2 residents per year to 3 residents per year. We offer CAST-accredited fellowships in Complex Spine, Neuroendovascular Neurosurgery, Skull Base, Functional Neurosurgery, and Neurocritical Care, and we plan to apply for Neurotrauma in 2027.

FMLH (also known as Froedtert Hospital) is a 781-bed quaternary academic medical center with consistent Magnet nursing designation and Top 20 Vizient rankings. It is among America’s 50 Best Hospitals ranked by HealthGrades and one of 100 Great Hospitals by Becker’s Hospital Review. FMLH admits over 40,000 patients per year and provides more than 1 million outpatient visits annually. Both FMLH and Children’s Wisconsin (CW) are designated Level I trauma centers and FMLH is a Comprehensive Stroke Center. All physicians providing care at FMLH are MCW physicians and the majority of physicians practicing at CW are MCW physicians. CW (formerly known as Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin) is a free-standing children’s hospital and operates 298 beds.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative team primarily at MCW and Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital (FMLH) and affiliated regional sites, where the teams are dedicated to providing advanced surgical care for patients with complex spinal disorders, including innovative treatments options. With the expansion of our service area to the Froedtert ThedaCare health system and networks, there is an opportunity to lead the coordination of services throughout the region.

This is also a leadership opportunity to contribute to MCW and the Neurosurgery Department's missions of clinical excellence, education, research, and community engagement. Specific goals of the position will be to grow the team of surgeons and co-lead the team of multidisciplinary experts in a landscape of increasing demand for specialized spine care. Specific opportunities include expansion of collaborative relationships within the healthcare system, development of more formalized telehealth and second opinion programs, and advancement of training opportunities (including spine surgery for the growing neurosurgical residency and CAST-accredited complex spine fellowship).

Research opportunities are available and supported by a large team of research administrators, coordinators, and other staff in the Department of Neurosurgery. Neurosurgery PIs have the highest rate of extramural funding on campus and enjoy significant support from our internal infrastructure as well as that of the Wisconsin Institute of NeuroScience (WINS).

Position Highlights:

• A growing and highly collaborative academic spine program within the Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert Health.
• Opportunity to develop a comprehensive elective and complex spine practice supported by a strong regional referral network.
• Access to advanced surgical technologies, dedicated operating room resources, neurocritical care, and multidisciplinary care teams.
• Opportunity to lead student, resident, and fellow education through MCW's nationally recognized training programs.
• Engage in clinical research, quality improvement initiatives, and program development based on individual interests and career goals.
• Dedicated advanced practice provider and administrative support to optimize clinical efficiency and patient access.
• Performs other duties as assigned by Chair or Chair-Designate

Department/Division Highlights:

The MCW Department of Neurosurgery advances the field of neurological surgery through world-class adult and pediatric clinical care, groundbreaking research, and innovative education.

Our renowned team provides the breadth of neurosurgical services with specialists in all subspecialty areas of neurosurgery.

Qualifications

• Medical degree (MD, DO, or equivalent) from an accredited institution
• Graduation from an ACGME-accredited residency program
• Spine fellowship preferred, particularly for applicants who trained after the implementation of CAST accreditation
• Board certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgeons
• State medical licensure, or eligibility to obtain a license, in Wisconsin.
• Rank of Associate Professor or Full Professor at existing institution
• Prior leadership experience with multidisciplinary care teams
• Medical degree (MD, DO, or equivalent) from an accredited institution.

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Procedure for Candidacy

To submit your application, please click on “Apply Now.” You will create a candidate profile, and you will be prompted to upload your CV and your cover letter, describing your interest and qualifications. References will be required at an appropriate time in the process. All interactions will remain confidential, and no inquiries will be made without the consent of the applicant. Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

For inquiries or to learn more, please contact:

Jen Van Abel Thibodeau, Physician & APP Recruiter

Medical College of Wisconsin

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is the state’s only private medical school and health sciences graduate school. MCW consists of a School of Medicine with campuses in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Central Wisconsin, a School of Graduate Studies, and a School of Pharmacy. MCW is a major national research center ranking in the top third of U.S. medical schools in NIH funding and is the second largest research institution in Wisconsin. Academic medicine is at the core of everything we do at MCW, bringing together scientists, clinicians, students and community members to solve the most complex challenges in health and society. MCW is a diverse group of thought leaders collaborating to pioneer pathways to a healthier world. Every study we conduct and every patient we see leads to new learning and a continuous cycle of life-changing knowledge and innovation.

Approximately 1,780 MCW physicians and approximately 905 advanced practice providers care for more than 484,000 patients of all ages annually at Froedtert Hospital, Zablocki VA Medical Center, Children’s Wisconsin, and many other hospitals and clinics throughout eastern Wisconsin, representing more than 5.1 million patient visits annually.

The beautiful, safe and modern campus of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center (MRMC) houses Froedtert Hospital, Children’s Wisconsin, Curative Care Network, Versiti Blood Research Institute and the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division. These member entities share a common mission of excellence in patient care, medical education, biomedical research and community service.

Commitment to MCW Values

All of our endeavors at MCW, from our internal operations to our interactions with our partners, are driven by our shared organizational values: acting in Caring ways – engaging in Collaborative efforts – approaching our world with Curiosity – advancing Inclusive practices – demonstrating Integrity in all we do – treating everyone with Respect. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity in backgrounds, experiences and perspectives through merit-based processes, and in alignment with all applicable laws. We believe that embracing human differences is critical to realize our vision of a healthier world, and we recognize that a healthy and thriving community starts from within. Our values define who we are, what we stand for and how we conduct ourselves at MCW. If you believe in embracing individuality and working together according to these principles to improve health for all, then MCW is the place for you.

Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, is located on Lake Michigan’s western shore. A metropolitan area with more than 1.6 million people, Milwaukee is an affordable, comfortable place to live, work, and play, big enough to be exciting and uncongested enough to get around easily. Milwaukee’s many neighborhoods have incredible charm, accommodating a variety of lifestyles, from high-rise apartments to small farms. Nestled along a magnificent bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, Milwaukee’s downtown is home to botanical gardens, lakefront museums, a theater district, the world champion Milwaukee Bucks, the Milwaukee Brewers, bustling nightlife, and award-winning restaurants. The lake and its harbors are skirted by scenic parklands and provide first-class opportunities for recreation, including hiking, cycling, boating, and more. A recent study ranked Milwaukee as the 15th most walkable of the 50 largest US cities. Milwaukee has all the advantages of a large, vibrant city but without the stress or cost.

MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.