Education in neurosurgery in the web era

Abstract

The education of neurosurgeons is nowadays primarily based on residency training programs. In every country where neurosurgery is well established, there are training programs that are usually supervised by national governments and/or national neurosurgical societies. Practical and hands-on courses and congresses consist another important way to form and update neurosurgeons. And lately, the internet has undoubtedly also played a very relevant role. As a matter of fact, the internet has meant a revolution in the access to scientific knowledge all over the world. Several tools have been developed to spread and access information, such as blogs, the Facebook, the Twitter, and the LinkedIn, and they can make it easier for the modern neurosurgeon to be updated with relevant professional information and the literature. However, it is essential to know how to use such tools effectively as there is a sort of never ending production of knowledge made available on the worldwide web. In the case of neurosurgeons, particular care must be taken so as not to use or learn from unreliable sources. Therefore, one should always try to access information displayed or supported by well-known neurosurgical institutions and/or professionals and, in some cases, double checking data are also advisable. Anyway, even though the worldwide web is nowadays an extraordinary means to access knowledge, we can never forget that the basis of the formation of a neurosurgeon must take place at well-organized and structured centers of neurosurgical practice and teaching, and experience must never be put aside.