Dr. Angela Bohnen with Neurosurgery One recently became board-certified Denver a neurosurgeon, earning her board certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgery.
Board certification is a feat that takes time to accomplish and is not something you can apply for immediately after completing your medical education. With rigorous training and 7 years of neurosurgical residency required to become eligible, board certification demonstrates a neurosurgeon’s expertise in neurological surgery and clinical knowledge. Board-certified physicians like Dr. Bohnen combine years of experience with a commitment to ongoing education to provide the best standard of neurosurgery.
Dr. Bohnen specializes in spinal and cranial surgery. Based in our Littleton and Lone Tree offices, Dr. Bohnen’s expertise also includes cranial oncology as she is an experienced brain tumor surgeon. She is specially trained in performing awake craniotomies. Read more about how this procedure can provide the greatest amount of tumor removal with the least amount of damage to healthy brain tissue and functioning.
What is board certification for Denver neurosurgeons?
Board certification displays the greatest level of accreditation for a chosen specialty. It represents a physician’s medical and clinical knowledge as well as diagnostic skills and can only be obtained after extensive clinical neurosurgery training after a physician has received their licensure. While all physicians must be licensed to practice medicine, board certification is an optional process and demonstrates the level of mastery a physician has shown in their field of work.
There are more than 25 boards that certify physicians in the United States, and each board has its own requirements for certification. The American Board of Neurological Surgery sets the nationally accepted standards for neurosurgeon board certification.
Board certification serves as a benchmark not only for patients, but for healthcare providers, insurers, and organizations, as well. Research shows a that board-certified physicians provide a higher quality of care. In addition, 82% of patients consider board certification an important fact when selecting a physician, according to the American Board of Medical Specialties. Neurosurgeons who are board-certified add significant value to hospital systems, demonstrating a superior level of knowledge in their specialty line of work and an interest in continuing education to provide patients with the highest quality of care.
What are the requirements to become a board certified Denver neurosurgeon?
To become board certified, Denver neurosurgeons must complete seven years of neurosurgical residency training following medical school. They must have completed their residency at a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). They also must undergo 4 ½ years of core clinical neurosurgery training. Within these 54 months of clinical neurosurgery, physicians must spend a minimum of six months of structured education in neurosurgery, 21 months in one program, and 30 months in areas of special interest related to neurosurgery. Candidates must also complete 800 surgeries either as the lead or senior surgeon, with half as the lead surgeon. Board certified neurosurgeons are extensively trained in both cranial and spine surgery, with 300 surgeries of each type required out of the 800. The specific requirements, based on when training is started, can be found on the ABNS website here.
Some physicians also may choose to complete a 1-2 year fellowship, which is post-residency training in a subspecialty area. Dr. Bohnen completed a neuro-oncology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic where she studied under internationally renowned mentor Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa.
In addition to residency, training, and ongoing education, physicians must successfully complete a primary exam, which consists of 375 questions, as well as an oral exam to become a board-certified neurosurgeon.
Why should patients care about selecting a board-certified Denver neurosurgeon?
When it comes time to select a Denver neurosurgeon to help restore your quality of life, choosing a board certified neurosurgeon can help ensure that you’re receiving the highest quality of medical care. Board certification takes extensive training, as outlined above, and recertification is a requirement for all board-certified Denver neurosurgeons to maintain their board certification.
To remain board-certified, neurosurgeons must participate in ongoing education and assessments. This ensures they remain up-to-date with the latest medical advancements in the field of spine surgery and neurosurgery. The recertification process gives neurosurgeons the opportunity to expand their base of skills and knowledge. It also highlights their commitment to their career development and the neurosurgical profession. When neurosurgeons commit to maintaining their board certification, it can provide patients with extra reassurance that you are receiving the most current evidence-based care.
Board-certified spine specialists and Denver brain tumor surgeons like Dr. Bohnen are required to recertify every 10 years to remain certified from the American Board of Neurological Surgery. This ensures both patients and the communities in which they serve that board-certified neurosurgeons are committed to improving the advancement of neurological surgery.
About Neurosurgery One’s Dr. Bohnen
Dr. Bohnen is a Littleton neurosurgeon who specializes in treating metastatic brain tumors, awake craniotomies and brain mapping for eloquent tumors. She also performs spine surgery, including minimally invasive procedures, and spinal cord stimulation implantation. She received her medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine and completed her neurosurgical residency at Northwestern University. Dr. Bohnen sees patients in Neurosurgery One’s Lone Tree-Park Meadows and Littleton clinics. Learn more about Dr. Bohnen in this video.
Our expert team of board-certified Denver neurosurgeons and spine specialists are here to provide top quality treatment options to help you achieve a higher quality of life. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Bohnen or another Neurosurgery One board-certified neurosurgeon.
