MD Trajectory Dashboard

📅 Timeline

⭐ AOA

🔬 Research

🏅 Awards

🏥 Residency

📋 Semester Checklist

Phases Complete

of 7 total

Items Checked Off

all panels

2028

Residency App Year

ERAS opens Sep

May 1

Respiratory Exam

8am · 7 days away

2027

AOA Target Year

nomination window

Aug 2024
Jul 2025

Pre-Clerkship I

FBS blocks: Cells, Genetics, Macromolecules, Pharmacology, Organisms & Host. Human Structure, Microanatomy.

✅ CompleteStep 1 Foundation

Aug 2025
Jan 2026

Pre-Clerkship II

IM blocks: Cardiovascular, Renal, Heme, MSK & Skin, Respiratory. Current block ends with Respiratory exam May 1.

✅ Nearly CompleteResp Exam May 1

Feb 2027

Step 1 — Upcoming

USMLE Step 1 scheduled Feb 2027. Neurosurgery match mean ~248; competitive = 255+; elite = 260+. Begin dedicated prep Jan 2027.

📋 ScheduledTarget: 260+

Feb 2026
Dec 2026

🔴 Clerkships — ACTIVE

Core clinical rotations. Neurosurgery and Surgery shelf exams are critical. Use dxTrainer daily (3 cases min). Build professionalism ratings. Get on attendings' radar.

🔄 ActiveHonors: Surgery + Neuro3 cases/day dxTrainer

Summer 2026
(concurrent)

🔬 Lega Lab Research — Active

HPC-PPC interregional connectivity analysis. Phase-amplitude coupling, serial recall + naturalistic paradigm. EEG pipeline completion. Abstract to CNS/AANS.

🔄 In DevelopmentManuscript: Winter 2026

July 2027

Research Year — Dr. Lega

Full-time research year in Lega lab. Paper revision, potential second project, conference attendance (CNS/AANS). NREF fellowship application concurrent. Apply Spring 2027.

📋 PlanningNREF FellowshipPublication-ready: Sep 2028

2027–2028

Post-Clerkship + Sub-Internships

Neurosurgery away rotations (3+ programs). Sub-Is at stretch programs. Frontiers in Medicine course. Scholarly activity product submission.

⬜ Future3+ Sub-Is

Sep–Oct 2028

Residency Applications — ERAS

Neurosurgery ERAS submission. Target programs across reach/target/safe spectrum. Strong LOR from Dr. Lega + UTSW neurosurgery attendings. Personal statement finalized.

⬜ FutureERAS Sep 2028

⭐UTSW AOA Selection — Nominations in MS3/MS4. Criteria: Academic excellence (top 1/6 by GPA + shelf exams), professionalism ratings, leadership, research, and service. Must be nominated by faculty.

📚Academic Excellence

Step 1 — score in top percentile

Feb 2027 · Target 260+

Surgery shelf — Honors

Most critical shelf for neurosurgery AOA case

Neurology shelf — Honors

Direct relevance to specialty

IM shelf — High Pass / Honors

All remaining shelfs — Pass / High Pass

🏅Leadership & Service

GIG President — documented

Active programming, geriatrics community

AMWA Class Officer — documented

United to Serve / Carnaval de Salud

Community service leadership logged

Log all community service hours formally

Running total — maintain documentation

Faculty nomination letters cultivated

Dr. Lega + 1 neurosurg attending at UTSW

🔬Research Requirements

≥1 first/second author publication before nomination

HPC-PPC paper — submit Spring 2027

Abstract/poster at CNS or AANS

Submit Summer 2026

UTSW student research award application

Apply each annual cycle

MD with Distinction pathway

Scholarly activity product required

📅AOA Timeline

Step	When	Status
Build academic record	Now – 2026	Active
First publication submitted	Spring 2027	Planning
UTSW AOA nomination window	2027 cycle	Planning
Faculty nomination secured	Spring 2027	Future
AOA membership confirmed	Late 2027	Future

🧠Dr. Bradley Lega Lab · UTSW Epilepsy/Memory — Strong working relationship. Active collaboration. Hard deadline: paper publication-ready before Sep 2028 ERAS submission.

🔬Current Project

Hippocampal-PPC Interregional Connectivity

HPC serial recall data (Oscar/Sarah — time cell paper baseline). Interregional coupling: HPC ↔ PPC, MPFC. Analysis: phase-amplitude coupling, single-unit MTL data, mutual information. Compare serial recall + naturalistic paradigm connectivity.

🔄 In Development EEG Pipeline iEEG Phase-Amplitude Coupling MTL Single-Unit

🎯Clinical Augmentation

Identify clinical project (low grunt-work)

Options: spine adjacent or surgical epilepsy

Explore K12/K08 residency research tracks

NREF / travel grant applications scoped

Episodic memory symposium participation

📅Publication Milestone Tracker

Summer 2026

EEG/iEEG data pipeline complete

Phase-amplitude coupling analysis framework

🔄 Active

Fall 2026

Connectivity analysis complete

HPC-PPC, MPFC coupling results

⬜ Future

Winter 2026–27

Manuscript draft complete

Submit to Dr. Lega for review

⬜ Future

Spring 2027

Journal submission

Target high-impact neuro journal

⬜ Future

July 2027

Research year begins

Full-time Lega lab + NREF fellowship

📋 Planning

⚠️ Sep 2028

Paper publication-ready

Hard deadline — before ERAS submission

🎯 Hard Deadline

📈Research Progress

EEG Pipeline40%

Connectivity Analysis10%

Manuscript0%

Publication0%

Update EEG Pipeline %: Connectivity Analysis %: Manuscript %:

🏅Awards & Fellowships Pipeline

Award	Deadline Window	Priority	Status	Notes
GIG President	Ongoing	● Active	✅ Done	Document programming + impact
AMWA Class Officer	Ongoing	● Active	✅ Done	Document formally
United to Serve	Annual	● Active	✅ Active	Log hours each event
UTSW Student Research Award	Annual cycle	● High	Apply next cycle	Builds AOA case
AANS Medical Student Award	Annual	● Medium	Clerkship year	Submit research abstract
NREF Research Fellowship	Spring 2027	● High	Planning	Pairs with research year
Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA)	2027 nomination	● Critical	Target 2027	All above must be in place
MD with Distinction	2028	● Medium	Planning	Scholarly activity product required
Sub-I Applications	Spring 2028	● High	Future	Away rotations at target programs

🏥Neurosurgery Match: Extremely competitive. Step 1 mean ~248. Competitive = 255+. Requires publication, AOA strongly preferred, strong sub-Is. Start building relationships at UTSW neurosurgery NOW during clerkships.

🗺️Target Programs

Program	Tier	Notes
UTSW	Home	Home program advantage, Dr. Lega relationship
Mayo Clinic	Reach	Research profile needed
Northwestern	Reach	Strong neuro focus
Vanderbilt	Target	Research emphasis program
UT Houston	Target	Regional + strong program
Baylor	Safe-Target	Regional, familiar system

💡Narrative hook: Computational neuroscience → neurosurgery. EEG/iEEG pipeline skills translate directly to intraoperative neurophysiology. Frame Dr. Lega work as pre-surgical planning adjacent.