Research

The Research Experience

Research education begins in the first year and includes a six-month protected research block later in residency. Our program integrates research throughout residency in a collaborative environment where residents, faculty, and program-exclusive research staff create and complete projects together. This ensures that our trainees become not only highly skilled neurosurgeons, but also insightful researchers who advance the field through innovation and inquiry.

Some unique aspects of our residency programs research education include:

• Dedicated research staff and student collaborators that support residents throughout project development, from idea generation to publication.
• Access to data from more than 70,000 neurosurgical patient encounters spanning from 2012 to 2025, including over 16,000 spinal surgeries.
• Resources available to streamline the research process through the Henry Ford Health System as well as Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine and College of Osteopathic Medicine. These institutions provide access to large digital libraries and support for executing studies.

Research Infrastructure and Mentorship

Established in 2012 by the Michigan Spine and Brain Surgeons and Dr. Doris Tong, our Neurosurgical Clinical Research Unit serves as the backbone of our residency’s clinical research program. Led by Research Director Dr. Heather Heitkotter, the unit oversees and supports all scholarly activity for the program. This means that residents are guided through every stage of their projects; from developing research ideas and designing studies to protocol writing, database management, statistical analysis, and publication.

The research curriculum incorporates:

• Training in comprehensive research methodology and data analysis
• Monthly academic activities, including journal clubs and regular research progress updates
• One-on-one mentorship with Dr Heitkotter throughout residency and a dedicated 6-month block to conduct research projects
• Clear expectations for research and scholarly activity throughout training, where residents gain experience as a project lead, a team member and a mentor
• Opportunities to disseminate research and partake in outreach based on individual interests and career goals
• Quality improvement initiatives that are resident-led and interdisciplinary

Interested in doing research with our program? Please apply online here or contact us at pnresearch@hfhs.org.

Heather Heitkotter, PhD
Research Manager for Providence Neurosurgery and Clinical Research Unit
PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology from the Medical College of Wisconsin
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine