Neurosurgeons diagnosis and treat injuries, disorders and diseases of the brain and spinal cord. The medical specialty of neurosurgery requires students to complete medical school and a specialized residency program in the field of neurosurgery. The best medical schools in this area offer students top notch research programs, maintain exceptional reputations and provide outstanding academic support programs for students. John Hopkins University Consistently ranked the top medical school for internal medicine by "U.S. News and World Report," John Hopkins University Hospital offers an intensive neurosurgery residency program that maintains a reputation for producing top neurosurgeons in both practicing and teaching medicine. Residents work in several world renowned research facilities on projects in neuroimmunologic diseases. The office of academic support allows students to participate in an innovative program, organizing students into small study teams, rotating leaders and captains to provide the best educational experience for each member. Harvard University Ranked the top university in the country in several academic areas by "U.S. News and World Report," Harvard boasts a neurosurgery residency program operating in Massachusetts General Hospital. Listed as one of the top neurosurgery hospitals in the country by "U.S. News and World Report," Massachusetts General Hospital is named as one of the foremost research and training hospitals. Academic support programs include societies organized into medical specialties in coordination with the Office of Advising Resources to offer students the best resources and peers to help with their studies. University of North Carolina Named the top primary care medical school in the nation by "U.S. News and World Report," the University of North Carolina offers a seven-year neurosurgery residency program. Residents work in UNC at Chapel Hill Hospital, a neurosurgery research facility ranked among the top ten recipients for funding by the National Institutes of Health. Students work on research projects for programs such as the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology and the Brain Tumor Trials Collaborative. UNC is home to a student-run neurosurgery interest group that includes community service and research projects. University of California in San Francisco UCSF was ranked within the top five medical schools in several specialty areas and its hospital was ranked fourth best neurosurgery hospital in the nation by "U.S. News and World Report" for 2014. The university houses one of the largest neurosurgery research facilities in the country and offers a neurological surgery residency program that rotates throughout five of the area’s largest hospitals. Learning specialists and neurosurgery tutors are available to work with residents on preparing for exams and completing the program. Source