Dr. Carlos David, Professor of Neurosurgery and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Neurosurgery at UNC Health has been appointed as Program Director of the UNC Neurosurgery Residency Training Program.

Dr. Carlos David joined UNC Health in 2022 as a professor, actively engaging in resident education as Vice Chair of Education in the clinical skills lab. Dr. David is passionate about teaching, and it is his passion for medical education that brought him to UNC Health. “Guiding aspiring surgeons through their training is more than just teaching; it’s sculpting future healers, shaping their skills, and nurturing their passion to make a lasting impact on countless lives,” said Dr. David.

PGY 6 neurosurgery resident Dr. Kelly Chamberlin will soon begin her final year of neurosurgery residency training, completing her chief resident year under the direction of Dr. David. “Since his arrival at UNC, he has taken an active role in resident education since day one,” said Dr. Chamberlin. “He was awarded the resident teaching award recently as well for his dedication to our education and leads valuable weekly didactic sessions for junior residents and monthly hands-on skills labs.”

Prior to coming to UNC Health, Dr. David served as the associate residency program director for the Tufts University School of Medicine neurosurgery program and served as faculty for the medical student neuroscience course and neuroscience core clerkship. He also served in the medical student coaching program, and the Tufts School of Medicine admissions committee. In 2020, he was honored with the Samuel Moschella Clinical Educator of the Year award.

Dr. Aaron Gelinne, PGY 5 neurosurgery resident at UNC Health, also looks forward to Dr. David’s leadership during his remaining two years of residency. “Dr. David is not only incredibly passionate about teaching residents, but also deeply committed to their well-being, tirelessly advocating for their needs,” said Dr. Gelinne. “This makes him an ideal program director, and I am eagerly looking forward to seeing how he will lead and develop our residency program.”

Dr. David is Division Chief of cerebrovascular and skull base surgery, with surgical expertise in skull base and complex tumors, endoscopic skull base surgery, and all aspects of cerebrovascular surgery, including bypass surgery. “When not in the OR, you can often find Dr. David in the resident work room teaching and spending time with the residents as much as possible,” said Dr. Chamberlin. “It’s clear that resident education is one of his passions. The resident team is excited to see what he has in store for us in the coming years in his new role as program director.”

About UNC Neurosurgery’s Residency Program

The Department of Neurosurgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has a longstanding tradition of excellence in clinical care and resident education. The UNC Neurosurgery Residency Training Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education and currently offers a seven-year program and accepts two residents per year. The clinically-based program is designed to give neurosurgery residents a broad exposure to all aspects of clinical neurosurgery, offering neurosurgical training in both adult and pediatric neurosurgery.