title: Core curriculum (CC) of spinal surgery: a step forward in defining our profession.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim our study was to establish a core curriculum (CC) for spine surgery incorporating knowledge, skills and attitudes to help define spine surgery as a medical specialty and serve as a guide for specific spine surgery training.
  
  
  METHODS
  A committee was established to prepare the CC. Five modules were established; Basic Sciences, Spinal Trauma, Degenerative Spine Diseases, Destructive Spine Pathologies and Spinal Deformity. Prepared CC modules were evaluated in a consensus meeting, translated and reevaluated in a second consensus meeting before being accepted as final.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the five modules, 54 subject headings (19 for Basic Sciences, 10 for Spinal Trauma, 4 for Degenerative Spine Diseases, 4 for Destructive Spine Pathologies and 17 for Spinal Deformity) and 165 specific subjects (59 for Basic Sciences, 32 for Spinal Trauma, 10 for Degenerative Spine Diseases, 23 for Destructive Spine Pathologies and 41 for Spinal Deformity) were defined. Learning outcomes and entry and exit criteria were defined for all subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This CC may form the basis of spinal surgery training, defining spinal surgery as a medical specialty and help us spine surgeons to develop better defined identities.
authors.affiliation: Ankara Spine Center, Ankara, Turkey. acaroglue@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Acaroğlu
authors.affiliation: Yeni Yüzyıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kahraman
authors.affiliation: Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alpaslan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Senköylü
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Haluk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.affiliation: Başkent University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Caner
authors.affiliation: Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Public Health, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seçil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Özkan
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000193:education*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D014421:Turkey