The ESPN Annual Postgraduate Course in Pediatric Neurosurgery is the main vehicle of the Society to address and educate the next generation of professional in our subspecialty.

It runs in 3-year cycles, comprising the following modules:

• 1st module: hydrocephalus, cysts, posterior fossa tumors, head trauma
• 2nd module: dysraphism, spinal tumors, craniovertebral junction, vascular, sellar and suprasellar tumors, orbit and skull, midline tumors, craniosynostosis
• 3rd module: cerebral hemispheric tumors, infection, spasticity, pineal region, epilepsy

Each annual Course corresponds to one of the aforementioned modules (in rotational order). Successful attendance of all three modules (regardless of the running cycle) results in obtaining the ESPN Course 3-year cycle attendance certificate.

ESPN Courses host a maximum number of 90 attendees per year, in order to ensure high quality of training and proper interaction with the instructors. The Scientific Program, drafted by the ESPN Training & Education Committee, focuses on practical aspects of neurosurgical practice with children, including thorough discussion of case presentations in the plenary morning sessions, solve-a-case sessions in groups and hands-on training workshops.

Registration to the Course is open to all neurosurgeons wishing to further their education in the pediatric subspecialty. Since this is a Postgraduate Course and interaction with the audience is an essential part of each session, trainee applications are exceptionally accepted, provided the perspective attendee is in his/her last two (2) years of residence in neurosurgery. It should also be noted that, due to the limited number of participants, priority is given until a certain deadline to attendees of previous years’ Courses, so as to give them a better chance to finish their 3-year education. All applications received for first attendance are placed in a waiting list and dealt with on a first-applied first-registered basis.

The ESPN Course’s curriculum has the following structure:
DAY 1 (Monday): Arrival of attendees & Opening Session
DAY 2 (Tuesday): Morning Plenary Sessions & Afternoon Parallel Sessions (Hands-on / Solve a case / Video)
DAY 3 (Wednesday): Morning Plenary Sessions & Afternoon team-building activities
DAY 4 (Thursday): Morning Plenary Sessions & Afternoon Parallel Sessions (Hands-on / Solve a case / Video)
DAY 5 (Friday): Morning Plenary Sessions / Afternoon Parallel Sessions (Hands-on / Solve a case / Video) / Evaluation Session
DAY 6 (Saturday): Departure of attendees

Registration to the ESPN Courses is offered as a participation package, which includes:

• attendance of scientific sessions
• breakfast/coffee breaks/lunch/dinner as specified in the program
• accommodation (check-in on DAY 1 and check-out on DAY 6) in a double room shared with another participant

Shuttle services from/to the closest airport are offered on DAY 1 (arrivals) and DAY 6 (departures), according to a schedule announced within a month prior to the Course. This is also part of the participation package, provided travel plans are duly conveyed to the Course Secretariat and are in accordance with the guidelines provided on the website based on each year’s location.