Military residents win national neurosurgery competition Published Nov. 30, 2011 By Sue Campbell 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Two military doctors recently won first place during a national neurosurgery competition. Air Force Maj. Sven Hochheimer and Army Capt. Corey Mossop formed a team that took top honors during the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Challenge, held during the CNS annual meeting in Washington, D.C., Oct. 4, 2011. Each year the CNS conducts a conference to provide information on the latest developments and clinical breakthroughs in neurosurgery. Part of the annual event is the CNS Challenge which tests residents' neurosurgical decision-making skills in a live, game show-style competition. Questions on all aspects of neurosurgery are covered and residents from across the country compete. Hochheimer, who served as captain of his team and won first place honors for the second year in a row, is chief resident for the National Capital Consortium Neurosurgery Program at the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Mossop is a third year resident at the National Capital Consortium Neurosurgery Program. "I'm especially proud of Dr. Hochheimer's accomplishment as he is a former alumnus of the 59th Medical Wing's general surgery internship at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas," said Air Force Col. (Dr.) Randall McCafferty, chief of Neurosurgery, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. "He is also the only Air Force officer to train in the neurosurgery program at Walter Reed. I hope to bring him back to San Antonio to work at SAMMC when he graduates next summer." Hochheimer began his Air Force career as an enlisted financial services journeyman. He subsequently became a physician's assistant, then attended the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and graduated number one in his class. After completing his internship at Wilford Hall, he went on to his current position. "He has become one of the top residents in the country, all through military education. He is number one at everything he does and is emblematic of what is truly great about the Air Force and the military," said McCafferty. "It makes me very proud to present our program. We do well because we work hard and come to the competition prepared," said Hochheimer "This win shows that our program is second to none and our military families are being cared for by the very best. In the end, that is what it is all about to me -- delivering the highest quality of care to those who are injured fighting our wars." USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)