What to Expect

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to prepare the trainee for subspecialty practice in stroke neurology either in a private practice or academic setting. Fellows have the ability to tailor their schedule based on more specific interests (e.g. neuro-ICU, neuroradiology). The program is structured to meet all of the requirements of the ACGME and to prepare the trainee for the examinations in Neurosonology by the American Society of Neuroimaging and for the Board examination in Vascular Neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

For the optional second year, the curriculum is structured according to the needs and goals of the fellow. Emphasis on clinical research is expected.

Rotations

There are rotations in the Acute Stroke Unit, Neuro-ICU, Neuroradiology, Neurosonology, Neurorehabilitation and research/elective. Typically, 5-6 months are spent in the Acute Stroke Unit, with 1-2 months spent in the other rotations depending on the fellow's preference. There are also 1-2 half days of outpatient stroke clinic maximum per week.

Training

Training will include clinical exposure, teaching responsibilities, and research. Fellows will see at least 400 patients during the course of the year during inpatient and outpatient work. They will also review at least 100 carotid duplex, transcranial Doppler, and neuroradiological studies.

Didactics

There is a weekly literature review, didactic or review quiz for the fellows which are directly reviewed with the program director or stroke faculty. Fellows will also be expected to provide a formal stroke content presentation to the residents and students during each Acute Stroke Unit month on various topics.

The merged Multidisciplinary Carotid Board and Neurointerventional Conferences meet every Friday morning where clinical cases and advanced neuroimaging findings are presented and discussions focus on the management of extracranial carotid artery disease as well as acute intracranial or extracranial revascularization procedures.

On Wednesdays, conferences on the management of cerebral aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations take place.

Qualifications

Fellows will be considered if they have graduated from an ACGME accredited Neurology Residency.

Desirable criteria

The fellowship program is academically oriented, therefore, fellows focused in research and teaching are preferred.

Expectations

The fellow is expected to sit for the Vascular Neurology board certification examination by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the Neurosonology examinations by the American Society of Neuroimaging. The fellow is also expected to produce or significantly contribute to a research or scholarly project during the year.