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This one-year ACGME-accredited clinical fellowship provides comprehensive training to prepare fellows for ABPN Vascular Neurology certification.

The University of Maryland Medical Center is a Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center with a strong vascular neurology program staffed by dedicated and experienced faculty. Fellows gain increasing independence throughout the year, with faculty backup readily available 24/7. By the end of the training, fellows are ready to embark upon careers as independent experts in the field of vascular neurology

Rotations

Stroke Inpatient and Consultation Service

In addition to the patients reporting to our emergency department, the University of Maryland Medical Center is a tertiary referral center and receives stroke consultations from throughout the region. We provide remote backup to many community hospital emergency departments for acute stroke decision making, including administration of IV tPA.

Patients who may benefit from further specialized care including intra-arterial thrombectomy are transferred for further evaluation and management. We also frequently receive consultations and transfers of complicated stroke patients where etiology or management require more work-up and specialty input than is available at referring centers.

Neuro Intensive Care

We have a 22 bed dedicated neuroscience ICU. In addition to a formal one-month rotation in the ICU, Fellows will work closely with ICU staff in a collaborative manner throughout the year in caring for stroke patients requiring ICU level care including post- IV tPA, post- Intra Arterial intervention, large stroke with malignant edema, intracranial hemorrhage, etc.

Neuroradiology

In addition to working closely with our neuroradiology colleagues in patient care throughout the fellowship, fellows will have formal rotations with:

  • Diagnostic Radiology - to enhance skills in interpretation of multiple imaging modalities and their uses in stroke, including: MRI, MRA, CT, CTA, Perfusion imaging, catheter angiography, etc.
  • Interventional neuroradiology - to learn more about the decision making and technical aspects related to interventional procedures.

Neurorehabilitation

University of Maryland is affiliated with the University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute, which is the largest provider of rehabilitation care in the state. Fellows will rotate through the dedicated stroke rehab floor and work with faculty members in the University of Maryland neurology department specializing in neurorehabilitation.

Outpatient Stroke Clinic

Fellows will be involved in the evaluation and management of many interesting outpatient referrals we receive from primary care physicians and other neurologists seeking specialized stroke consultations.

Baltimore VA Medical Center

The Baltimore VA is connected to UMMC by a footbridge, allowing the fellow to easily attend VA stroke clinics, provide specialty stroke consultations, and respond to acute stroke calls at the VAMC.

Neurosonology

Fellows will be given specialty training in reading carotid Doppler and Transcranial Doppler ultrasounds by our neurovascular ultrasound certified faculty. We also routinely send fellows to the 1-week intensive neurovascular ultrasound course offered through the Wake Forest program for medical ultrasound.

Didactics and Seminars

Neurovascular Conference

Thursday 11:00-12:00: A joint conference with vascular neurology, neuroradiology, and neurosurgery to discuss interesting cases and review imaging together. This is an excellent experience for fellows to participate with faculty in discussions of the diagnosis and management of complex vascular neurology patients.

Stroke Division Meeting

Thursdays 12:00-1:00: The fellows are integral to the Stroke Division collaborative discussions aimed at improving our clinical, educational, and research programs. This meeting includes regular case review and discussion of the Brain Attack Team activities to streamline acute stroke patient flow.

Vascular Neurology Fellowship Learning Session and Journal Club

Friday 11:00-12:00: Sessions are attended by vascular neurology fellows, stroke faculty, and other interested faculty and trainees from various related disciplines (Neurocritical care, Interventional Neuroradiology, etc.) Topics are scheduled through the year to cover all aspects of vascular neurology. Many sessions are journal club discussions of either recent articles of interest or seminal vascular neurology trails. Discussions focus on study design, research and statistical methods, and how findings will impact clinical decision making. Other sessions consist of a presentation by fellows or faculty members or group discussion of a topic of interest.

Fellows as a teacher

Throughout the year, the fellow will be involved in mentoring and teaching residents and medical students and serving as an expert resource.

Research

All of our faculty and fellows are actively involved in clinical research, including several clinical trials. There is ample opportunity for fellows to become involved in ongoing studies or to initiate research of their design with faculty mentorship. Dedicated funds may be available for individual research projects as well an additional research fellowship year.

Application Process

Prerequisites

  • Completion of an ACGME accredited neurology residency program.

How to Apply

We will accept applications through the ERAS system and participate in the vascular neurology fellowship match through NRMP.

Please upload to ERAS:

  • CV
  • Personal Statement
  • 3 letters of reference

For International Graduates

The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) adheres to the standards and guidelines for the employment of non-immigrants as established by federal immigration laws and the U.S. Department of Labor. UMMC will hire only U.S. citizens and non-citizens that are authorized for employment. Non-immigrant alien residents or fellows must have a J-1 visa and ECFMG certificate in order to apply. H-1B visas are not considered appropriate visas for residents or fellows.

More information for IMGs can be found on the UMMC Graduate Medical Education office website.

Program Director

Michael S. Phipps, MD, MHS, FAAN
Associate Professor and Vice Chair for IT, Department of Neurology
Director, Brain Attack Center
University of Maryland School of Medicine
mphipps@som.umaryland.edu

Associate Program Director

Carolyn A. Cronin MD, PhD, FAAN
Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Education, Department of Neurology
University of Maryland School of Medicine
ccronin@som.umaryland.edu

More Information

For further information, please contact Ms. Andrea Reddick at areddick@som.umaryland.edu or 410-328-5803.

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