Programs with consistent support for NIR training for vascular neurologists

[bonran]

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Although it has been purported that there are 15-20 programs across the country that support endovascular training for neurologists, this is a half-truth. Most of these programs have been inconsistent in their support to train vascular neurology graduates. I wanted to make a list of those programs with a reputation of consistently training neurologists in vascular procedures to increase awareness in future graduates about them. From what I know, the following programs have been consistent in their support in the last few yrs:

1) Univ. of Minnesota: 2 endovascular graduates each yr, always taken neurologists for the last 3-4 yrs. Tried to get ACGME approval for a third position this yr, but couldnt do so because of lack of funds. The only ACGME approved NIR program in neurology.

2) Univ. of Iowa: 1 fellow each yr. Always a neurologistfor the last 3-4 yrs.

3) MCW: 2 fellows each yr. Always recruited from VN/NCC.

4) UPMC: 2-4 fellows per yr. Always recruited 1-2 neurologists per year for the last 3-4 yrs.

5) Case Western: 1 fellow per yr. 1st VN graduate passing out of NIR this yr. 2010, 2011 fellows are from VN.

There are many other programs which profess to taking neurologists; like CCF, Jackson-Miami, UMDNJ, UCLA, Boston Univ., SUNY-Buffalo, NYU, UIC, Cedar-Sinai, Wayne State, St. Luke's-Roosevelt & MGH. Though they may have trained a few VN fellows in the past, they have not done so consistently every yr because of their biases towards neurologists. Please add any other programs that you know of to this list with the evidence backing your statements & not just what you have heard. We should discuss the pros & cons of these programs.

Please stick to the subject of this thread rather than making this a general discussion on Neuroendovascular training, Vascular Neurology training or Neurocritical care training.

 

[Omar Mukhtiar]

Univ Iowa no longer has NIR fellowship. It was discontinued this year. Does anyone have any information about this??

I confirm that the above programs have provided consistent training opportunities for neurologists.

 

[ecoscuba]

Emory has 4 interventional neurorad spots. 2 are filled by neurologists and the other 2 are neurosurgeons.

 

[afoofa]

Following is the list of fellowship programs in interventional neurology listed at SVIN and after doing preliminary research I think most of them support neurologists.

Fellowship Database


ProgramCityStateContact
Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukee,WIAmy Strack, Program CoordinatorUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolis,MNPat Bulgerin, Program CoordinatorMichigan State University/Sparrow Health SystemEast Lansing,MIMounzer Kassab MDUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburgh,PATudor Jovin, MDUniversity of Medicine and Dentistry at New Jersey Newark,NJSolomon Caudle, Chirag GandhiUniversity of Louisville School of MedicineLouisville,KYJanet FeltsMassachusetts General HospitalBoston,MAJames Rabinov, MD, Program DirectorSUNY Upstate Medical UniversitySyracuse,NYAlison Brewer, Administrative AssistantUniversity of MassachusettsWorcester,MALinda DivrisAlbany Medical CenterAlbany,NYDileep Yavagal, MDBrigham and Women's HospitalBoston, MACynthia Cirignano on behalf oKai U. Frerichs, M.D.Saint Louis University HospitalSt. Louis,MOSherryl WilliamsTexas Stroke InstituteDallas,TXVallabh Janardhan, MD, Debbie Estes, RN BSN, Dan Iliff, Physician Employment Coordinator

 

[afoofa]

Fellowship Database

It lost the formatting. Here is the link: http://www.svin.org/Pages/fellowship_database.aspx

 

[bonran]

Michigan State University/Sparrow Health System East Lansing is just starting again this year after they hired 2 neurointerventionalists. In the past they have had a reputation of training their own VN fellows. They are very low volume right now- 2 to 3 interventions a week (compare that to 3-6 a day at SUNY-Buffalo or UPMC).

University of Medicine and Dentistry at New Jersey Newark is not consistent in taking VN fellows; specially since Qureshi & Kirmani left a few yrs back.

Massachusetts General Hospital has a neurologist on the faculty but then again doesnt take external neurologists every yr.

SUNY Upstate Medical University Syracuse havent heard of Abu Yahya taking any neurologists in the last few yrs.

University of MassachusettsWorcester- They may have trained neurologist/s but not consistently. Ajay Wakhloo favors radiologists. They hire fellows every 6months, which is joke because their fellowships are filled till 2016.

Albany Medical CenterAlbany Dileep Yavagal has moved to Miami. Have not heard of any new VN fellows coming out of this program.

Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston, same as MGH.


I should add Univ. of Louisville which is training their first fellow since 2009; will be hiring neurologists.

SLU, St Louis has just hired their 2nd neurologist fellow this year & will be hiring neurologists in future.

Texas Stroke Institute is a new facility still in the process of setting up. But it will eventually be hiring neurologists as fellows.

 

[RAD345]

does anyone knows if stroke program at SLU is accredited?

 

[afoofa]

Its not as far as I know unless anything has changed recently.

Here is the link: http://www.aan.com/education/fellowships/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.view&directory=88

Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center

Description The aim of this fellowship is to provide a comprehensive education in the fields of cerebrovascular disorders and neurocritical care. Along these lines, extensive clinical experience is provided in the current practical strategies for evaluating and managing patients with strokes of various types, as well as other neurologic disorders requiring critical care. ACGME Approval No Institutional GME approval Yes Requirements
Start Date July Institution Name Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center Institution City St. Louis Length of Fellowship July 1 - June 30 Application October - December Notification February Salary PGY-5 level Contact Enrique C. Leira, MD/Stacie Thebeau
Department of Neurology
Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center
3635 Vista at Grand
St. Louis, MO
63110 Phone 314-577-8738 Fax 314-268-5101 E-mail [email protected] Web Site http://www.slu.edu Topics
(Primary in Bold) Cerebrovascular Disease/Stroke

 

[RAD345]

Thanks for the input.
The info on website is old and Dr. Leira is now at University of Iowa.
I meant if someone has called them and asked Sheryll Williams, The coordinator about the accreditation.
As mentioned earlier pls provide data that you are sure of.

 

[afoofa]

My bad...was just trying to help.

 

[neuroir]

Univ Iowa no longer has NIR fellowship. It was discontinued this year. Does anyone have any information about this??

I confirm that the above programs have provided consistent training opportunities for neurologists.

The fellowship was not discontinued. They simply lost John Chaloupka, the program director and the main of only 2 faculty due to political battles and he ain't coming back. I think the program will rebound, they always had a very large procedural volume and there are no competitors in the area closer than Minneapolis or WFMC. They just need to hire a replacement, that's all. One of the graduating fellows was hired as a faculty and he is a vascular neurologist.

 

[Omar Mukhtiar]

There are just 6 accredited programs:

INR:
Wash Univ.
JHMI
CCF

NSx:
St Joseph's-BNI
Univ. Florida, Gainsville

Neurology:
Univ. of Minnesota

Not that accreditation is important right now, there is no passing out board exam. When a board comes up, accreditation will be required.

 

[RAD345]

SLU offers combo program which it matters whether or not their stroke year is accredited.

 

[bonran]

I didnt quite understand the last response.

The programs listed are ACGME accredited ESNR/INR/Interventional Neurology programs, not the Vascular Neurology (VN)/Stroke programs.

SLU is not accredited for VN or ESNR/INR.

From 2009 onwards, it matters whether the VN fellowship one does is ACGME accredited or not. Only fellows from ACGME programs will be able to sit the VN boards from 2010. Also, as per guidelines, only graduates from ACGME VN programs can go into ESNR/INR fellowships (although this is not being followed to the T by all programs yet).

As far as accreditation of ESNR programs goes, there are several issues that are preventing programs from going in for it:

1) ACGME work hr restrictions for fellows reduces times they can be called in for procedures. ESNR is a labor intensive fellowship requiring working for long durations at odd hours. It is difficult to follow ACGME 80hr work rules.

2) Funding: this being a multidisciplinary field, if an INR run program recruits a neurologist/Nsx grad, their parent departments have to provide funding for the training years. Some programs are using Corporate financing to provide funds for their fellows.

3) Lack of a passing out Board exam doesnt make it necessary for all programs to be accredited. This may change if ABMS brings about a Board or stricter guidelines about training.

4) The paperwork required for ACGME accreditation is tedious.

5) Till recently, only Neuroradiologists/Neurosurgeons or "persons of equivalent qualifications" were able to become PDs of ESNR programs. Since the guidelines didnt clearly specify Neurologists, they were denied the opportunity to open such programs & train neurology graduates. Since 2009 (with Minnesota getting the accreditation) this has changed & we may see more neurology run programs getting accredited in the future.

6) Reluctance on the part of some radiology run programs to get accredited as then they will have to interview neurology/NSx graduates (Equal Opportunity Employment rules) thus losing "turf" in a field that is slipping out of their hands. Many radiologists prefer the positions to go empty than train graduates of other specialties.

 

[RAD345]

SLU is accredited for VN

But SLU is not on the ACGME list. Check http://www.acgme.org/adspublic/
and click vascular neurology from drop down menu.

I meant, if someone goes to combo program at SLU, would he be able to sit for vascular neurology board.

I would appreciate if someone could call and ask them at (314) 977 4864.

Thanks!
🙂

 

[bonran]

I apologize. SLU is not ACGME accredited for VN yet.

As of 2009, any VN graduates of non-ACGME programs will not be able to sit for the 2011 VN Boards.

You need to call the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology to confirm this. Please read section C paragraph 2 of the following document:

http://www.abpn.com/vn.htm