Education

Vascular Neurology Fellowship

Welcome to the Vascular Neurology fellowship offered at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Department of Neurology. Our fellowship program offers a comprehensive, clinical, and interdisciplinary training experience. Fellows gain in-depth expertise in the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and overall management of all cerebrovascular disorders. With a strong emphasis on outstanding patient care and cutting-edge research, our program prepares fellows to be leaders in the field of vascular neurology.

There are two fellowship program tracks available:

1. ACGME-Accredited Vascular Neurology Fellowship (One-Year Program): This track currently offers 4 positions for a comprehensive, one-year fellowship. Candidates must have completed an ACGME-accredited neurology residency program. Upon completion, fellows will be proficient in managing a wide range of cerebrovascular conditions, with expertise in vascular neuroimaging, neurosonology, acute stroke telemedicine, and the ability to initiate independent clinical research. 
2. Stroke Research Fellowship (NINDS StrokeNet): An optional second year is available for select candidates who wish to further expand their research activities. This track offers 1 position for a one-year, research-focused fellowship, concentrating on cerebrovascular related research within the NINDS StrokeNet network (details below).

MISSION: To train world-class vascular neurologists to deliver expert care, become leaders in the field, and drive innovation in the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular disorders.

VISION: To be a leading center of excellence in comprehensive vascular neurology training.

Opportunities and Expectations

The Vascular Neurology Fellowship is designed for trainees to develop comprehensive expertise in acute stroke management, inpatient and outpatient care for cerebrovascular disorders, stroke management in the Neurocritical Care Unit (NICU), primary and secondary stroke prevention strategies, stroke telemedicine, stroke rehabilitation, and neurosonology. Fellows will have the opportunity to develop research skills in areas such as clinical epidemiology, stroke physiopathology, clinical trials, stroke disparities and systems of care, and vascular-related cognitive decline, while collaborating with both clinical and basic science stroke neuroscientists. Additionally, fellows will be expected to enhance their medical education skills by supervising and teaching junior residents and medical students.

After completion of the clinically based one-year fellowship program, fellows are expected to be proficient in obtaining a detailed cerebrovascular history, performing relevant cerebrovascular examinations, appropriately localize vascular lesions and develop a differential diagnostic list based on historical and physical findings. Fellows will be able to plan diagnostic work-ups for stroke patients, interpret neuroimaging data, manage acute stroke cases, administer thrombolytics, and triage cases for endovascular treatments. Fellows will also develop long-term stroke prevention plans, understand the management and prognosis of different stroke etiologies, and provide cerebrovascular consultations to general neurologists. Additionally, they will collaborate with specialists in related fields such as cardiology and neurosurgery, understand the healthcare and financial impact of cerebrovascular diseases, and complete a research project, demonstrating an appreciation for academic medicine and clinical research.

Fellows in the first year rotate through the Stroke wards, outpatient clinics, Neurosonology Laboratory, Neurocritical Care Unit, and the Neurointerventional and Neuroradiology services. Dedicated research time is also a key component of the program. The didactic curriculum includes weekly core lectures and case conferences tailored specifically for vascular neurology fellows and stroke faculty. These lectures cover a broad range of topics and are well-attended by fellows, faculty, and senior neurology residents rotating on the Stroke service.

There are two fellowship programs tracks available. The first is an ACGME-accredited one-year fellowship program. An additional non-ACGME second-year is optional for selected candidates that want to expand research activities. The second fellowship program track is a Stroke research track (NINDS SrokeNet) one-year research position. For eligibility, please contact Dr. Tatjana Rundek, trundek@med.miami.edu, the Miami StrokeNet training director.

Call: On-call duties are shared among the vascular neurology fellows. There are 4 ACGME-accredited, one-year clinical fellowship positions. Fellows rotate in 2-week blocks: One fellow covers daytime service at Jackson Memorial Hospital, while another covers University of Miami Hospital and the Miami VA Medical Center. Weekend call alternates between Jackson Memorial and University of Miami/VA fellows. Weeknight call is handled by a night float fellow, while the fourth fellow is on outpatient or elective rotation and has no call responsibilities.

Teaching Hospitals: Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami Hospital, and the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center. 

Applications accepted through ERAS until April. For additional information please contact Andrea Ruiz 305-243-2742 or aruiz2@med.miami.edu.

Faculty

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine is the premier academic medical center in South Florida. The Department of Neurology has a large faculty comprised of 90 clinicians and 20 Neuroscientists. The Vascular Neurology Division has full-time faculty members who are board certified in Vascular Neurology. A variety of other individuals and services interact with the vascular neurology fellows to enhance their teaching experience. Other services intimately involved include, among others, Neuro-endovascular service, Neurosurgery, Cardiology, and Neurocritical Care.

Services

In addition to inpatient and outpatient clinical activities, the Division is responsible for the Patrick Cesarano Neurovascular Laboratory, accredited by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories. The Neurovascular Laboratory performs over 2000 annual procedures, including Transcranial Doppler studies, Vasomotor Reactivity studies, Shunt test studies, Emboli detection studies and Carotid and Vertebral Duplex studies. Additionally, fellows over the tele stroke service at Jackson West and Jackson South. The fellow is expected to be actively involved in all activities. The cerebrovascular service cares for about 1200 new inpatients with stroke per year, between 200-300 inpatient consults from other departments each year and about 1500 new follow up outpatients.

Program Contact Information

Andrea (Andy) Ruiz
GME Program Administrator
Phone: 305-243-2742
Email: aruiz2@med.miami.edu