Vascular Neurology Fellowship

The Cerebrovascular Disease Section of the Department of Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis offers an ACGME-accredited training program in the subspecialty of Vascular Neurology. This one-year program offers extensive training in both research and clinical care through a comprehensive program of didactic teaching and hands-on clinical experience.

Throughout the year, there will be emergency evaluation of patients’ acute stroke for thrombolytic therapy and one-half day per week of outpatient stroke clinic.

Additionally, WashU is at the vanguard of developing regional stroke and telestroke networks. Fellows will be trained how to utilize telestroke for acute treatment in novel settings like our virtual stroke program hospitals and telestroke clinics.

All fellows will participate as co-investigators in pivotal, ongoing Phase III clinical trials. Our program is a recognized leading enroller in ongoing national and international stroke trials.

Weekly endovascular case conferences facilitated by neurology, neurosurgery and neuroradiology staff offer the chance for further growth and enrichment. There are dedicated weekly Neuroradiology conferences for Stroke and Neurocritical Care that are open to all clinical fellows.

Fellows will also attend our annual William J. Powers Evidence-Based Management of Cerebrovascular Disease course.

Since 2001, the Washington University Stroke Center has delivered a comprehensive educational program  addressing the latest evidence supporting management of patients with stroke. The William J. Powers Evidence-Based Management of Cerebrovascular Disease series features lectures from the Washington University Vascular Neurology faculty, as well as leaders in Neurocritical Care, Neurorehabilitation, Neuroradiology, Neurosurgery and Emergency Medicine.

The objective of the course is to provide attendees with the current state of the evidence regarding the diagnosis, management and prevention of ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage to allow for informed decisions in the management of patients with these conditions.

One or two years of additional non-ACGME-accredited training in basic or clinical research may be available for those interested in an academic career.

The Washington University School of Medicine Stroke Service is based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, which serves as a primary stroke center for the St. Louis metropolitan area and a comprehensive referral center for the central Midwest. Approximately 1,800 patients with cerebrovascular disease are admitted yearly. Fellowship training will be apportioned between inpatient services (including the neuro-ICU and stroke rehabilitation) outpatient services, instruction in ultrasound, education of house staff and medical students and participation in original basic or clinical neuroscience research and clinical trials.

Our Stroke Center provides a wealth of patient encounter opportunities, as well as collaboration with outstanding cerebrovascular scientists, clinicians, radiologists and surgeons. Individuals who will have completed an ACGME-accredited Neurology residency program are eligible to apply.