Neurocritical Care

Message from the Program Director
Welcome to the University of Minnesota Medical Center Neurocritical Care Fellowship Program. Neurocritical Care is a fast-growing subspecialty that uses a multidisciplinary approach in the care of critically ill patients with neurological diseases. Our program is accredited by the United Council of Neurological Subspecialties (UCNS) and our goal is to train the next generation of neurointensive to advance the field of neurocritical care by providing the highest quality of care to our patients.
Program Highlights
Extensive training through a core clinical experience in neurocritical care in the Neuro-ICU and additional clinical training in general critical care during rotations in Surgical, Medical, and Cardiac Intensive Care Units.
- Integrated service with Vascular neurology with opportunities for telemedicine including stroke and ICU.
- Extensive experience with neurological complications of advance cardiopulmonary support devices: ECMO, LVADs.
- Opportunities to be co-investigator in national clinical trials.
- Dedicated research time with an expectation to present findings at the end of training.
- Multiple conferences run by neurocritical and vascular fellows; and didactic lecture series.
- Simulation training for brain death declaration.
- Opportunities to teach medical students and residents.
The fellowship is generally a 2- year program but there can be a 1-year option program for Neurosurgery residents or for trainees who have completed a year of critical care fellowship training.
Our fellows rotate at 2 sites: University of Minnesota Medical Center and Fairview Southdale Hospital.
Fellows will be exposed to specific neurological emergencies including but not limited to: cerebrovascular disorders, neurotrauma, neuro-oncology, refractory seizures, neuromuscular diseases, infections, alterations in consciousness, and perioperative neurosurgical care.
The 2-year program includes 12 months of ICU time in which the fellow is the primary provider of critical care: 9 months in the neurocritical care unit and 3-months rotating in the general critical care units. The remaining 12 months are dedicated to Stroke service, Consultative neurocritical care service, Electives and protected Research time.
Applicants must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency in neurology and be board eligible. Applicants from accredited neurosurgery, emergency medicine, internal medicine, anesthesiology or surgery programs will also be considered. Prior to submitting an application please email our fellowship coordinator to ensure that a position is open for the start date you have in mind.
Qualified applicants should submit the following through the San Francisco Match’s Central Application Service (CAS) by February 6th (16 months ahead of the fellowship start date):
- A curriculum vitae
- A personal statement of interest in this subspecialty
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty/mentors on letterhead with signature
- Copy of UMSLE or COMLEX official score reports
- A copy of your current ECFMG certificate (for International Medical Graduates)
- Visa status (only J-1 visas sponsored by ECFMG are accepted)
Competitive applicants will be invited to visit the University of Minnesota for an interview with the Program Director and selected faculty members. Interviews are typically conducted February - April.
CHARM: GlibenClamide for Large Hemispheric Infarction Analyzing mRS and Mortality.
PI: Christopher Streib, MD, MS
SHINE: Stroke Hyperglycemia Insulin Network Effort
PI: Oladi Bentho, MD, MS
Carotid Revascularization and Medical Management for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis Trial
PI: Mustapha Ezzeddine, MD
AtRial Cardiopathy and Antithrombotic Drugs In prevention After cryptogenic stroke. (ARCADIA)
PI: Benjamin Miller, MD
Meet Our Fellows

Hometown: Omdurman, Sudan
Medical School: University of Khartoum - Khartoum, Sudan
Residency School: Harlem Hospital Center/Columbia University - New York, NY, USA
Specialty: Internal Medicine
Plans after fellowship: I am yet to decide.
Coolest/geekiest/most random thing about you: I practiced medicine in four continents.
If you weren't a physician, you would be: A singer or a soccer player.

Medical School: Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health - Salvador, Brazil
Residency: Roberto Santos General Hospital - Salvador, Brazil
Specialty: Neurology

Program Director
Oladi Bentho, MD
Assistant Professor, Neurocritical Care
obentho@umn.edu

Program Coordinator
Kate Hanson
Verification of Training
To verify a former fellow's participation in the University of Minnesota Neurocritical Care Fellowship Program, please email Cathie Witzel at witz0007@umn.edu.