Clinical Training & Experience

Hands-on clinical training will make up the majority of time each fellow spends at the University of Minnesota.

Training Sites

  • Fellows will spend most of their time at the University of Minnesota Medical Center (UMMC).
  • Fellows will also spend time at Southdale Hospital, a community hospital in the suburban Twin Cities.
  • Opportunities at Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) in downtown Minneapolis may also be available.

Sample Schedule

Year 1

  • NeuroICU - 24 weeks
  • MICU - 2 weeks
  • NeuroICU/Stroke consults (Southdale) - 4 weeks
  • Neurosurgery - 4 weeks
  • Critical Care EEG - 2 weeks
  • Anesthesia - 2 weeks
  • Other electives - up to 10 weeks
  • Vacation - 4 weeks

Year 2

  • NeuroICU - 12 weeks
  • MICU - 2 weeks
  • NeuroICU/Stroke consults (Southdale) - 4 weeks
  • SICU/Trauma ICU - 4 weeks
  • CICU/CTICU - 4 weeks
  • ICU Night Float - 2 weeks
  • Other electives - up to 20 weeks
  • Vacation - 4 weeks

Possible Electives

  • Anesthesiology (additional)
  • Neuroendovascular Intervention
  • Neuroradiology
  • Pulmonology
  • Nephrology
  • Cardiology
  • Trauma (HCMC)
  • Infectious Disease
  • PM&R/Neurorehabilitation
  • Palliative Care
  • Research
  • Others upon discussion

What will my time look like on service in the UMMC NeuroICU?

Common Pathologies & Patients

  • ICH, SAH, SDH, EDH
  • Post-TNK/thrombectomy
  • Status epilepticus & seizures
  • CNS infections (meningitis, encephalitis, abscess, etc.)
  • Neuromuscular emergencies (Myasthenia, AIDP)
  • Autoimmune (NMDA encephalitis, transverse myelitis)
  • Coma: post-cardiac arrest/ECMO
  • Post-transplant encephalopathies
  • Brain tumors, including perioperative neurosurgical care
  • Trauma: spinal cord injuries, TBI

Clinical Trial Screening

All faculty, fellows, APPs are study-trained and actively screening 24/7

  • Proactive screening for acute care trials begins prospectively at code activation with a low threshold to activate the research team (coordinator on call 24/7).
  • Reactive screening for prevention/rehabilitation trials also takes place daily.

Team & Coverage

From 7AM to 7PM, the UMMC NeuroICU is staffed by a team that includes 

  • a neurointensivist attending, 
  • a neurocritical care fellow, 
  • a neurology resident (PGY2-3),
  • 1 medical student, and 
  • 2 NCC APPs. 

There maybe additional rotators from other critical care fellowships.

From 7PM to 7AM, an NCC fellow takes home call for neuroICU inpatients. 

  • The neurology resident on night float takes first call.
  • An NCC attending is available 24/7 as back-up and is available to take first call when necessary.