Vascular Neurology

Message from the Director

Thank you for your interest in the Vascular Neurology Fellowship at the University of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota Stroke Program operates two comprehensive stroke centers, the University of Minnesota Medical Center and Fairview Southdale Hospital, in addition to an innovative network of emergent and inpatient Telestroke sites.

The stroke program is housed within the Stroke Clinical Service Unit which encompasses vascular neurology, neurocritical care, cerebrovascular neurosurgery, and endovascular surgical neuroradiology. Our trainees are exposed to the entire spectrum of cerebrovascular disease through the collaborative academic and clinical mission of our stroke neurologists, neurointensivists, cerebrovascular neurosurgeons, and endovascular surgical neuroradiologists.

We are energetic and enthusiastic about our mission, which is reflected in our unprecedented growth over the past few years.

Program Highlights

Qualified applicants may combine Vascular Neurology Fellowship with a one-year NIH Stroke Network Research fellowship or two-year Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology fellowship.
Train in a collaborative environment with rapid adoption of new interventions such as tenecteplase and delayed window thrombolysis
Utilize telestroke for both acute treatment and in novel settings such as our virtual stroke program hospitals and telestroke clinic
Participate as co-investigators in pivotal Phase III clinical trials; our program is a leading enroller in ongoing national and international stroke trials.
Fellowship bootcamp with focused review of: stroke code activations, neurocritical care emergencies, clinical trials, telestroke, and individual research projects
Stroke and Neurocritical Care weekly didactic lectures including Mortality & Morbidity (1st Tuesday), Journal Club (2nd Tuesday), Interesting Cases (3rd Tuesday), and didactic lectures (4th/5th Tuesday)
Weekly endovascular case conference facilitated by neurology, neurosurgery, and neuroradiology staff.
Dedicated weekly Neuroradiology conference for Stroke and Neurocritical Care

Prerequisite Training, Available Program Tracks, and Application Process & Procedure

Expand all

Prerequisite Training, Available Program Tracks, and Application Process & Procedure

Required Training Before Program Entry

Fellows must have successfully completed program in neurology that satisfies the requirements listed below.

All required clinical education for entry into ACGME-accredited fellowship programs must be completed in an ACGME-accredited residency program, an AOA-approved residency program, a program with ACGME International (ACGME-I) Advanced Specialty Accreditation, or a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)-accredited or College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)-accredited residency program located in Canada.

Fellowship programs must receive verification of each entering fellow’s level of competence in the required field, upon matriculation, using ACGME, ACGME-I, or CanMEDS Milestones evaluations from the core residency program.

In addition, the applicant must have passed USMLE Step 3 or COMLEX Part 3 and be board-eligible/certified in Neurology.

Available Training Tracks

Three training tracks are available (See ERAS for specifics):

Vascular neurology: one year of accredited vascular neurology fellowship.
Vascular neurology/StrokeNet research: one year of accredited vascular neurology fellowship plus one year of NIH-funded StrokeNet research. Additional information may be requested from the StrokeNet coordinator.
Vascular neurology/endovascular surgical neuroradiology: one year of accredited vascular neurology fellowship, one year of preliminary (non-accredited) training, plus a senior ACGME-accredited endovascular surgical neuroradiology year.

Application Procedure

Please apply to our program through ERAS and indicate the track or tracks in which you may be interested. You will be able to refine the list during an interview visit.

If the two- or three-year tracks interest you, you must submit a complete application by December 15th. Positions are filled through the NRMP match (See dates on the NRMP website).

Please upload the following materials to the ERAS system and register with NRMP:

Your latest curriculum vitae
Three letters of recommendation (signed, on letterhead)
A personal statement of interest in this subspecialty/ies and career path
Copy of USMLE/COMLEX examination score reports for Steps/Parts 1, 2 and 3
Indication of visa status
Copy of ECFMG certificate (if international medical graduate)

The NRMP Match opens in late January, the rank-order list deadline is first week of May, and Match Day falls in mid-May.

Interview Process

Competitive applicants will be invited for a virtual interview with the Program Director and selected faculty members, fellows, and/or APPs.

Interviews take place between January and March.

Preethy Pankaj, MBBS - PGY8

Hometown: Newcastle, Washington

Medical School: Amrita School of Medicine - Kochi, India

Residency: Family Medicine, East Pierce (Multicare Health System), Puyallup, WA & Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Why did you decide to come to the U of M Vascular Neurology Program? The program director's leadership and vision, patient volume, research and QI opportunities, DEI work and overall positive and collegial atmosphere created by the attendings and the medical staff.

What are your plans after fellowship? I have yet to decide.

Coolest/geekiest/most random thing about you: I used to be an arm-wrestling champion in my school/college days.

If you weren't a physician, you would be... a dancer/choreographer.

Nida Akram, MBBS - PGY5