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
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.
Meet Our Fellows
Hometown: Jordan, Amman
Medical School: University of Jordan
Residency School: University of New Mexico
Why did you decide to come to the U of M Vascular Neurology Program: Honestly, I just felt it in my heart that this program is the right one after the interview. Everyone was nice and friendly. U of M has an excellent reputation in neurovascular training. Although, this will be my first time in Minnesota, me and my family are excited to be here. My husband is going to be a hospitalist in IM at U of M. We are not used to cold as we come from Jordan (Weather is basically warm) but we are super excited for the weather and cold related activities.
What do you enjoy most about the program: I am excited to work with everyone as they seem to be very friendly.
What are your plans after fellowship: Working as an attending in interventional neurology
What is your favorite Minnesota activity: Excited about all the cold related activities. Also heard that lakes here are the best.
Coolest/geekiest/most random thing about you: Marathon Runner
If you weren't a physician, you would be: Olympic professional Marathon Runner
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Medical School: University of Cincinnati
Residency School: HCA-HealthOne
Why did you decide to come to the U of M Vascular Neurology Program: In addition to being a well known for Neurology and the opportunity to learn from great physicians, the combined endovascular program allows for smooth transition into my future career.
What do you enjoy most about the program: I hope to get a great learning experience.
What are your plans after fellowship: I would ideally like to work in Colorado
Coolest/geekiest/most random thing about you: I am a LARPer, cosplayer and gamer.
If you weren't a physician, you would be: An airforce pilot
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Medical School: Chicago Medical School
Residency School: University of Utah
Why did you decide to come to the U of M Vascular Neurology Program: Loved the structure of the training program.
What do you enjoy most about the program: The training, preparation for career aspirations.
What are your plans after fellowship: More advanced fellowship training in Dallas.
What is your favorite Minnesota activity: Hiking, laking, dodging mosquito bites.
Coolest/geekiest/most random thing about you: Won standup comedy open mic competition way way back in the day against amateur comics as a dare.
If you weren't a physician, you would be: Screenplay writer or NBA GM
Program Director
Christopher Streib, MD, MS
Division Director & Associate Professor, Vascular Neurology, UMN
Cerebrovascular Medical Director, M Health Fairview
Program Coordinator
Kate Hanson
Follow us on Social Media
IG @umn.stroke.ncc | TW @umnstrokencc
Verification of Training
To verify a former fellow's training at the University of Minnesota, please email Cathie Witzel (witz0007@umn.edu).