Vascular Neurology Fellowship

The Spectrum Health/Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Vascular Neurology Fellowship program is a one-year, ACGME-accredited program that accepts two fellows each year. The clinical rotations take place at Spectrum Health, a Joint Commission-accredited and certified comprehensive stroke center. It is the largest and busiest comprehensive stroke center in Michigan, with unmatched access to advanced clinical care and imaging technology. The facilities include two floors dedicated to neurology with a designated 12-bed stroke unit; 12-bed neuro intensive care unit, experienced APPs and 24-hour house-staff support.

The fellowship program provides a broad clinical and academic experience that encompasses all aspects of care in vascular neurological disorders. Our high acute stroke and endovascular procedure volumes (e.g., 1,500+ stroke admission and 180+ thrombectomy annually) provides fellows the opportunity to care for patients with complex vascular neurological disorders. Fellows take care of patients within the acute and telestroke services, neuro intensive care unit and outpatient clinic service, including TIA clinic. Additionally, fellows gain knowledge and experience across various areas of expertise through their neurosonology, neuroradiology, interventional neurology and neurorehabilitation rotations. Fellows also participate on several multi-institute cerebrovascular clinical trials. Upon completion of the fellowship training, fellows are eligible for vascular neurology board certification and neurosonology certification.

Clinical Environment
Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital is the primary training site. It is the largest medical center in West Michigan, a level one trauma center with 1,100 beds, a NAEC level IV epilepsy center, the home of AeroMed emergency helicopter service, the hub for 15 regional hospitals and an established telestroke program. There are more than 1,500 patients admitted to the stroke service annually. As the largest comprehensive stroke center in Michigan, our stroke program performed 192 thrombectomy cases in 2019 alone. Through our strong collaboration with Michigan State University and Van Andel Research Institute, fellows are strongly encouraged and supported in their development of independent clinical projects and/or other scholarly activities. Teaching opportunities for fellows abound; fellows participate in the neurology lecture series and lead various medical student and resident didactics throughout their training year.

Curriculum
The one-year training program is based on the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) curriculum and the ACGME requirements. The program provides a stand-alone inpatient stroke primary service and a separate stroke consult service, each staffed by its own vascular neurology faculty and team of APPs/residents. Rotations (13 four-week blocks) include:

Fellows participate in stroke clinic two half-days a week throughout the fellowship year. The inpatient stroke service provides educational opportunities to care for patients with acute stroke, including thrombolysis and endovascular therapy, as well as manage patients with neurovascular disorders in the neuro intensive care unit setting. The stroke clinic provides broad educational opportunities to evaluate patients with complex neurovascular conditions and follow up with stroke patients after their hospital discharge. Fellows learn the principles and techniques, as well as perform and interpret, of transcranial and carotid doppler ultrasonography though the neurosonology rotation. Fellows can elect to include a cardiovascular rotation at our state-of-the art Spectrum Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center to learn advanced cardiogenic stroke management from cardiovascular perspective. In addition, fellows have the unique opportunity to elect a pediatric vascular neurology rotation at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Fellows are expected to expand curriculum opportunities to incorporate experience in a video-based telestroke consultation.

Didactics and Conferences
A variety of seminars and conferences are planned to strengthen fellow education. Fellows attend dedicated vascular neurology, neuroradiology, and endovascular neurosurgery lecture series covering all relevant basic science and clinical aspects. Fellows attend neurosciences grand rounds and are invited to present once at neuroscience grand rounds at the end of their fellowship year. Basic science didactics include the following broad topics:

A list of conferences is provided throughout the fellowship year; fellows, attendings, neurology residents and APPs are expected to attend. These conferences include:

 

In addition to the heavily clinical experience in our comprehensive stroke center, there are many opportunities for fellows to participate in innovative clinical research and other scholarly activities. Within the first month of fellowship, fellows complete the American Academy of Neurology’s evidence-based medicine online modules to reinforce and supplement their knowledge of the basic principles of evidence-based medicine and research. Fellows attend eight hours of lectures within the first three months of starting their fellowship covering a variety of research topics that include ongoing stroke clinical trials in our comprehensive stroke center as part of the NIH StrokeNet. Our vascular neurology faculty has a wide variety of clinical and biomedical interests that will be available to mentor fellows participating in scholarly activity. Fellows can participate in ongoing departmental research projects or lead their own projects during their training year. The scholarly activity and scientific support team within the Spectrum Health Office of Research and Education, as well as the vascular neurology faculty, will further supplement and mentor fellows on how research is conducted, evaluated and explained to patient and applied to patient care. The Spectrum Health Office of Research and Education provides resources including statistical analysis, support for research and oversight of research facilities.

The recently expanded and state-of-the-art research facilities and resources at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Grand Rapids campus and Van Andel Research Institute are available to fellows. Fellows are encouraged to attend the annual international stroke conference by the American Stroke Association and the annual regional cardio-cerebral vascular conference. Fellows are required to complete at least one abstract and submit to a national meeting. Ideally, fellows should also submit one manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal during their fellowship.

The Spectrum Health Comprehensive Stroke Center is an active site in many multicenter clinical trials (e.g., ARCADIA, ENRICH, MORSE, RAGE, SELECT 2, Sleep SMART, TIMELESS). Fellows are strongly encouraged to play active roles in recruiting patients, data collection, and follow-up, as well as develop research projects under the mentorship of the stroke faculty. Fellows receive support to attend at least one regional, national, or international conference during their training year.

Applications to the Spectrum Health/Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Vascular Neurology Fellowship are accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Medical Specialties Matching Program. Eligibility requirements include:

For more information, please contact Susan Grice, vascular neurology program coordinator at Susan.Grice@spectrumhealth.org or call 616.391.3245.

Spectrum Health provides a comprehensive and very competitive benefits package for our residents, staff and their families. In addition, our program provides educational monies to support your ongoing education. Download our salary and benefits document to learn more.