About

Program Description

The Vascular Neurology Fellowship is an ACGME-accredited 1-year clinical program with an option for a second year in clinical research and stroke trials training as part of the NIH-funded Coordinating Stroke Center at UCSF.

Mission

Our Vascular Neurology fellowship is the premier program for developing the next generation of leaders in stroke medicine. We provide the most comprehensive training available, covering the full spectrum of stroke care, including acute management, prevention, rehabilitation, and critical care. Our rigorous education, hands-on research, and clinical experience prepare fellows to excel in any academic or clinical setting. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment will give our fellows the cultural competence to serve communities from varied backgrounds effectively. Our program emphasizes innovation in education, basic science, translational, and clinical research, empowering fellows to conduct studies that address pressing health disparities in stroke incidence and care. We are proud to inspire our fellows to become leaders in advancing the field of vascular neurology through compassionate care, exemplary research, and ethical practices.

Details

The clinical year provides the necessary rotations in vascular neurology, neuroradiology, and neurorehabilitation medicine, which is required for vascular neurology board eligibility. Clinical rotations include outpatient stroke clinic, inpatient stroke care, rehabilitation medicine, and electives. Fellows obtain extensive experience in the management of acute ischemic stroke with intravenous thrombolytics and endovascular methods, including intra-arterial thrombolysis and thrombectomy. Fellows administer and interpret transcranial Doppler testing for vasospasm and learn to interpret duplex ultrasonography of the carotid. Additionally, fellows obtain extensive experience interpreting neuroimaging, including MRI, CT angiography, CT perfusion, and conventional angiography. All fellows are paired with mentors with overlapping career interests.

Applicants who wish to pursue a career in clinical stroke research should apply for the 2-year fellowship. The second year of the fellowship will focus on clinical research methodology. This additional year will offer didactic teaching on the basics of biostatistics, epidemiology, and study design. Fellows will be matched with a research mentor and will carry out their research project, expecting fellows to complete a first-authored manuscript and/or present at a national meeting.

Current unique clinical interests

The Stroke Recovery Initiative at UCSF is designed to help people who have had a stroke connect with researchers who are applying the latest science and technology to test new treatments for stroke recovery. 

We are designated as a center of excellence for patients with cavernomas: Angioma Alliance. Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia is also a disease in which we participate in a multidisciplinary treatment approach. 

The Pulsatile Tinnitus Clinic is the only multidisciplinary resource for patients who suffer from this condition, which can be caused by a vascular malformation or other neurologic conditions.

Inpatient rotations (7 months):
Neurovascular primary service
Neurovascular consult service

Elective rotations (4 months):

Inpatient
Transcranial doppler
Palliative care
Neurosurgery
Neurohospitalist consult service
Pediatric vascular neurology
Neurocritical Care at ZSFG

Outpatient
Neurorecovery clinic (Neurorecovery and Spasticity & Motor Recovery clinics)
Speciality clinics: Cerebral cavernous malformation clinic, Hereditary Hemorrhagic
Telangiectasia, Birthmarks and Vascular Anomaly Clinic

Facilities/Training Sites

UCSF Parnassus Campus
Zuckerburg San Francisco General Hospital (optional)
UCSF Benioff’s Children’s Hospitals (optional)
UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences

Current Fellows

Nathaniel Fleming, MD
Rebecca DiBiase, MD

How to Apply

We have 2 fellows per year with 2 open fellowship positions.

Contact Us

Please direct any questions to our Program Coordinator, Virginia Schuler.

UCSF Department of Neurology
505 Parnassus Avenue, Box 0114
San Francisco, CA 94143-0114

Phone: 415-502-1453 or 415-476-1489
Fax: 415-476-3428

Lauren Patrick, MD
Vascular Neurology Fellowship Program Director