Program Overview

About the Program

The Vascular Neurology Fellowship at the Baylor College of Medicine is an opportunity to learn all facets of stroke neurology at the largest medical center complex in the world, the Texas Medical Center, from leaders in stroke care, research, and education. The fellowship provides training in the full spectrum of care for stroke patients, integrating this training into stroke systems of care and developing a critical, thoughtful approach to complex patients.

Program Structure

The fellowship is a one-year clinical and elective program with an optional second-year research experience depending on availability.

Curriculum

Curriculum Schedule

A mandatory six-week block of didactics is scheduled dealing with emergency management of acute ischemic stroke, intra-cerebral hemorrhage, sub-arachnoid hemorrhage, and subdual hemorrhage. Introductory lectures will be held on CT, CT angiogram, CT perfusion, MR imaging, MRA, and MR diffusion and perfusion imaging.

Electives

• Neurosonology: At Baylor St. Luke's and the DeBakey VA Medical Center, the vascular neurology fellow will work with registered vascular technologists (RVT's) in learning how to perform noninvasive studies of the cerebrovascular system via ultrasound technology.
• Neuro-Interventional Radiology: The vascular neurology fellow will work directly with interventional neuroradiologists to learn the indications and limitations of interventional neuroradiological techniques in regards to stroke management.
• Neuroradiology: The vascular neurology fellow will learn about the indications and limitations of various diagnostic tests used to image the neuraxis.

Research

The vascular neurology faculty has broad interests in different aspects of stroke research. Many are recognized leaders and published widely in the area of translational stroke, acute stroke research, health services research, clinical trial design and analysis, genetics, and basic science of stroke. A mentoring program starting in the first year of the fellowship program is possible for interested candidates.

Affiliates

Our affiliate hospitals include many that ranked among the best in the United States.

Faculty and Setting

There are 10 Baylor neurology faculty members who directly participate in the fellowship program, in addition to colleagues in interventional neuroradiology, vascular neurosurgery, vascular surgery, rehabilitation, vascular medicine, and cardiology. Clinical care is centered at two of the largest affiliated hospitals, Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, providing two different and complementary experiences.

Program Director

The program director is Pitchaiah Mandava, M.D., Ph.D., MSEE, professor in the Department of Neurology, certified in vascular neurology and neuro-critical care, and highly respected for his contributions to stroke research, outcome modeling, and novel acute stroke therapies.