Training overview

Our fellowship's core faculty consists of four full-time neurointensivists certified by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS) and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). In addition, multidisciplinary faculty members from various departments support the fellowship.

Our fellows train at The University of Kansas Health System, a world-class academic medical center with a dedicated 28-bed Neuro ICU that provides care to critically ill neurology, neurosurgery, and ear, nose and throat (ENT) patients. Continuous electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring is available in all rooms. A portable CT scanner is housed in the unit.

The neurocritical care team works very closely with the Neurosurgery and the ENT teams. The Neuro ICU call coverage is provided by seven nurse practitioners and residents (neurology, anesthesia and neurosurgery) under supervision of the neurointensivists.

Schedule

The fellow will rotate through medical/transplant ICU, trauma ICU, neurosurgery, stroke, epilepsy and cardiothoracic ICU. Opportunities will be available to learn various procedures required in the specialty of critical care, including arterial lines, intubations, central venous lines, lumbar drains, and ultrasound use.

Fellows will be on home overnight call 3-4 nights per week when on NICU months.

Two-year track

Our more traditional two-year track features:

• Neuro ICU – 8 months
• Medical/Transplant ICU (MICU) – 3 months
• Cardiothoracic ICU (CTICU) – 2 months
• Trauma ICU – 1 month
• Medical ICU consult service – 1 month
• Stroke service – 1 month
• Neurosurgery – 1 month
• Anesthesia – 2 months

The two-year track is for residents from neurology or emergency medicine residency programs.

Electives

• Research – Up to 5 months
• Palliative care – 2-4 weeks
• Electroencephalography (EEG) – 2-4 weeks
• Neuroradiology – 2-4 weeks

One-year track

The one-year track is for fellows who have completed postgraduate fellowship training in one of the following areas:

• Anesthesia critical care
• Surgical critical care
• Internal medicine critical care that requires at least six months of critical care training

Training on the one year-track includes:

• Neuro ICU – 8-9 months
• Stroke service – 1 month
• EEG – 1 month
• Neuroradiology – 1 month
• Anesthesia – 1 month (elective)

Neurosurgeons on the one-year track follow a different training regimen.

• Neuro ICU – 4 months
• Medical/Transplant ICU (MICU) – 3 months
• Cardiothoracic ICU (CTICU) – 1 month
• Medical ICU consult service – 1 month
• Stroke service – 1 month
• EEG – 1 month
• Anesthesia – 1 month

Research opportunities

The neurocritical care team engages in various retrospective and prospective studies, StrokeNet clinical trials, and industry-sponsored trials. Our fellows will be involved in all these studies and will receive mentoring to enhance their research experience.

Perks

Fellows will be provided an office cubicle with a computer and space for books and personal items, and locked storage. All fellows will receive an allowance for books and the purchase of either a smartphone or a netbook computer.

Fellowship leadership

Michael G. Abraham, M.D., FAHA, FSVIN
Professor of Neurointerventional Surgery and Neurocritial Care
Fellowship Program Director

Stacey Qandil
Fellowship Coordinator
(913) 945-6429
sqandil@kumc.edu

Applicant information

Thank you for your interest in our Neurocritical Care Fellowship. Fellowship appointments begin July 1 and run through June 30.