Neurology

Rotations and Conferences

ROTATIONS

The fellowship consists of clinical rotations at the inpatient stroke service, outpatient stroke clinic including electives and protected research time. UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center, Olive View UCLA Medical Center and the VA Greater Los Angeles, Gluck Mobile Stroke Unit serve as sites for the vascular neurology fellowship. The diverse patient populations at each site offer unique educational and research opportunities.

UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center (Joint commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center)

Training at the UCLA RRMC Medical Center provides fellowship experience with patients in a major tertiary and quaternary hospital. Teaching rounds are held daily. The stroke team has a consult and primary service. The stroke neurology team makes consists of: the vascular neurology attending physician, the vascular neurology fellow, a PGY3 general neurology resident, 2 PGY2 general neurology residents and 1-2 medical students. Vascular neurology fellows provide 24-hour coverage of the acute stroke neurology service including nights and weekends at UCLA Santa Monica and Olive View Medical Centers. Telemedicine units are available for consultations at each site. Program clinic two half days per week, supervised by Vascular Neurology faculty. Joint daily rounds with Internal Medicine Consult service to discuss management of the stroke primary patients.

UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center (Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center certified, LA EMS Thrombectomy Ready Center)

Olive View UCLA Medical Center

Olive View-UCLA Medical Center is a 377 bed Los Angeles County Hospital serving the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley, with core values of integrity, inclusivity and compassion.  It offers the fellows experience working with underserved communities, and practicing cost-effective medicine. With patients from all over the world, the differential diagnoses are broad, including a host of rheumatologic and tropical diseases.  Fellows serve as consultants in a leadership role - residents on inpatient service and in clinic present to the fellows as they would to an attending.  Acute stroke management is done via telemedicine, providing a training experience directly applicable to community practice.

VA Medical Center

Training at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Wadsworth Hospital provides fellows with experience in the care of patients in a primary stroke center settings. The training experience is a combination of inpatient care of veterans presenting with acute and subacute stroke as well as secondary stroke prevention in the outpatient setting. The WLAVA attracts vascular neurology referrals from as far away as Las Vegas and fellows will see a variety of stroke cases and assist in the management of patients with cerebral aneurysms, post-stroke rehabilitation needs, carotid atherosclerosis, and cerebral microvascular disease. Teaching rounds are held daily with stroke attendings and fellows are expected to interface with neurology residents in teaching and patient care. Specific cases are presented by fellows at weekly and/or quarterly joint conferences with neuroradiology, vascular surgery (for carotid procedures), and cardiology (for PFO closure). Fellows on VA Stroke Service provide 24 hour call coverage and round daily on hospitalized veterans. Fellows on VA elective and VA rehabilitation services get specific opportunities to observe the process of stroke recovery and engage in research endeavors of their interest.

In addition, fellows will have increasing responsibility during the year for supervising the Code Stroke Team, managing an array of available diagnostic imaging techniques, directing IV thrombolysis and assisting with acute endovascular interventions. The program encompasses the spectrum of cerebrovascular disease, from critically-ill patients with acute stroke, to the rehabilitation and secondary prevention of stroke.

Fellows receive intensive clinical training in the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral infarction, transient brain ischemia, brain hemorrhage. Core training also includes:

  1. Participation in a multihospital clinical trial program encompassing novel cytoprotective, antithrombotic, and hyperacute thrombolytic treatment trials.
  2. Management of cerebrovascular patients in dedicated Stroke Unit, 24-bed Neurointensive Care Unit, Emergency Department and outpatient settings.
  3. Unique educational experience tailored within our Vascular Neurology subspecialty elective pathway
  4. Performance/interpretation of carotid duplex and transcranial Doppler ultrasound leading to qualification for neurosonology certification.

AVAILABLE CONFERENCES:

  • Neurovascular Conference
    7:30 am Friday mornings, fellows have the chance to discuss diverse and complex cases with experts from neuroradiology, neurosurgery, neurointerventional, neurocritical care trainees and faculty.
  • Stroke Journal Club
    On a monthly basis, two new studies relevant to cerebrovascular diseases are reviewed
  • Stroke and Vascular Surgery Conference
    3rd Wednesday each month, fellows have the chance to discuss diverse and complex cases with experts from vascular surgery and vascular neurology trainees and faculty.
  • Vascular Neurology Conference
    2nd Thursday each month, invited speakers discuss a variety of topics related to Vascular Neurology