Neurocritical Care Fellowship

Neurocritical Care fellows train in close collaboration with fellows from the anesthesia and surgical critical care fellowship programs thanks to a unique, interdepartmental didactic program. In addition, fellows from our world-class pulmonary-medical critical care and cardiology programs join for regular critical care journal clubs and other lectures. Fellows from one of the nation’s only pediatric neurocritical care fellowship program, based at the affiliated Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, rotate for a month on the adult neuro-ICU service and participate in joint didactics as well.

This fellowship program has a particular focus on preparing trainees for academic careers by providing unique exposure to clinical research, supervision and formal teaching of medical students and residents and career mentorship. Division faculty are actively engaged in research, regularly publishing in high-impact journals and lecturing both locally and at major conferences on neurology and critical care topics. Within the past few years, our research has been accepted for publication in Neurology, Stroke, Annals of Neurology, JNNP, AJRCCM, Critical Care, J Critical Care, Neurocritical Care, Critical Care Medicine and other top journals. Aside from the division core faculty, affiliated faculty from anesthesia critical care, surgical critical care, vascular neurology, epilepsy, neuroradiology and neurosurgery regularly contribute to our educational and research efforts. There is ample opportunity for fellows to develop their CVs in anticipation of securing faculty positions upon completion of the program. Fellows in our group regularly have abstracts accepted to national conferences and first-authored research manuscripts submitted to major journals.

The fellowship is based in a dedicated 23-bed neuroscience-spine intensive care unit (NSICU) that receives admissions from neurology, neurosurgery, interventional neuroradiology, trauma surgery and orthopedics-spine. Northwestern Memorial Hospital is one of four Level 1 trauma centers in the city of Chicago, so the NSICU receives a sizeable volume of penetrating and non-penetrating brain and spine injuries. Critical care management is provided by two teams headed by UCNS-NCC boarded anesthesiology and neurology intensivists, with regular rotation of attendings, fellows and residents from neurology and anesthesiology to ensure a broad exposure on multidisciplinary teams. The neurology intensivist-led team also serves as the primary team to neurology admissions, in addition to their general critical care duties. Other core rotations include surgical ICU, medical ICU and inpatient stroke service. Many other elective opportunities are available, including cardiology and echocardiography, OR-based anesthesia/airway management, inpatient epilepsy/neuromonitoring and interventional pulmonology.

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine seeks to attract inquisitive, motivated fellows and is committed to providing them with every opportunity for success. We encourage a diverse and inclusive work environment that allows each trainee to achieve their personal goals.

For more information on Northwestern’s commitment to diversity, please see the Northwestern McGaw Underrepresented Residents & Fellows Forum and Feinberg School of Medicine Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

The Neurosciences Health, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (HEDI) Committee was developed to foster a culture of diversity and inclusion in the Neurosciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Learn more about our work.

Candidates must have completed an ACGME- or RCPSC-accredited program in the United States or Canada in one of the residency programs acceptable per UCNS program requirements: neurology, neurological surgery, internal medicine, anesthesiology, surgery, child neurology or emergency medicine. They must be board-certified or eligible for board certification in their primary specialty at the time they would commence neurocritical care fellowship training.

According to UNCS program requirements, the duration of fellowship training may be shortened for some applicants with prior ACGME training in critical care or neurosurgery. Our program can accommodate such arrangements.

Please note: We are unable to consider any applicant who does not meet the UCNS eligibility criteria.

Candidates are selected for the neurocritical care fellowship from eligible applicants based upon their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills and personal qualities. No discrimination is made based upon sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, disability or veteran status. Approximately one-third of the eligible applicants are invited for personal interviews.

We participate in the electronic San Francisco match service. All candidates must register with the SF Match in order to submit a rank list. We request that interested candidates submit applications by February 2nd for the match that occurs in August. Interviews are typically held between February and April.

Applicants should submit:

• CV
• Personal statement that articulates their interest and anticipated career goals in the field
• Three letters of recommendation

Housestaff training through McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University provides diverse and challenging clinical experiences and world-class education located in the heart of the beautiful city of Chicago. Learn more via the links to the McGaw website below.

• Why Northwestern?
• Diversity & Inclusion

Watch Our Videos

McGaw Experience Discover Feinberg Northwestern Medicine Community Partnership Program Learn More About Chicago Get to Know Streeterville