Welcome
Welcome to our exciting Neurocritical Care Fellowship Training Program, one of the newest in the United States. The Neurocritical Care Fellowship at Westchester Medical Center, in affiliation with New York Medical College, is actively interviewing now for our first two inaugural spots which begin in July 2022. The fellowship is accredited by the United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS).
The Neuro-ICU at Westchester Medical Center (WMC) in Valhalla, NY, is a 19-bed closed unit equipped with video-EEG and Moberg CNS multimodality monitors in every room. WMC, the flagship of the Westchester Health Network, is the only Level 1 Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center between New York City and Albany, and draws as the main referral center for 2.4 million people in the Hudson Valley.
Our vision is to create a world renowned neurocritical care training program that focuses on clinical innovation and research. Our goal is to invent, study and discover better ways to treat patients with life threatening brain injury. We also feature a quality improvement program. Along the way, trainees will potentially have the opportunity to combine their Neurocritical Care fellowship training at Westchester Medical Center with additional training in Vascular Neurology (1 year) or Neuro-Interventional Surgery (2 years). With expanding faculty, an advanced neuro-ICU, a busy clinical trials unit, and the support of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, this is an exciting time of growth and innovation for our program, which I invite you to explore.
Dr. Stephan A. Mayer
Director of Neurocritical Care
Neurocritical Care Fellowship Program Director
stephan.mayer@WMCHealth.org
914.493.3115
Neurocritical Care Introduction with Stephan Mayer, MD from WMCHealth.
Curriculum
Fellows will gain expertise in the medical and surgical management of critically-ill neurologic patients. In addition to standard critical care resuscitation techniques such as ventilation, fluids and pressors, the program also emphasizes advanced multimodality monitoring, robotic transcranial Doppler, and Critical Care Neurophysiology.
Our program serves a large and diverse patient population, and we as faculty will provide individualized training and mentorship that is personalized to meet the interests and background of the fellow. A major point of differentiation is our emphasis on clinical research training and methodology. Development of independent research projects is strongly encouraged, and fellows will benefit from close mentoring and exposure to database management, biostatistics, and study design.
The fellowship is a two-year training program (one year for trainees who have already completed a neurosurgical residency or at least one year of previous critical care training) that fulfills the United Council of Neurological Subspecialties training criteria. Our 24-month curriculum is equally balanced between neurological and medical aspects of critical care:
| Neuro-ICU |
10 months |
OR (Neuroanesthesia and Airway)
|
1 month |
Selective (MICU, TICU, Endovascular, Stroke)
|
3 months |
Electives
|
6 months |
| Night Float (Neuro-ICU and MICU) |
2 months |
| Vacation |
2 months |
Fellows will train and become proficient in traditional and ultrasound-guided central venous line placement, arterial line placement, pulmonary artery catheterization, placement of intravascular cooling devices, lumbar puncture, continuous EEG monitoring, ventriculostomy management, endotracheal intubation, neurosonology and point of care ultrasound, ventilator management, and fiberoptic bronchoscopy.
Our fellows also participate in an organized series of lectures, teaching conferences, Journal Clubs, and Grand Rounds along with Medical, Anesthesia, and Surgical Critical Care fellows. Upon completion, fellows will be proficient in the management of a wide range of neurological and general critical care conditions and board eligible for the UCNS certification exam.
A substantial clinical time commitment is required, including in-house call during night float rotations, and weekend call. Four weeks of vacation time are allotted per year. Salary is commensurate with PGY level. Information on salary and benefits are accessible here.
Our Research
In addition to teaching and providing patient care, the Westchester Medical Center neurocritical care faculty are prolific academicians, producing approximately 40 original research papers and multiple specialty medical meeting presentations each year. We equally emphasize the generation of original research projects, as well as participation in national and international clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health, as well as industry.
Our goal for our patients is to provide access to the latest treatment options under investigation for acute brain injury, and to help shape the future of emergency neurotherapeutics.
Our goal for our students, residents and fellows is to help develop the next generation of academic neurointensivists and clinician-investigators.
Resident Elective Rotations
We are happy to host resident rotators from other neurology residency programs that do not offer training in a neurocritical care environment. Pre-approved and credentialed in-rotators are privileged to provide clinical care, document in the electronic medical record, and perform procedures under direct supervision. In-rotators also receive a formal written evaluation. In-Rotations are contingent upon department and Westchester Medical Center Graduate Medical Education approval. Prior to final approval by WMC, letters must be provided by the applicant’s home institution specifying the dates of the rotation; that salary, fringe and malpractice will be covered; and provide customary credentials. Interested applicants may contact Dr. Stephan A. Mayer at stephan.mayer@WMCHealth.org to learn more.
Medical Student Rotations
We are pleased to offer a popular one-month neurocritical care medical student elective rotation. Students at New York Medical College as well as other LCME- or AOA-accredited medical schools are eligible to apply. Students at schools other than NYMC must apply via the Visiting Student Application Service (VSAS). Only one student rotates per month, and selection is first come, first serve. NYMC students will be given preference when there are multiple requests for a given month. Students are expected to actively participate in rounds, and follow up to three patients. There is a subinternship format available for fourth year students which involves graded responsibility, participation in or observation of ICU procedures, one to two nights of long call per week, and attendance on either Saturday or Sunday. Students will be formally evaluated and will receive feedback on a regular basis. The grading format is Honors, High Pass, Pass, Fail. Students with excellent performance may request a letter of recommendation at the completion of the rotation. For more information, please contact Dr. Fawaz Al-Mufti at Fawaz.Al-Mufti@WMCHealth.org and visit the NYMC visiting student website.
Neurocritical Care Faculty
Stephan A. Mayer, MD, FNCS
Director of Neurocritical Care and Emergency Neurological Services
Neurocritical Care Fellowship Program Director
Westchester Medical Center
Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery
New York Medical College
View Bio
Fawaz Al-Mufti, MD
Medical Director of Neurocritical Care
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Radiology
Neuroendovascular Surgery and Neurocritical Care Attending
Director of Neuroendovascular and Neurological Research
Associate Director of the Neuroendovascular Surgery Fellowship
Westchester Medical Center
View Bio
Dipak Chandy, MD
Joint Chief, Division of Pulmonary Medicine
Westchester Medical Center
Director, Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship Program
Professor of Medicine and Neurology
New York Medical College
View Bio
Dr. Andrew Bauerschmidt
Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery
Westchester Medical Center
View Bio
Dr. Jon Rosenberg
Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery
Neurocritical Care Fellowship Associate Program Director
Westchester Medical Center
View Bio
Affiliated Faculty
Dr. Carolin Dohle
Assistant Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery
Attending Neurohospitalist
Westchester Medical Center
Neurocritical Care Fellows
Current Fellows
Dr. Anish Thomas
Neurocritical Care Fellow class of 2024
Residency: Internal Medicine, St John’s Riverside Hospital, New York
Dr. Thomas is board certified in Internal Medicine and training to become a neurointensivist. Growing up in Elmsford, Westchester County, Dr. Thomas has always been an integral part of the community and its healthcare. He began his medical training at St. Johns Riverside Hospital in Yonkers.
Dr. Thomas as a fellow plays a significant role in clinical education, neuroscience research, and mentorship of the neurology and neurosurgery residents. Outside the hospital, Dr. Thomas enjoys organizing and participating in the department’s social gatherings, group dinners, as well as wellness events and holiday parties. He also enjoys a variety of activities including basketball, football and music.
Faculty Publications
View a selection of our 90+ peer-reviewed scientific papers published in 2019-2020:
1. Liang JW... Al-Mufti F... Dangayach NS. COVID-19 and Decompressive Hemicraniectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke. Stroke. 2020
2. Al-Mufti F…. et al. Neuroendovascular Cerebral Sinus Stenting in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension. Interv Neurol. 2020
3. Francoeur CL…. Mayer SA. Noninvasive cerebral perfusion monitoring in cardiac arrest patients: a prospective cohort study. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2020.
4. Dodson V…. Al-Mufti F. Intracranial Administration of Nicardipine after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Review of the Literature. World Neurosurg. 2019.
5. Francoeur CL, Mayer SA. Acute blood pressure and outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage: The VISTA-ICH cohort. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2020.
6. Ravishankar N …. Al-Mufti F. Management Strategies for Intracranial Pressure Crises in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. J Intensive Care Med 2020.
7. Viarasilpa T….Mayer SA. Prognostic significance of sentinel headache preceding aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. World Neurosurg 2020.
8. Viarasilpa T,.... Mayer SA. Prediction of symptomatic venous thromboembolism in critically-ill Patients: the ICU-VTE Score. Crit Care Med 2020.
9. Al-Mufti F., …. Gupta G. Neuroendovascular Cerebral Sinus Stenting in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension. Interv Neurol 2020.
10. Al-Mufti F…Chandy D... et al. Non-Invasive Multi-Modality Cerebral Monitoring Modalities in Neurosurgical Critical Care. World Neurosurg 2019.
11. Mayer SA …. Higashida RT: Thick and diffuse subarachnoid blood as a treatment effect modifier of clazosentan after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke 2019.
12. Ironside N …. Mayer SA …. Connolly ES. Fully-automated segmentation algorithm for hematoma volumetric analysis in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Stroke 2019.
13. Al-Mufti F…. Mayer SA. Artificial Intelligence in Neurocritical Care. J Neurol Sci. 2019.
14. Witsch J, Al-Mufti F.…. Park S. Statins and Perihemorrhagic Edema in Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage. Neurology 2019.
15. Divani AA …. Mayer SA. Blood pressure variability predicts poor in-hospital outcome in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Stroke 2019.
16. Al-Mufti F.... Mayer SA. Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Neurocritical Care: A Specialty-Wide Disruptive Transformation or a Strategy for Success? Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2019.
17. Mayer SA …. Mitsias P: CTA-for-All: Impact of emergency computed tomographic angiography for all stroke patients presenting within 24 hours of onset. Stroke 2019.
18. McIntyre MK …. Al-Mufti F., Bowers CA. Age Predicts Outcomes Better than Frailty Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis. Clin Neurol Neurosurg.\ 2019.
19. Suwatcharangkoon S …. Mayer SA. Medical treatment failure for symptomatic vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage threatens long-term outcome. Stroke 2019.
20. Starke RM …. Al-Mufti F …. Fraser JF, Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery. Transarterial and Transvenous Access for Neurointerventional Surgery: Report of the SNIS Standards and Guidelines Committee. J Neurointerv Surg 2019.
21. Viarasilpa T …. Mayer SA. Intubation for psychogenic non-epileptic attacks: frequency, risk factors, and impact on outcome. Seizure 2019.
22. Al-Mufti F …. Schmidt JM. White Blood Cell Count Improves Prediction of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia Following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Neurosurgery. 2019.
23. Viarasilpa T …. ,Mayer SA. Venous thromboembolism in neurocritical care patients. J Intensive Care Med 2019.
Additional publications have appeared in various journals including Stroke, Critical Care Medicine, Neurology, PNAS, Epilepsia, Anesthesiology, Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, American Society of Neuroimaging, Resuscitation, Journal of Neurosurgery, Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Neurocritical Care, and others.
How to Apply
To apply to the Neurocritical Care clinical fellowship program at Westchester Medical Center, in affiliation with New York Medical College, please visit the SF Match website. The site contains important deadline dates to review before applying. Interviews are scheduled in the winter and spring 18 months in advance of the start of the fellowship. Interviews will be conducted virtually.
Requirements and Eligibility
To apply for the fellowship, the applicant must be eligible for and possess an unrestricted New York State Medical License on the start date of the fellowship. The applicant must be enrolled in or a graduate of a residency program in neurology, neurological surgery, internal medicine, anesthesiology, surgery, child neurology, or emergency medicine that is accredited by the ACGME, or RCPSC or CanERA, or have completed a minimum of four years of post-graduate clinical training in neurological surgery and be currently enrolled in an ACGME- or CanERA-accredited neurological surgery residency program. Information about applying for a New York State Medical License can be obtained by calling (518) 474-3817. Graduates of international medical schools are eligible to apply. Westchester Medical Center only sponsors J-1 visas (and H-1B visas in certain circumstances) through ECFMG.
Timetable
See SF Match website for our Neurocritical Care Fellowship application timeline
Contact Us
Christine Loscri
Residency & Fellowship Coordinator
Department of Neurosurgery
Christine.Loscri@wmchealth.org
914.493.8795
Stephanie Litt
Administrative Assistant
Department of Neurosurgery
Stephanie.Litt@wmchealth.org
914.493.5216
Dr. Stephan A. Mayer
Neurocritical Care Fellowship Program Director
Director of Neurocritical Care
Stephan.Mayer@WMCHealth.org
914.493.3115
Dr. Jon Rosenberg
Neurocritical Care Associate Fellowship Program Director
Jon.Rosenberg@wmchealth.org