Westchester Medical Center Program

The Neurocritical Care Fellowship at Westchester Medical Center, affiliated with New York Medical College, is a newly established and accredited program recognized by the United Council of Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS). The program is designed for those seeking advanced training in managing critically ill patients with neurological injuries, offered at the center's well-equipped 19-bed Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit in Valhalla, NY.

Westchester Medical Center is the only Level 1 Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center between New York City and Albany, serving as the main referral center for approximately 2.8 million residents in the Hudson Valley region. The fellowship aims not only to provide comprehensive clinical training but also to foster research and innovation within the field of neurocritical care 1.

Curriculum

The fellowship program spans two years, with a tailored curriculum designed to cover both neurological and medical aspects of critical care equally over a structured 26-week schedule consisting of 13 four-week blocks. Trainees will engage in hands-on training covering fundamental skills in critical care settings, including but not limited to intubation, mechanical ventilation, volume resuscitation, and vasopressor application, as well as advanced modalities like robotic transcranial Doppler and neurophysiology 1.

Each fellow receives four weeks of vacation annually, and salary is determined based on the postgraduate year (PGY) level. The program also includes opportunities for substantial research involvement, mentoring in developing independent research projects, and exposure to clinical trial methodologies and biostatistics 1.

Research Opportunities

Westchester Medical Center's Neurocritical Care faculty are prolific in research, producing approximately 40 original publications annually and participating in both national and international clinical trials. This engagement enables fellows to explore cutting-edge treatment modalities for acute brain injuries, contributing to the advancement of neurocritical care therapies 1.

Application Process

Applying to the Neurocritical Care Fellowship requires that candidates hold or be eligible for an unrestricted New York State Medical License by the fellowship's commencement. Eligible applicants must be currently enrolled or graduated from a residency program in neurology, neurological surgery, internal medicine, anesthesiology, or related fields accredited by either ACGME or OCD, or have substantial clinical experience. The application process involves using the SF Match platform to schedule interviews virtual and planning sufficiently far in advance as interviews take place 18 months prior to fellowship commencement 1.

Visa Sponsorship

For international medical graduates, Westchester Medical Center provides sponsorship for J-1 visas through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). There may be opportunities to apply for H-1B visas under specific circumstances, facilitating entry for qualified international candidates into the fellowship program 1.

Competitiveness and Selection Criteria

The Neurocritical Care Fellowship is considered highly competitive, attracting a diverse range of candidates, including those from both MD and DO backgrounds, as well as international medical graduates. Preference is given to those who demonstrate both strong clinical acumen and interest in academic research 1.

Unique Aspects of the Program

The program differentiates itself with its multidisciplinary core faculty and access to advanced monitoring technology such as video-EEG and CNS multimodality monitors—features that enhance the training and clinical experience for fellows. Moreover, opportunities exist for further specialized training in vascular neurology or neuro-interventional surgery, should fellows choose to pursue these paths 1.