Vascular Neurology

Welcome to the Comprehensive Stroke Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago! We offer a one-year ACGME accredited vascular neurology fellowship. We’re excited to share our program with you.

Our training offers in-depth exposure to the rapidly evolving stroke world. At UIC, you’ll join the stroke neurology group as we work with a multidisciplinary team comprised of neurointensivists, neuroradiologists, neurointerventionalists, and neurosurgeons to deliver cutting-edge, acute stroke care efficiently and effectively. You’ll spend the year learning from complex neurovascular cases while also developing a strong understanding of neurointerventional procedures, advanced neuroimaging, neurosonology, neurorehabilitation, telestroke and longitudinal outpatient stroke care. As a comprehensive stroke center, research is embedded into our framework and there are opportunities to get involved in clinical trials and quality, educational or basic science research.

At UIC, we also emphasize the importance of professional development and we’re excited to work with you as you plan your post-fellowship path. Over the course of the year, you’ll develop leadership and educational skills that will serve you well throughout your career. Our goal is simple: to deliver thorough and well-rounded stroke training so that our graduates are best prepared to pursue their career goals.

A second year may be available to interested candidates seeking additional clinical exposure and/or mentored research.

UIC Vascular Neurology Team UIC Vascular Neurology Team

NIH StrokeNet program:

UIC is part of the Chicago Stroke Trials Consortium — a collaborative network of 7 academic centers in the Chicago metropolitan area — which is funded and supported through the NIH StrokeNet program.  The goals of this consortium are to streamline clinical trial research, connect specialists in the field and mentor the next generation of stroke investigators.

Current Research Trials:

  • Sponsor: NIH
  • Aim: determine the safety and effectiveness of the combination of low-dose aspirin and Plavix® in reducing the risk of stroke, heart attacks and other complications in patients who have just had a TIA or minor ischemic stroke

  • Sponsor: NIH
  • Aim: improve arm function after stroke

  • Sponsor: DART Neuroscience LLC
  • Aim: evaluate the effect of the monoamine oxidase Type B (MAO-B) inhibitor, HT-3951 on motor recovery and behavior in medically stable subjects following ischemic stroke

  • Sponsor: NIH
  • Aim: test the hypothesis that apixaban is superior for the prevention of recurrent stroke in subjects with cryptogenic ischemic stroke and atrial cardiopathy

  • Sponsor: NIH
  • Aim: develop an efficacious training paradigm to enhance stroke survivors’ defense mechanisms against falls and possibly reduce healthcare costs

Program Faculty
UIC Stroke Team at UIC hospital fundraiser

Stroke team at UIC hospital fundraiser

Stroke Team at UIC hospital fundraiser: raising money for our stroke patient assistance fund (and we even won some of our matches!)

Application Information:

The vascular neurology fellowship is part of the NRMP match and application process takes place through ERAS.

For more information: https://students-residents.aamc.org/training-residency-fellowship/applying-fellowships-eras/

Contact Information:

Fernando Testai, MD, PhD (testai@uic.edu)
Fellowship Program Director
Phone: (312)-996-6635
Fax: (312)-996-4169

Jeannette Hernandez (hernanj@uic.edu)
Program Coordinator
Phone: (312)-996-6635
Fax: (312)-996-4169