Vascular Neurology Fellowship

The Vascular Neurology Fellowship program in the Department of Neurology at Indiana University School of Medicine is a one-year, ACGME-accredited program that provides advanced training in the contemporary care of all vascular neurological conditions, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Through a combination of clinical, didactic and research experiences, the fellowship program trains outstanding vascular neurologists who bring excellence, integrity, professionalism and evidence-based practice to patients in the communities they serve.

Curriculum and Didactics

The curriculum and didactic experience for the vascular fellowship is robust. Faculty stroke experts provide an exclusive lecture series for vascular neurology fellows. Departmental and interdisciplinary teaching conferences including vascular neurology case conference, vascular neurology journal club, endovascular case conference, neuroradiology conference and departmental Grand Rounds complete the fellow’s didactic experience.

Fellowship Curriculum

Apply for Fellowship

Interested in the Vascular Neurology Fellowship? Candidates should contact Breanna Young, fellowship coordinator, for complete application requirements.

Email Fellowship Coordinator

fellowship director

Ann M. Jones, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology

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current fellow

Shaney N. Pena, MD

PGY 5
Indiana University School of Medicine

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Fellows gain extensive clinical experience in the hyper-acute management of acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke while spending 6 months rotating on the inpatient stroke service at IU Health Methodist Hospital. This comprehensive stroke center cares for more than 1,000 acute stroke cases per year from central Indiana and the surrounding area.

While on service, fellows lead the acute stroke response team—assessing patients, interpreting diagnostic images, making treatment decision regarding thrombolysis, and collaborating with our neuroendovascular team in real time. Fellows also lead the inpatient stroke service, following and managing acute stroke patients throughout their hospital stay. The inpatient stroke service, staffed exclusively by vascular neurologists, provides both admitting and consultative services and cares for patients both in the neurocritical care unit and on our 14-bed stroke unit. On the stroke unit, fellows participate in multidisciplinary rounds with hospitalists, nurses, case managers, social workers, dieticians, and other members of the healthcare team. They also teach neurology residents and medical students.

Fellows follow acute stroke patients longitudinally in outpatient stroke clinic experiences at the IU Neuroscience Center and the Roudebush VA Medical Center. In clinic, fellows learn the principles of secondary stroke prevention and how to manage post-stroke complications (e.g., depression, spasticity, cognitive dysfunction, vision loss), while providing continuous care to stroke patients.

The IU Stroke program also operates a Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) and is developing a telehealth network. Fellows spend one month rotating on the MSU and telehealth service. Here they have the opportunity to ride along on stroke calls, assess patients and deliver thrombolytics both in person (on the MSU) and remotely, thereby learning the intricacies and subtleties of telestroke care. Fellows also participate in MSU/Telehealth organizational meetings, allowing them to see the multidisciplinary, multi-system, multi-agency cooperation that is required build robust systems of care that optimize resource utilization and the delivery of care to underserved and geographically isolated areas.

Our fellows also rotate on the neurocritical care service where they learn the principles of airway management, increased intracranial pressure management, and blood pressure management in neurologically ill patients. Here they have the opportunity to care for a variety of neuro- and neurovascular related conditions including ICH, ischemic stroke, status epilepticus, intracranial neoplasms, spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury.

Fellows also rotate in the neurointerventional suite, gaining insight into the evaluation and management of large vessel occlusion, aneurysms, and vascular malformation. With guidance from the endovascular team, fellows are provided extensive training in the interpretation, indications, and potential limitations of cerebral angiography.

Finally, fellows spend 2 weeks rotating at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana, a world-class rehabilitation center that provides comprehensive rehabilitation services to patients recovering from traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), transplant and other trauma.