Mission Statement

Our program is primarily based at a fast-paced academic medical and comprehensive stroke center. Our goal is to foster exceptional training in vascular neurology and to offer opportunities for clinical research in the vascular neurosciences. We aim to provide our fellows with exposure to all aspects of cerebrovascular disease with increasing autonomy and attainment of the positive characteristics of the six core competencies necessary to become outstanding independent practitioners of vascular neurology.

Fellowship Director: Christoph Stretz, MD

Fellowship Coordinator: Milagros Pilla

Southern New England Partnership In Stroke Research, Innovation and Treatment (SPIRIT)
2025-2026 NIH StrokeNet Fellowship Announcement

The SPIRIT Regional Coordinating Center of NIH StrokeNet seeks a 2025-2026 fellow within its four academic centers (Hartford Healthcare, Northwell Health, Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University (Rhode Island Hospital), and Yale School of Medicine) or corresponding performance sites, who will be funded $50,000 (salary and fringe inclusive) with 50% dedicated research time for one year while he or she learns methods for clinical research and completes a clinical research project. The intent of the StrokeNet training program is to enhance the education and career development of future stroke clinical researchers. Applicants must have an interest in clinical research and commit to participating fully in the StrokeNet Fellowship program.

The SPIRIT fellow will work with a StrokeNet co-investigator faculty mentor coupled with mentorship from SPIRIT’s Education Core Director, Dr. Walter Kernan (Yale), based on a training plan developed after selection. During the StrokeNet Fellowship training year (7/1/25-6/30/26), the trainee must: 1) attend (or participate asynchronously in all StrokeNet Grand Rounds, Professional Development Webinars, and Basic Science Journal Clubs; 2) participate in a Learning Community; 3) submit a research project synopsis; 4) present their research in progress at a StrokeNet meeting or webinar; 5) spend at least 50% of their time on research and research training; and 6) complete all program-related surveys during and after the program. At the end of the fellowship, fellows are expected to advance in their trajectory toward an independently funded career in research or have an interest in clinical research. For some, this will mean achieving an academic appointment and for others it will mean applying for an award to support research or career-development.
Eligible candidates include residents, fellows, post-doctoral associates, nurses, and junior faculty, within the SPIRIT institutions from any discipline (not just limited to vascular neurology). This could include neurosurgeons, epidemiologists, physical therapists, basic scientists, and any others that have a significant interest in a career in stroke research.

Application Requirements:
1. A cover letter that explains your interest in the fellowship, your qualifications for a career in research related to stroke research, and states your commitment to participating fully in the NIH StrokeNet training program.
2. A commitment letter from a proposed research mentor indicating that the mentor accepts this role, has assisted you in developing your proposal, and will commit to provide the necessary supervision over the duration of the fellowship. The letter should provide evidence of the mentor’s qualifications, including prior experience as a mentor, research accomplishments, and current research funding. The letter should detail how the mentor plans to oversee the fellow’s progress and provide assurance that he or she can spend adequate time on this activity.
3. A letter of recommendation from your current program director, fellowship director, or departmental chair. The letter must comment on your recent professional performance, qualifications for a career in research, and explanation of the program or department’s support for the applications. This letter must also indicate that you will have 50% of your time available to devote to fellowship activities. It must include a commitment from the chair to provide funds to supplement the StrokeNet award so that the candidate has a total of 50% time for research.
4. A two-page research proposal, inclusive, with: 1) Title; 2) Background; 3) Research Aims; 4) Hypothesis(es); 5) Methodology; 6) Expected Outcomes; and 7) References.
5. A curriculum vitae.

For instructions on preparing the proposal and plan, contact Ruth Arnold at [email protected].

Important Dates:
Application due: September 20, 2024.
Successful applicants notified: October 11, 2024
Fellowship starts July 1, 2025.

Program Overview

The Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center at Rhode Island Hospital is affiliated with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. We are Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center and recognized by the American Heart/Stroke Association  as a Gold Plus/Target Stroke Center. We consist of a dedicated team of physicians, allied health professionals and support staff that provide primary and consultative care to patients with neurovascular disorders in a tertiary care setting. Our mission is to provide exceptional care to patients with vascular neurologic disease; participate in the education and development of residents, fellows, and medical students; to advance clinical research in the vascular neurosciences; and to promote dissemination of information about stroke in the community.

Our center offers a seamless array of acute preventive and tertiary care backed by excellence in research and education. The hospital is a non-profit organization and the largest employer in Rhode Island. There are 700 beds, 1800 physicians, 600 house officers, and over 150,000 emergency department visits annually.  Our stroke faculty consists of 7 vascular neurologists at Rhode Island Hospital and 2 neurohospitalists/vascular neurologists at The Miriam Hospital. 

Rhode Island Hospital has a 24/7 TIA unit in the emergency department, a 20 bed stroke unit,  an 18 bed closed neurocritical care unit24/7 neurointerventional care, and 5 neurointerventional radiologists.  We are the only hospital in the United States to have an MRI in the ED with an adjacent biplane angiosuite which is dedicated to mechanical thrombectomy cases. Over 1100 patients with ischemic stroke, over 250 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, and over 80  patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage are seen annually. Over 220 patients receive intravenous thrombolysis each year, with a median delivery time of 40 minutes. Over 280 mechanical thrombectomies are performed annually.

Research studies are performed for ischemic stroke (prevention, acute treatment, and rehabilitation) and intracerebral hemorrhage. We are a site for NIH StrokeNet and enroll patients in both industry and government-sponsored trials. The research team includes the research coordinator and 5 department-funded research assistants who help with enrollment in clinical trials.

There are 6 trainees per year in the neurology residency and 10 students from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University each month who are actively involved in the care of stroke patients. 

Prerequisites

  • Successful completion of an ACGME-accredited neurology residency
  • Current curriculum vitae
  • Professional photo
  • Personal statement
  • Three letters of reference (one must be from the residency program director) should be uploaded to the ERAS website

We participate in the match by ERAS.  Our NRMP number is 1677188F0Click here to view the match calendar

Accreditation Status

The program is accredited by the ACGME. Our program number is 1884318001

Length of training

1 year, July 1st-June 30th

Training schedule

  • 24 weeks Vascular Neurology Inpatient service
  • 6 weeks Consults at The Miriam Hospital (Primary Stroke Center)
  • 4 weeks Neuro-ICU
  • 2 weeks Neurosonology
  • 2 weeks Neuroradiology / Neurointerventional Radiology
  • 1 week Neurorehabilitation
  • 1 week Telestroke
  • 7 weeks Elective (6 track specific)
  • 1 week of CME
  • 4 weeks of Vacation
  • 1 half-day of clinic per week (on most rotations)

Optional Tracks

As of 2020, fellows have the option to select a track to enhance and focus their training.  The four tracks are within Endovascular, Neurorehabilitation, Neurohospitalist, and Research.  Tracks will be distinguished within the vascular neurology fellowship by track specific electives, and completion of a designated track will be noted on your fellowship certificate. 

On Call

While on the vascular neurology inpatient rotation, fellows will take 2 weekdays of call per week and 1 weekend day call.  There is no call while on other rotations. Call responsibilities include leading vascular ward rounds, supervising code strokes with residents directly or indirectly, and attending cerebral angiograms when possible.

Educational Conferences and sample vascular inpatient schedule

Click here to view a description of all recurring conferences on the residency page

  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday or Sunday
8-9 Morning report Morning report Neurology Grand Rounds (Joint EM/Vascular Neurology quarterly) Morning report Morning report Vascular Wards Start (on inpatient service only)
9-12 Vascular Rounds Vascular Rounds Vascular Rounds Vascular Rounds Vascular Rounds
10:30-11:30 Cerebrovascular conference          
12-1 Noon conference Noon conference Neuroradiology rounds Noon conference Noon conference  
1-2     Cerebrovascular Teaching / Journal Club (monthly)      
2-5 Vascular Wards Signout @4:30pm Vascular Wards Signout @4:30pm Vascular Neurology Fellow Clinic/Vascular Wards Signout @4:30pm Vascular Wards Signout @4:30pm Vascular Wards Signout @4:30pm  
4-5       Neurovascular Webinar SEries (monthly)    
5-6 PFO conference (monthly)          

Faculty & Staff

A roster of our faculty and staff can be found on the Comprehensive Stroke Center page

How to Apply

Please contact Dr. Christoph Stretz (Fellowship Director) at [email protected] or call 401-444-8806.