Do I need to do a fellowship to be a neurohospitalist?

[Med_WannaBee]

I love inpatient neurology and would prefer to not do a fellowship unless I have to. Do most hospitals require a fellowship to be a neurohospitalist? I've heard that it's valuable to have completed a stroke fellowship, but I know several programs that are stroke heavy and may provide me with enough experience in residency.

Also why is neurology moving towards 90% of residents doing a fellowship? Isn't there a high enough need for general neurologists?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Purkinje223]

No you don't need a fellowship to be a neurohospitalist but a stroke fellowship will certainly make you more competitive especially in urban parts of the country and comprehensive stroke centers. As a non fellowship trained neurohospitalist you could also passed up for promotions such as stroke director etc.. Also, most people do a fellowship because general neurology can be really painful treating non specific chronic conditions such as low back pain, migraines, neuropathies and often turns into dumping ground for fellowship trained neurologists when they have no specific treatment to offer. Fellowships are only 1 year and probably better to do it right out of residency.

 

[sharkbaitwhohaha]

A lot of the time we do fellowships cause we like neurology...but like a specific group of disorders a lot more and want to be a subspecialist. There is a odd appeal to being a subspecialist.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

No you don’t.

I exist in a desirable market and everyone from my program, and the nearby ones, who didn’t do a fellowship was able to secure a NH job with a solid pay.

 

[Telamir]

This has been discussed before. Search the forums. In essence: no, but it helps. Specifically stroke or neurophys/epilepsy.

 

[90sportsfan]

From what I have heard (talking to residents and read on this site), it is very helpful, just in terms of professional development to have a stroke fellowship if you want to be a neurohospitalist. I doubt it is a hard "requirement," but for the long-term benefits of getting as much good training to prepare you for the rest of your career, I would probably think it would be worth it if you want to go the neurohospitalist route.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

From what I have heard (talking to residents and read on this site), it is very helpful, just in terms of professional development to have a stroke fellowship if you want to be a neurohospitalist. I doubt it is a hard "requirement," but for the long-term benefits of getting as much good training to prepare you for the rest of your career, I would probably think it would be worth it if you want to go the neurohospitalist route.

Do you think a stroke trained neurologist is going to want to see nonstroke neuro consults (encephalopathy, spells, headache, brain death, etc)?

Similarly, do you think the average epilepsy trained neurologist is going to be happy not running an EMU/epilepsy clinic and instead fielding overnight acute stroke calls?

Obviously, there are exceptions and I know people with stroke or epilepsy training who do pure NH work. They are the minority. Just like it’s a minority to see a movement disorder specialist doing NH.

Yes, having a fellowship does help and open doors otherwise closed. However, the current shortage create opportunities for those without fellowship, even in competitive geographies. Once you have a couple years of NH experience under your belt, the playing fields level.

Fellowship is much more important for outpatient neurology, though.

 

[Hockeyfan23]

Neurology residency for me was essentially a stroke fellowship...I did not pursue fellowship training and got a great NH job in my desired location. I do read routine EEG and take stroke call but feel very comfortable. I suppose it depends on how well you were trained after all. I feel that neurology is one of those fields where fellowship is so heavily pushed that it leaves fewer and fewer people willing to see the “bread and butter“.

 

[elanmorin]

All of the attendings I work with recommend doing a fellowship, regardless of what you plan to do afterwards. However, looking at the job market and demands, General Neurology, especially outpatient Gen Neuro, has a great demand right now.