Neurohospitalist Fellowship Program earns society accreditation
The Neurohospitalist Society has announced the McGovern Medical School Neurohospitalist Fellowship Program has been approved for fellowship accreditation, becoming just the seventh program in the country to receive such distinction.
McGovern joins the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, Stanford University School of Medicine, University of Colorado, University of California, San Francisco, and the Cleveland Clinic as Neurohospitalist Society accredited fellowship programs.
“This accreditation means that our training program have been validated by the Neurohospitalist Society,” said Shaun Smart, MD, associate professor in the Department of Neurology and medical director of the Neurohospitalist Fellowship Program. “This is a very new field, and to be one of the first to be part of trying to define that field and how that field is formed and changes over time is a prestigious thing. There are very few accredited schools and if you look at the list, there are some of the most elite schools in the country, and I think McGovern being in that cohort is a great accomplishment.”
The Neurohospitalist Fellowship Program at McGovern Medical School is a 1-year fellowship with the option to extend training in epilepsy or stroke if certification in either area is desired. The neurology program at McGovern and UTHealth Houston is affiliated with Memorial Hermann Hospital – Texas Medical Center (TMC). Memorial Hermann is one of the busiest comprehensive stroke centers in the nation, a level 1 trauma hospital, and a Level-4 Epilepsy Center that performs over 1,000 routine and continuous EEG monitoring each month. The program creates a unique educational experience for trainees to prepare for a career in the burgeoning field of neurohospitalist neurology.
“From the McGovern side, the one thing that makes us special is we integrate our exceptionally strong stroke program, and our already very strong epilepsy program into the neurohospitalist fellowship, because the two most common admissions into hospitals are stroke and seizures,” Smart said. “We offer a lot of flexibility and diversity in our educational opportunities, given the vastness of what McGovern and Memorial Hermann have to offer.”
The fellowship serves neurologists who have recently completed residency, as well as neurologists who have completed fellowship training in epilepsy or vascular neurology to supplement existing training. The program utilizes a weekly rotation schedule, allowing for flexibility in meeting the needs of each fellow and providing valuable education for neurologists planning a career in private practice or as academic neurohospitalists.
“Under the leadership of Dr. Louise McCullough, who has built out so many elite programs, from the epilepsy service, an ever-expanding stroke service, and subspecialties like our movement and cognitive programs, it is a fantastic environment for training,” Smart said. “Now we’re showing that we’re not just good at research, we’re not just good at subspecialties, but also we’re really good at acute general neurology. We’re showing that we are capable of taking care of patients at a very high level.”
The Neurohospitalist Society was formed to create a central unifying organization of neurohospitalists, or physicians and providers who care for hospitalized patients with, or at risk for, neurological disorders and disease. The NHS formed a fellowship accreditation committee to review and accredit neurohospitalist fellowship programs, ensure a standard level of educational quality, and promote training opportunities for neurohospitalists.
Neurohospitalist Fellowship programs provide specialized training in the comprehensive care of hospitalized patients with neurologic disorders. As of 2023, there are seven active Neurohospitalist Fellowship Programs in the United States and as many as 10 other programs in development.