Department of Neurology

USC Neurocritical Care Fellowship

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Keck School of Medicine Fellowship Overview

The USC Neurocritical Care Fellowship program has been accredited by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS) since 2013, and by the American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) since 2023.  The fellowship is a 1-2 year program housed within the USC Department of Neurology and is designed to provide a foundation upon which fellows are trained to identify and treat neurological emergencies as the primary treating physician.

General Fellowship Structure

The program is based at two hospitals: Keck Hospital of USC and Los Angeles General Medical Center. This provides a wide range of clinical experience from the private setting to an indigent Level 1 trauma center.

The program provides instruction and upfront management of acute ischemic stroke, status epilepticus, TBI, ICH, SAH, neuromuscular emergencies, encephalitis, and general critical care. As well as, interpretation of continuous EEG and TCDs, and bedside ultrasound

The training program exposes the fellows to a wide variety of critical care disciplines including Trauma ICU, Surgical Critical Care, Anesthesia Critical Care, Medical ICU, and Cardiothoracic ICU. This ensures a well-rounded education that enables the graduate to practice in a variety of institutions.

 

Fellowship Candidates

The candidates must be board eligible in Neurology, Neurosurgery, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, or Anesthesia. The fellowship consists of a 1-2 year period of time of dedicated clinical training and research.

The Keck School of Medicine encourages foreign physicians who hold a J1 visa to apply to our Neurocritical Fellowship program. As pioneers in Graduate Medical Education, we seek to produce physicians in greater numbers with a robust learning experience more capable of serving the international community.

Program Director

Dr. Benjamin Emanuel Welcome

ICU Structure

Keck Hospital

The neuro-ICU is an 18-bed closed unit. All neurology and neurosurgery patients are managed by the fellow. Neurology residents do follow patients in the ICU and respond to calls; however, the fellow is the primary point of contact.

LA General Medical Center

The neuro-ICU is a 24-bed closed unit with neurology and neurosurgery patients only. The fellow is responsible for all the patients in the ICU. The neurology patients are managed primarily by the fellow with resident support. The neurosurgery patients are managed primarily by the neurosurgery PGY-2s with support from the fellow.

Research

USC has an extremely active basic neuroscience research program with opportunities for clinical research. Fellows are expected and encouraged to publish scientific papers and present at national meetings. Additionally, many of our neurology and neurosurgical colleagues are editors for a variety of scientific journals.

Benefits

The salary is based on standard pay scales for the PGY level. Any presentations at national meetings will be sponsored by the program. There is 4 weeks paid vacation.
Paid Membership to HSC Fitness Center.

Schedule

    • 13 4-week block schedule
    • Basic critical care skills are learned including invasive procedures: central line, arterial line, pulmonary artery catheterization, intubation, chest tubes, lumbar drains, bronchoscopy, percutaneous tracheostomy, and external ventricular drains.
    • Basic patient assessment and case-based learning of critical care principals and practices.
    • 7 blocks of Neurocritical Care
    • 4 blocks in other ICUs
    • 1 block of Anesthesia
    • 6 weeks of elective
    • Courses in neurosonology and bedside ultrasound
    • 13 4-week block schedule
    • Critical Care principals and skills are applied to patients with attending physician oversight.
    • 6 blocks of Neurocritical Care
    • 4 blocks in other ICUs
    • 12 weeks elective

  • KECK Hospital

    • 0615: ICU work rounds with the neurosurgery residents
    • 0800: Mulitdisciplinary rounds with PT, OT, SW, CM and charge nurse
    • 0830: Radiology rounds
    • 0900: ICU attending teaching rounds
    • 1230-1700: lunch, procedures, lectures, reading, admissions, follow-up

    LAG

    • 0630: ICU work rounds with the neurosurgery residents
    • 0900: ICU attending teaching rounds
    • 12-1700: lunch, procedures, lectures, reading, admissions, follow-up

    Didactics

    Monday

    • 16:30 – 17:30 Neurovascular Radiology Rounds

    Tuesday

    • 12:00 – 13:00 Neurology Grand Rounds
    • 13:15 – 14:30 Board Review
    • 14:00 – 14:45 Fellow case presentation

    Thursday

    • 13:00 – 14:00 Basic ICU topics lecture (fellow)
    • 14:00 – 15:00 NCC Lecture (attending)

    Journal Club or M&M

    • Second to last and last Thursday of the month

    Friday

    • 08:00-09:00 Neurosurgery Grand Round
    • 09:00-10:00 Neuroradiology Rounds
    • 1400–1300 Stroke Lecture

How To Apply

2025-2026
Interested Applicants can apply for the Neurocritical Care (NCC) Fellowship through the San Fransisco Match Program. SF Match website.

*Registration for 2025 appointment opens January 1, 2024