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Education Research: Challenges Faced by Neurology Trainees in a Neuro-Intervention Career Track
Conrad W Liang1, Saurav Das2, Santiago Ortega-Gutierrez2
1From Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center (C.W.L.); UC Riverside School of Medicine (C.W.L.), CA; Washington University School of Medicine (S.D.), St Louis, MO; University of Iowa (S.O.-G.), Iowa City; University of California, Los Angeles (D.S.L.); Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center (J.C.G.), Houston; Cooper University Hospital (T.G.J.), Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Camden, NJ; Boston Medical Center (T.N.N.), Boston University School of Medicine, MA; Marcus Stroke & Neuroscience Center (R.G.N.), Grady Memorial Hospital, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; State University of New York Upstate Medical University (H.M.), Syracuse; Semmes-Murphey Clinic (L.E.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; BSMH St Vincent Medical Center (O.O.Z.), Toledo, OH; University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (A.E.H.), Harlingen; Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute (I.L.), FL; Mount Sinai Hospital (J.T.F.), New York; and University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (S.A.S.). conrad.w.liang@kp.org.
Neurology trainees desire careers in neurointervention but face obstacles. Lack of exposure and unclear training pathways hinder neurointerventionalist development.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurointerventional Surgery
- Medical Education
Background:
- The rise of endovascular therapy (EVT) for emergent large vessel occlusion has increased demand for neurointerventionalists.
- Neurology residents show interest in neurointervention careers, but exposure and career paths are not well-defined.
- Adequate neurointervention exposure is crucial for neurologists treating acute ischemic stroke.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess neurology trainees' exposure to neurointervention and their perceptions of its career pathway.
- To identify obstacles preventing neurology residents from pursuing neurointervention as a subspecialty.
Main Methods:
- A multicenter electronic survey was distributed by the Society for Vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN) Education Committee in June 2018.
- The survey targeted neurology residents and vascular neurology (VN), neurocritical care (NCC), and neurointervention fellows.
- 76 trainees from 250 invited programs completed the survey.
Main Results:
- Only 3% of respondents reported any neurointervention exposure during residency, with 68% having none.
- While 72% felt neurology prepared them for neurointervention, only 41% found the fellowship pathway well-structured.
- Vascular neurology (87%) and neurocritical care (41%) had significantly more exposure than neurointervention.
Conclusions:
- Lack of neurointervention exposure and a poorly defined training pathway are significant barriers for neurology residents.
- Addressing these obstacles is essential for the growth of neurointervention as a neurology subspecialty.
- Improved training structures are needed to support aspiring neurointerventionalists.