Neurology

The Vascular Neurology Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center in Boston is a one year, ACGME-accredited fellowship in preparation for sub-specialization in the care and management of patients with stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases as well as clinical research, education, and quality improvement practices. 

We believe in providing our fellows with a broad and balanced clinical training involving acute stroke management, critical care of cerebrovascular diseases, young adult stroke and survivorship, teleneurology, neurosonology, secondary stroke prevention, and stroke recovery and rehabilitation. We have at least 300 stroke admissions each year along with a busy consultation service and outpatient practice. 

We offer one fellowship position each year for a 12 month training period. This fellowship is part of the NRMP Match.

Below is an outline of the Vascular Neurology Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center's curriculum and fellow responsibilities: 

1. Evaluation and management of Stroke Codes in the Emergency Department and inpatient wards
2. Coordination and case selection for patients undergoing intra-arterial therapy for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion
3. Supervision of inpatient management of patients with stroke and cerebrovascular diseases on the Neurology Service and other inpatient services
4. Vascular Neurology consultations in the Neuro Critical Care Unit, other ICUs, and inpatient medical and surgical services
5. Outpatient Vascular Neurology clinics (precepted by Drs. Thaler and Leung)
6. Night call (from home) for at least 3 months but no more than 6 months (supervised by Drs. Thaler and Leung)
7. Interpretation of advanced imaging studies including brain MRI and MRA, CT angiography, digital subtraction angiography
8. Interpretation of neurosonology studies (transcranial Doppler ultrasound)
9. Cerebrovascular Disease Conference (including Stroke Journal Club, Stroke Case Conference, Neurosonology, and Neuroradiology)
10. Teaching residents and medical students on the hospital wards and in teaching conferences
11. Participation and enrollment for ongoing stroke clinical trials
12. Develop projects for clinical or translational research, write and submit manuscripts, and/or develop educational or quality improvement initiatives
13. Maintenance of the Tufts Stroke Registry and longitudinal care coordination
14. Electives in Teleneurology, Neuroradiology, Neurovascular Surgery, Neuro-Rehabilitation, etc.

We are interested in helping you develop your career as a Stroke Neurologist in any setting, but we have the resources, experience, and interest in helping you develop an academic career pathway if that is your calling.

We have several Neurologists and colleagues in associated departments who are interested in having fellows lead research projects and provide mentorship for the development of your own areas of research. We can also provide guidance and mentorship regarding activities related to quality improvement and education.

The fellowship provides a salary commensurate with the PGY level, adjusted by the hospital if needed for cost of living. The fellow has 4 weeks of paid vacation and is encouraged to attend at least one academic conference per year.

Additional policies: 

All fellowship activities will be supervised by a Neurology attending. Moonlighting is prohibited during the Vascular Neurology fellowship.

Neurology Faculty

David E. Thaler, MD, PhD, Chairman, Fellowship Program Director
Lester Y. Leung, MD, Fellowship Assistant Program Director, Quality & Safety Director
Joshua Kornbluth, MD, Neurology Critical Care
Deborah Green-LaRoche, MD, Neurology Critical Care
Xuemei Cai, MD, Neurology Critical Care
Tinatin Chabrashvilli, MD, PhD, Attending Neurologist
Bryan K. Ho, MD, Attending Neurologist
Suriya Jeyapalan, MD, MPH, Attending Neurologist
Joel Oster, MD, Attending Neurologist
Mithila Vullaganti, MD, Attending Neurologist

Associated Faculty

Adel Malek, MD, PhD, Chief of Neurovascular Surgery
Daniel Do-Dai, MD, Chief of Neuroradiology
Harprit Bedi, MD, Neuroradiology
Neel Madan, MD, Neuroradiology
Zachary W. Bohart, MD, Neuro-Rehabilitation

2017-2018

Sonja Chaparala, MD
Medical School: St. George's University
Internship and Residency: Allegheny Health Network

2016-2017

Emiliya Melkumova, MD
Residency: New York Medical College at Westchester
After Graduation: Faculty, Tufts Medical Center

2014-2016

No fellow

2013-2014

Hassanain Toma, MD
Residency: University of Kansas Medical Center
After Graduation: Fraser Health Authority, BC 

2012-2013

Dmitri Kolychev, MD
Residency: Tufts Medical Center
After Graduation: ECU Physicians, North Carloina

Our Neurology team is always looking for ways to improve medicine. Right now, our researchers are studying neuromuscular diseases, stroke, and fatigue in patients with high grade glioma. To view all of our on going research, visit our webpage.

Interested applicants should contact: 

Crys S. Draconi, C-TAGME
Education Manager, Neurosciences
e-Mail: cdraconi@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
Phone: 617-636-2605