Neuroanesthesia Fellowship

The UCSD Department of Neuro-Anesthesia is currently accepting applications for advanced training in Clinical Neuro-Anesthesiology at the Fellowship level. The UCSD Neurosurgical practice at the Jacobs Medical Center in La Jolla, CA is growing with the addition of multiple surgeons in both brain and spine surgery. With 5-10 craniotomy procedures per week and significantly more spine cases per week, the program is set to become a leader in advanced neurosurgical procedures in Southern California. The total neurosurgical case volume at UCSD is about 3600 cases per year between 2 hospital systems at La Jolla and Hillcrest.

We perform the entire spectrum of anesthesia for neurosurgical procedures:

Brain: tumors (anterior, middle and posterior fossa); basal skull tumors; seizure surgery; awake craniotomy; endoscopic pituitary tumors; functional neurosurgery for deep brain stimulators, movement disorders; spinal cord/peripheral nerve stimulators; interventional neuro-radiology embolization, coiling, stents, strokes; open vascular neurosurgery for AVMs, aneurysms, carotid endarterectomy.
Spine: minimally invasive surgery and large multi-level instrumented cases.

Since this is not an ACGME certified fellowship, there is great flexibility in elective opportunities and enrichment education as well as mentored, clinical or basic science research work.

The goals for the Fellow involve formulating an individualized career path that begins with a tailored and comprehensive exposure to advanced clinical neuro-anesthesia and the ancillary specialties that interact with neuro-anesthesia: neuro-critical care, neuro-interventional radiology, neurophysiology, and pediatric neuro-anesthesia. The Fellow can then apply this knowledge and technical skill to both academia and private practice.

The successful candidate will acquire the tools necessary to become a leader in the specialty.

World class Neuro-Anesthesia and Neuro-Critical Care faculty as well as state of the art intra-operative MRI and CT technology facilitate experience in all operating room environments relevant to the specialty.

Quarterly Faculty Dinner

Left to Right Drs Pearn, Lam, Drummond, Srejic, Lemkuil, Tran, Hylton

Positions: 1-2 positions per year

Start Date:

Accepting applications year round
Flexible start date, Usually July or August
1-year Neuro-anesthesia Fellowship and option for 2^nd year for continued Clinical Research or Neuro-Critical Care experience

Pre-requisites:

Graduate of approved Anesthesia Residency Training Program
Eligibility for California Medical License or
Full California Medical License

Fellowship Program Director

Una Srejic, M.D.
Clinical Professor Anesthesia (> 25 years practice)
Neuroanesthesia
LinkedIn

Academic/Research Interests: Regional Anesthesia for Neurosurgery

Awards: Dr. Srejic was the recipient of the 2023 Women in Neuro-Anesthesiology and Neuroscience Education and Research WINNER Academy of Mentors Award. Presented at the SNACC Society of Neuroscience Anesthesiology and Critical Care Society meeting September 2023. Neuroanesthesia Excellence in Teaching Awarded to Dr. Una Srejic, MD 2024.

Additional Neuroanesthesia Faculty

1. Brian Lemkuil, M.D.
Clinical Professor of Anesthesia (>18 years practice)
Division Chief of Neuroanesthesia Group
Neuro-Critical Care, Neuroanesthesia

Academic/Research Interests: Author, Miller's Anesthesia; Stroke Center UC San Diego

2. Arthur Lam, M.D.
Clinical Professor of Anesthesia (>35 years practice)
Neuro-Critical Care, Neuroanesthesia

Academic/Research Interests: Trans-Cranial Doppler

3. Minh Tran, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor (>13 years practice)
Neuro-Anesthesia

Academic/Research Interests: T32 Grant: "The Effect of Mindfulness Training for Awake Craniotomy patients."

4. Matt Pearn, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor (>15 years practice)
Neuro-Anesthesia, Research

Academic/Research Interests: Basic Science Anesthetic Neurotoxicity
The role of caveolin-1 on anesthetic-mediated neurotoxicity NIH/NIGMSK08GM124500
May 1, 2018 – Apr 30, 2023
Role: Principle Investigator

5. Piyush Patel, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor (>35 years practice)
VA Medical Center, UC San Diego
Neuroanesthesia

Academic/Research Interests: Author, Miller's Anesthesia.
Basic Science Anesthetic Neurotoxicity, Stroke,
Anesthetic Neuroprotection

6. John Drummond, M.D.
Emeritus Professor (>35 years practice)
Former Chairman of UC San Diego Department of Anesthesia
VA Medical Center, UC San Diego
Neuroanesthesia

Academic/Research Interests: Neuro-Physiology, Stroke and Anesthesia

7. Ashley Fejleh, DO
Assistant Professor of Clinical Anesthesia (>4 years practice)
Neuro-Anesthesia

Academic interests: Anesthesia for Functional Neurosurgery

5. Maya Filpovic, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor of Anesthesia (>2 years)
Neuro-Anesthesia, Critical Care Medicine, Echocardiography

Academic/Research Interests: Critical Care

6. Martin Krause, MD
Associate Clinical Professor of Anesthesia (>5years)
Neuro-Anesthesia, Critical Care Medicine, Neurosurgical Critical Care, Basic Transesophageal Echocardiography

Research Interests: outcomes of perioperative and critically ill patients. Bedside ultrasonography and neuromonitoring.

7. Jeffrey H. Gertsch, MD PhD
Clinical Professor of Neurosciences (> 15 years practice)
Director, Inverventional Neurophysiology Service, Neurology Department. Head of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring.

Anesthesiology Department Chair

Ruth Waterman, M.D.
Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology

Program/Curriculum Structure:

In 2020, a revised curriculum was created to be in compliance with the recommendations of SNACC (Society for Neuroscience Anesthesiology and Critical Care) and ICPNT (International Consortium in Peri-Operative Neuroanesthesia Training). This involved a base BLOCK schedule and several electives as well as vacation time.

Neuroanesthesia and Research……………………...36 weeks
Neuro-Critical Care……………………..….……………….....4 weeks
Neuroradiology (IR, Pedi-IR, Diagnostic) ……..….4 weeks
Neurophysiological Monitoring………………..……….2 weeks
Elective……………………………….………………………………..4 weeks
Vacation…………..…………………….………………….………..2 weeks

The applicant will work approximately 45 days/year in the operating room doing non-neurosurgical cases (supervising CRNAs, residents, or solo). While no call is required, there is an opportunity to moonlight (with California Medical License) in trauma call, OB call, or General OR call to maintain skills and supplement income. Neuro-Critical Care rotation may require 1 call per week during this block.

A mentored research project/creative activity with publication and/or presentation at a national/ international meeting is highly encouraged.

Also, the possibility of a 1 month away elective at UCSF or Cambridge could be arranged for enhanced international neuroanesthesia exposure and experience.

Contact

Letter of interest/cover letter/applicant photo
Current Curriculum Vitae
ACLS, BLS
Copy of DEA Certificate, Medical School Diploma
NPI #
3 Letters of Reference (1 from your program director or direct clinical supervisor)
Note: California Medical License may take 6–9 months to obtain if coming from another state, Institutional permit may take less time.

For further information, send a letter of interest to the Neuroanesthesia Fellowship Director, Una Srejic MD and the Neuroanesthesia Fellowship Program Coordinator, Ileana Ramirez.

Una Srejic MD, Neuroanesthesia Fellowship Director: usrejic@ucsd.edu

c/o Ileana Ramirez, Neuroanesthesia Fellowship Program Coordinator: ilramirez@health.ucsd.edu

Address:
200 West Arbor Drive, Mail Code 8770
San Diego, CA, USA 92103-8770

Office: (858)-657-5272
Fax: (858)-249-1239

Thank you for your interest!

Note to prospective applicants about the UC COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate:

UC San Diego and San Diego County Health policies mandate that all healthcare workers be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations or have an exemption for medical or religious reasons (subject to review and approval). In addition, UC San Diego's major affiliates have similar expectations.