We offer a one-year, ACGME-accredited fellowship in clinical epilepsy through the Arizona Comprehensive Epilepsy Program (ACEP). This program provides advanced training in the evaluation and management of patients with epilepsy across both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Fellows gain in-depth experience in medical and surgical aspects of epilepsy care, including patient selection and assessment for epilepsy surgery. They develop proficiency in interpreting a full range of EEG modalities — standard, ambulatory, video-EEG monitoring and ICU monitoring — as well as in advanced neurophysiological techniques such as electrocorticography, evoked potentials and functional cortical mapping.

The fellowship includes exposure to neuroimaging, neurostimulation and Wada testing with quantitative EEG analysis. Fellows also have the option to rotate through the pediatric neurology clinic and the neurological ICU for additional specialized training.

In addition to clinical work, the program emphasizes scholarly activity. Fellows are encouraged to participate in clinical trials and engage in basic research in cellular neurophysiology and molecular biology, with a focus on developing novel therapeutic strategies.

As a participating physician in ACEP, the fellow becomes an integral part of a multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering comprehensive epilepsy care and advancing the field through education and research.

Why Us?

• Comprehensive Clinical Training: As part of the Arizona Comprehensive Epilepsy Program (ACEP), our fellowship offers broad exposure to all aspects of epilepsy care — from initial diagnosis to advanced surgical interventions. Fellows work with a diverse patient population across inpatient, outpatient, ICU and pediatric settings, gaining hands-on experience in complex and challenging cases.
• Cutting-Edge Technology and Techniques: Our program provides advanced training in neurophysiological diagnostics, including video-EEG monitoring, quantitative EEG, functional mapping and neuroimaging. Fellows also gain exposure to innovative treatments such as neurostimulation and investigational drug trials.
• Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Environment: Fellows are integral members of a multidisciplinary team that includes epileptologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists and researchers. This collaborative environment ensures a well-rounded and supportive training experience.
• Research Opportunities and Academic Growth: We encourage scholarly activity and offer robust opportunities in both clinical and basic science research. Fellows can contribute to ongoing clinical trials or engage in laboratory research focused on cellular neurophysiology and molecular biology, helping to advance the future of epilepsy treatment.
• Mentorship and Career Development: Our faculty is committed to mentoring fellows in both clinical excellence and academic development. Whether your goal is academic medicine, private practice or research, we provide personalized guidance to help shape your future career.
• ACGME-Accredited Excellence: As an ACGME-accredited program, we adhere to the highest standards of education and training. Graduates leave fully prepared to pursue board certification in epilepsy and assume leadership roles in the field.

The epilepsy fellow will be scheduled for 12 one‐month rotations to include the following:

Examples of elective rotations include research, sleep medicine, neuropsychiatry and epilepsy surgery. Throughout all rotations, the fellow will be responsible for reading outpatient and inpatient EEGs
under the supervision of the epilepsy faculty.

Fellows learn to treat patients with medically intractable epilepsy, including:

• Long-term subdural/video EEG monitoring to localize the epileptic focus in the brain
• Subdural/video-EEG grid monitoring and cortical mapping procedures
• Resective surgery
• Corpus callosotomy
• Vagus nerve stimulation
• Minimally invasive MRI-guided laser surgery

Our epileptologists provide comprehensive clinical evaluation and treatment of epilepsy. Patients who are identified as medically refractory are discussed in a multidisciplinary conference including neurology, neurosurgery (epilepsy surgery), neuropsychology and neurophysiology to determine if a referral should proceed for neurosurgical evaluation and treatment.  

The primary site for the fellow’s education is the University of Arizona and our affiliated hospital, Banner University Medical Center Tucson (BUMC-T). In addition, fellows’ education also takes place at Banner University Medical Center South and North Campus (BUMC-SC/NC), Children’s Clinics for Rehabiliative Services, and Southern Arizona VA Health Care Center (SAVAHCS).

How to Apply

To be eligible for this fellowship, candidates must have completed an ACGME-accredited neurology residency. All of the following materials must be submitted to ERAS:

• ERAS application
• Three letters of recommendation
• Dean’s letter or MSPE
• Official transcripts from medical school
• USMLE or COMLEX score reports

Any gaps greater than 30 days between graduation from medical school and training need to be explained in your application, so we can understand how you used this time. You must have successfully completed either USMLE 1 & 2 or COMLEX 1 & 2 prior to your official start date. All applications with passing scores will be considered. You must be ECFMG certified so that you can participate in the ranking process after interview season. You will need to provide documentation of your ECFMG certificate prior to starting your residency in July.

For International applicants: We only sponsor J-1 visa applicants.

During this one-year ACGME-accredited program, fellows acquire advanced knowledge in clinical neurophysiology, specifically EMG/NCS and EEG. As part of their training, fellows obtain clinical skills in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating neuromuscular and epilepsy patients. As part of their education, fellows will learn botulinum toxin injection techniques, neuromuscular ultrasound and continuous EEG. Fellows are required to attend lectures and neurophysiology review sessions and take the AANEM self-assessment examination.

Fellows have the choice of focusing on EMG or EEG, including clinical experience. Even with clinical focus, fellows will develop competency in both fields.

• EMG-predominant fellows will gain expertise in performing EMG/NCS, NMUS and the use of botulinum toxin injections. They receive clinical experience in the management of neuromuscular patients, including ALS, acquired neuropathies and muscular dystrophies. There is the opportunity for research, and each fellow will see patients in a broad variety of clinics and inpatient settings. At the end of their training, fellows are eligible to sit for both the ABEM and ABPN-added qualifications in Clinical Neurophysiology Boards.
• EEG-predominant fellows will learn epilepsy patient management and to expertly read and interpret EEGs. These fellows will learn EM, EEG, continuous EEG and have exposure to sleep medicine. They will see patients from a variety of adult and pediatric clinics and learn outpatient and inpatient seizure management. They will be board eligible in the ABPN-added qualifications in Clinical Neurophysiology Boards.

The one-year fellowship curriculum includes:

• Outpatient EMG
• Outpatient neuromuscular clinics, including ALS multidisciplinary clinic
• Outpatient EEG
• Inpatient EEG and cEEG
• Outpatient epilepsy clinic

Other curriculum elements: Sleep medicine, botulinum toxin injection for spasticity, NM ultrasound

• Banner – University Medical Center North, 3838 N. Campbell Ave., Building 2, Tucson, AZ 85719
• Banner – University Medical Center South, 2800 E. Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ 85713

To be appointed to a fellow in a clinical neurophysiology position, the candidate must successfully complete medical school training, pass USMLE Steps I, II and III, and graduate from ACGME-accredited neurology or pediatric neurology residency program. Foreign medical graduates are also required to complete the ECFMG certification. The program director verifies with the applicant’s current institution that they are a resident in good standing. Three letters of recommendation are required and reviewed. The GME office must approve each accepted fellow. Each fellow’s academic credentials are verified before being accepted into the program.

Physicians interested in the Clinical Neurophysiology Fellowship Program may apply through the American Accrediation of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

Our mission is to train professionals to provide age-appropriate, culturally sensitive, evidence-based stroke care; individualize care to meet the needs of each patient and family; collaborate with other health care professionals and ancillary services to achieve the best outcomes; and engage in clinical stroke research.

During this one-year ACGME-accredited vascular neurology fellowship, fellows receive comprehensive interdisciplinary training in all aspects of clinical care for patients with stroke and related cerebrovascular diseases, under the mentorship of surgeons who are highly trained in the most advanced microsurgical and minimally invasive techniques. Fellows gain specialized knowledge in the science, pathology, clinical evaluation, diagnosis and management of adults with stroke and cerebrovascular disease at a level beyond that expected of a general neurologist. In addition, fellows participate and receive training in the conduct of clinical, epidemiological, and outcomes based stroke research.

Fellows train at the Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, the only Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in southern Arizona, under the mentorship of vascular neurologists, neurointerventionalists, vascular neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, critical care specialists, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, neuroscience nursing, basic science vascular neurology researchers, and emergency medicine physicians.

The fellow receives advanced training in delivery of acute therapies for ischemic stroke (including IV tPA and endovascular procedures) and intracerebral hemorrhage, neurorehabilitation, secondary stroke prevention, and advanced neuroimaging. Experiences include both outpatient and inpatient care of adults with stroke and cerebrovascular diseases.

They also attend a weekly outpatient stroke clinic at our brand-new outpatient North Campus facility and attend bimonthly Multidisciplinary Stroke Case Conferences. Additional experiences are available in carotid and transcranial Doppler techniques, catheter angiography and interventional procedures, as well as multimodal MRI and CT techniques. 

Fellows participate and receive training in the conduct of clinical, epidemiological and outcomes-based stroke research. Participation in clinical research studies is expected. A second-year option with a focus on clinical research is available pending funding.

An Interdisciplinary Approach

Fellows will work with representatives from an array of fields:

• stroke neurologists
• neurocritical care specialists
• neurosurgeons
• vascular surgeons
• neuroradiologists
• emergency physicians
• therapists
• pharmacists
• specialty trained nurses

Our faculty have been recognized by the American Heart / American Stroke Association for their care and outcomes with the Gold Plus Target Stroke Honor Roll.

Fellows will learn to treat:

• Ischemic stroke
• Transient ischemic attacks
• Intracerebral hemorrhage
• Carotid stenosis
• Aneurysms and subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Vascular malformations of the brain and spinal cord

Fellows will participate in an array of services, including:

• administration of intravenous tPA (clot-busting medicine) and mechanical clot retrieval for acute ischemic stroke
• neurosurgical and vascular procedures
• medication management for stroke prevention
• rehabilitation services

The vascular neurology fellow will be scheduled for 12 one-month rotations to include the following:

Tools and Technology

• multimodal CT scanning
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• magnetic resonance angiography
• digital angiography
• carotid duplex and transcranial doppler ultrasound

The primary site for the fellows’ education is the University of Arizona and our affiliated hospital, Banner – University Medical Center Tucson (BUMCT), the only Joint Commission certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in southern Arizona. BUMCT is also the only trauma center and the only tertiary, academic referral center in the greater Tucson region. Stroke clinics are held at the North Campus outpatient facility and the neurorehabilitation rotation is held at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute of Tucson.

Program Director

Ealaf Al-Rabia, MD

Associate Clinical Professor, Neurology - (Clinical Series Track)

Program Director, Vascular Neurology Fellowship

ealrabia@arizona.edu

Clinical Specialties

Stroke and Vascular Neurologygy

Program Faculty

Michael Avery, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor, Neurosurgery

mbavery@arizona.edu

Bruce M. Coull, MD

Vice Dean, Faculty Affairs

Professor, Neurology

Professor, Medicine

William M. Feinberg, MD, Endowed Chair in Stroke Research

coullb@arizona.edu

Clinical Specialties

Stroke and Vascular Neurologygy

General Neurology

Travis Dumont, MD

Professor, Neurosurgery

Director, Neurovascular Surgery Program

Residency Program Director, Neurosurgery

tdumont@surgery.arizona.edu

Clinical Specialties

Tumor

Trauma

Peripheral Nerve

Pediatric Vascular

Pediatric Spine Disorders

Micah Etter, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor, Neurology

metter@arizona.edu

Clinical Specialties

Dementia

Stroke and Vascular Neurology

Cameron D. Hypes, MD

Assistant Professor, Medicine & Emergency Medicine

Associate Medical Director, Intensive Care Unit, Banner-UMC Tucson

chypes@aemrc.arizona.edu

Firas Kaddouh, MD, MHS

Director, Neurology Clinical Research Unit

Associate Program Director, Neurology Residency

Assistant Clinical Professor, Neurology - (Clinical Scholar Track)

firaskaddouh@arizona.edu

Clinical Specialties

Neurological Emergencies

Neurotrauma

Neurocritical Care

Daniel Lee, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor, Radiology and Imaging Sciences

Neurointerventional Radiology

dlee7@arizona.edu

Clinical Specialties

Neurointerventional Radiology

Program Coordinator

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Positions and Duration

The Vascular Neurology Fellowship is a 12-month program beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30. Two positions are offered on a competitive basis each year.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates are selected for the fellowship program based on specific prerequisites and criteria:

• Graduation from an ACGME-accredited residency program, American Osteopathic Association (AOA)-approved residency program, ACGME International (ACGME-I) Advanced Specialty Accreditation program, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)-accredited or College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)-accredited residency program located in Canada.
• Fellows must have successfully completed a program in neurology, child neurology or neurodevelopment disabilities that satisfies the requirements above.
• Additionally, candidates must be either a U.S. citizen, possess an employment authorization document (EAD), or be eligible for a J-1 visa.

Fellow Selection

How to Apply

Your ERAS application will require the following documentation:

• Up-to-date CV
• Three letters of reference
• USMLE/COMLEX 1, 2 and 3 scores
• ECFMG certificate
• Medical school transcript
• MSPE (Dean’s letter)
• Certificate of completion (or good standing in) ACGME-accredited residency
• Personal statement

Fellows will be appointed only when academic credentials have been verified.

International Medical Graduates

Timeline and Deadlines

The program participates in the National Resident Matching Program and adheres to its policies and principles. Applications must be submitted through the Electronic Residency Application Service. Application submissions begin December 1. The program will review and applications and extend interviews through March. Match Day for vascular neurology fellowships occurs in mid-May, with training beginning the following academic year on July 1.