Neurointerventional Fellowship

The interventional neuroradiologists specialize in:

• Cerebral angiography – A radiology procedure that evaluates blood flow in the brain.
• Minimally invasive treatments for cerebrovascular conditions – Includes aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations of the brain and spine, carotid disease, and ischemic stroke.
• Pre-operative embolization – Enhances surgical outcomes for brain and spinal tumors.
• Treatment of superficial vascular malformations and, head and neck tumors – Targeted, minimally invasive procedures for improved care.
• Embolization of the middle meningeal artery (EMMA) – A treatment for chronic subdural hematoma.
• Minimally invasive spine surgery – Used for spinal disorders such as fractures, tumors, compressed nerves, and conditions affecting the spinal cord.

Clinical and research focus

• 80 percent hands-on experience in clinical neuroimaging
• 20 percent research and program development

Research opportunities

Fellows can collaborate on research in:

• Clinical outcomes
• Medical technology
• Physics
• Public health (tailored to individual interests)

During the first year of the fellowship, fellows perform and interpret diagnostic neuroangiographic procedures and assist with neurointerventional procedures under the guidance and supervision of our expert faculty. They actively participate in all diagnostic angiography procedures and assist in all neurointerventional cases, gradually progressing to performing procedures as primary operators.

Fellows receive hands-on teaching during procedures, including pre-procedure evaluations and post-procedure care. This is complemented by participation in outpatient neurovascular clinics and neurovascular case rounds. Additionally, fellows attend weekly clinical rounds in collaboration with the stroke service. 

They also take part in teaching rounds for medical students and fellows and engage in weekly multidisciplinary cerebrovascular conferences.

In the second year, fellows take on greater responsibilities, performing both diagnostic and interventional neuroangiographic procedures with increased independence. They also play a more active role in managing patients with neurovascular conditions in inpatient settings.

Fellows are encouraged to contribute to research within the Department of Radiology, present their work at scientific meetings, and publish in leading neuroradiology, neurology, and neuroscience journals. Each fellow is expected to write and submit at least one manuscript per fellowship year to a peer-reviewed journal.

Fellows will train at Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg (HSC), Manitoba’s largest health-care facility, spanning 39 acres with over four million square feet of space and 588 patient beds.

Additional highlights include:

• Provincial tertiary care centre – Specializing in neurosciences, trauma, transplants, burns, complex cancer care, and pediatric care.
• A leading teaching hospital – Affiliated with the University of Manitoba and other post-secondary institutions, providing hands-on learning and research opportunities.
• State-of-the-art imaging and equipment – Includes two 1.5 Tesla and two 3 Tesla MRI machines, two bi-plane neuro-angiographic rooms with rotational 3D capability, two single-plane angiographic rooms, and three CT scanners.
• Expert neurointerventional team – Patient care is led by two interventional neuroradiologists and two interventionally trained vascular neurosurgeons.
• High-volume neurointerventional procedures – Performing over 400 neuro-interventional procedures annually.