Emerging Subspecialties in Neurology: Interventional Neurology

Interventional neurology is a subspecialty at the cross-section of neurology, neurosurgery, and neuroradiology that uses image-guided endovascular catheter techniques to diagnose and treat neurovascular disorders. Although interventional neurology techniques have existed for decades, recent landmark trials in stroke thrombectomy have catalyzed dramatic changes to the interventional neurology field, and there is rising neurology interest and representation. Unlike other neurology subspecialties, however, interventional neurology training and fellowship applications are not standardized. Thus, it can be difficult for neurology trainees to navigate this rapidly changing and multidisciplinary field. This article seeks to provide neurology residents and residency program directors with a brief overview of the modern interventional neurology field, the current fellowship application process, and tips on how neurologists can best prepare for a career in interventional neurology. To this end, we conducted a nationwide survey of interventional neurology fellowship program directors regarding training neurologists. We distill survey responses into concrete, actionable items for neurology trainees.