TRACK 3: FELLOWSHIP TRAINING IN NEUROENDOVASCULAR SURGERY:

Training will be carried out at a MENA SINO accredited training site but is also approved by the local institutional graduate medical education committee. The program director will require subspecialty training and/or certification in neuro endovascular procedures with focus on ISM that is recognized by national or international accrediting body that is acceptable to the METC.  A minimum of 2 physicians practicing ISM will be required at the facility along with the necessary suitably equipped Neuroangiography unit, dedicated stroke unit and or intensive care unit that manages patients with stroke.  The presence of a multidisciplinary team with expertise in vascular neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology and neuro critical care will have to be demonstrable at the training site on a 24/7 basis. 

For the purpose of this training the program will have to show case volumes of at least 100 diagnostic cerebral angiograms per year, 50 MT procedures per year, 50 intracranial embolization procedures of aneurysms and vascular malformations per year, 20 extra/intra-cranial angioplasty with or without stenting per year, 10 intracranial infusions per year, 10 extracranial embolization’s per year and 5 spinal angiograms per year.  If the program is unable to provide these minimal case volumes then it may partner with additional sites after METC approval to fulfil these requirements in order to maintain their accreditation.

Physicians must have completed successful training from an accredited program from the respective country in radiology, neurology or neurosurgery.  They should have documented training in the diagnosis and management of acute stroke as well as the interpretation of pertinent diagnostic neuro imaging modalities. Neurologists: must have at least 1-year experience in the field of Vascular Neurology and/or Neurocritical Care that needs to be declared by recommendation letters or can have successfully completed the MENA SINO Vascular Neurology Track 1 training. Neurosurgeons: must have at least 1-year experience in the field of Vascular Neurosurgery that needs to be declared by recommendation letters, procedural logs and or certification. Radiologists: must have at least 1-year experience in the field of Diagnostic Neuroradiology that needs to be declared by recommendation letters and or certification. Furthermore any physician who has previously completed Track 2 ISM would be eligible to enrol in a second year of training to complete the NES training for an additional year either at the same site or another training site. 

Candidates that have successfully completed a fellowship program from a MENA SINO accredited centre will be eligible to apply for the certification exam.  Examinations will consist of a written exam followed by an oral exam that will need to be passed successfully in a consecutive fashion in order to confer certification and be awarded the MENA SINO Diploma in NES.