Program Structure

The UAB Neurocritical Care Program offers pathways suitable for candidates from diverse training backgrounds:

• A 24-month program, designed for applicants without prior training in neurosurgery or critical care. In order to be eligible, applicants complete an ACGME- or RCPSC- accredited training program in neurology, anesthesiology, or emergency medicine.
• A 12-month program, intended for applicants who have previously completed an ACGME- or RCPSC-accredited critical care fellowship, in addition to residency training. Applicants trained in internal medicine, anesthesiology, general surgery, and/or emergency medicine may be eligible.
• A 12-month program, structured for applicants from ACGME- or RCPSC-accredited neurosurgical programs.

Fellows rotate through diverse ICUs (medical, surgical, cardiac, and trauma burn units) in addition to NICU-specific training. Supplemental rotations include vascular neurology, clinical neurophysiology, and anesthesiology, with elective options such as neuroradiology, epilepsy, cerebrovascular ultrasound, neurosurgery, and other subspecialties.

Didactics

As part of a large academic medical center, fellows benefit from a variety of educational opportunities, including:

• The Multidisciplinary Critical Care Medicine lecture series provides a comprehensive overview of critical care principles, and is attended by critical care fellows across the institution. This series encompasses hands-on training in various procedures, point of care ultrasound, and other core skills as well as case-based discussions, journal clubs, and “master clinician” lectures from various subspecialties.
• Dedicated neurocritical care didactics: Occurring twice a month, these internal conferences cover core neuro-ICU topics, and include UAB fellows and faculty, as well as interested residents.
• Regional Conferences: UAB participates in the South Eastern Regional Neurocritical Care Journal Club and Grand Rounds, organized by the neurocritical care division at Emory University.
• Interdisciplinary Conferences: Fellows attend the neurosurgery morning report and the weekly cerebrovascular conference, which includes faculty from neurosurgery, vascular neurology, neurocritical care and neuroradiology. Other clinical conferences, such as Tumor Board and Epilepsy Case Conference, may be of interest when the fellow Is engaged in off-service rotations.

The didactic curriculum is enhanced through daily bedside teaching rounds, directed reading, and mentorship, providing fellows with ample exposure to core principles of neurocritical care.

Core Faculty

Angela Hays Shapshak, M.D.
Program Director
Associate Professor of Neurology and Anesthesiology 

Dr. Hays Shapshak is a board-certified neurologist, neurointensivist and vascular neurologist with over a decade of experience in neurocritical care and medical education.

David Miller, M.D.
Vice Chair of Critical Care, Department of Anesthesiology
Division Director of Critical Care Medicine
NICU Medical Director

Dr. Miller specializes in neuroanesthesiology, neurocritical care, and health care quality.

Scott Marshall, M.D.
Associate Professor of Neurology and Anesthesiology

Elizabeth Liptrap, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery

Dr. Liptrap is trained in neurosurgery, as well as vascular and endovascular neurosurgery.

Robin Bush, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology

Dr. Bush is fellowship-trained in critical care and in neurocritical care and has interests in medical education and neuroanesthesiology.

Weifeng Song, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology

Dr. Song is an anesthesiologist, neurointensivist, and clinician scientist with interests in subarachnoid hemorrhage and acute lung injury in neurological critical illness.

Ahmed Salem, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Anesthesiology

Emily Wasson, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology

Dr. Wasson has a passion for medical education as well as research interests in cerebrovascular autoregulation and perioperative neurosurgery.