UC Davis CNS Endovascular Surgery Fellowship Program

CNS Endovascular Surgery Fellowship

About the Fellowship

We are currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 academic year (application deadline is April 15, 2024). Please see the How To Apply tab for more information.

The CNS Endovascular Surgery Fellowship Program at UC Davis is a CAST-approved one-year fellowship program for qualified candidates and the program's availability. Fellows will be trained in the full spectrum of neuro-interventional procedures including endovascular aneurysm treatment (coiling, stent-assisted coiling, flow diversion, intrasaccular devices), AVM embolization, AV fistula embolization, mechanical thrombectomy, carotid angioplasty and stenting, TCAR, MMA embolization, head and neck embolization and spinal embolization.

The UC Davis program is a collaboration between the Departments of Neurological Surgery, Radiology, and Neurology. The program is based in the Department of Neurological Surgery which allows for training in the management of subarachnoid hemorrhage and potential participation in open surgical cases (aneurysm clipping/AVM resection) for neurosurgeons.

The UC Davis CNS Endovascular Surgery Fellowship Program is currently offering a one-year track. All candidates must be able to start on July 1st of the incoming academic year. There are mandatory institutional orientation sessions the last week of June prior to starting July 1st (please plan accordingly).

1-year Post Residency Fellowship Track:
Eligible Candidates: Candidates from Neurosurgery, Radiology or Neurology who have completed > 200 diagnostic angiograms as primary operator during residency for neurosurgeons and during fellowship for radiologists and neurologists.

The clinical component of the program will be located at the University of California Davis Medical Center, which is where fellows will spend most of their time.

The fellow will be in vascular clinic on Monday mornings with Dr. Waldau and Monday afternoons with Dr. Cord. The rest of the week will be devoted to neuro-interventional cases. The fellow will be trained in the following procedures:

Aneurysm treatments (Coiling, stent-assisted coiling, flow diversion, intrasaccular devices)

Intracranial embolizations (AVMs, AVFs, Tumor, MMA for subdural hematoma)

Intracranial or extracranial stent placements or angioplasty (non-aneurysmal) including TCAR

Acute ischemic stroke treatments (mechanical thrombectomy)

Head and neck embolizations (tumor, epistaxis, trauma)

Spinal angiograms and/or embolizations (spinal dural AVF, tumor)

To learn more about UC Davis Health and the Sacramento region, please click on the Resources tab.

Please send the following application documents in one pdf file to Staci Leitner at sleitner@ucdavis.edu and Ben Waldau, M.D. at bwaldau@ucdavis.edu.

Cover letter
Current Curriculum Vitae
USMLE transcripts/score report
Exam transcripts: Written ABNS exam for neurosurgeons, Neuroradiology subspecialty exam for radiologists, ABPN exam for neurologists.
Case log of more than 200 diagnostic angiograms as primary operators for applicants who would like to be considered for the 1-year fellowship.
Three letters of recommendation

Eligibility
To be eligible for the CNS Endovascular Surgery Fellowship, you must have completed residency training in neurosurgery, residency training in radiology with a fellowship in diagnostic neuroradiology or residency training in neurology with a fellowship in vascular neurology or neurocritical care.

Visa Requirements
Non-US Citizens must have a J-1 Visa or Work Authorization permit to apply to UC Davis Health fellowship training programs.  UC Davis Health does not accept H1-B Visas.  Please review the complete policy in Requirements for International Medical Graduates at UC Davis Health.

Graduates of Foreign Medical Colleges
You must be eligible for a California state license. Please review the California Medical Board approved list of foreign medical schools to confirm you have an approved degree and your school is listed.  If there is concern about your eligibility for a California Medical License, the fellowship program may require a PTAL letter before we consider you for an interview.

Core faculty