The Division of Vascular and Critical Care Neurology provides the highest level of evidence-based care, offering state-of-the-art treatment for patients with cerebrovascular disorders of all levels of complexity. Fellowship-trained vascular neurologists provide acute stroke care, routinely assessing patients for intravenous thrombolysis and/or endovascular interventions. 

Our faculty members collaborate with physicians from the Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Emergency Medicine, Neurosurgery and Surgery to provide the most comprehensive, evidence-based stroke care available.    

VCU Health’s annual Retreat & Refresh Stroke Camp works in partnership with the United Stroke Alliance and Sheltering Arms Institute to offer unique weekend retreats for stroke survivors and their caregivers, providing respite and support in facing the challenges of life following stroke. This annual camp experience is offered each Fall during the past five years, can enroll up to 40 participants, and relies on community support to supplement that from clinical operations.

The Camp Experience for Survivors and Caregivers Includes:

• Peer-to-peer mentorship and support network 
  building
• Educational breakout sessions for both survivors and 
  caregivers
• Exercise rehabilitation to improve survivor motor skills
• Speech and music therapy sessions
• Training for caregivers in handling isolation and self-care
• Group activities that inspire creativity
• Other components of the camp curriculum provided 
  by the United Stroke Alliance

For questions about the stroke camp or to attend, please contact Stacie Stevens at stacie.stevens@vcuhealth.org. 

The VCU Stroke Center, Virginia’s first Comprehensive Stroke Center certified by the Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, serves as a major tertiary referral center for patients in the commonwealth. Stroke specialists are available for consultations 24/7, and remote patients have access to TeleStroke, an online consultation service. The center has received the highest levels of recognition from the AHA/ASA every year since 2011.

More than one-third of stroke patients admitted to VCU Medical Center are transferred from other hospitals. This reflects our depth of expertise and leading-edge care. The hallmark of VCU Health Comprehensive Stroke Center is providing advanced care for both routine and complex stroke patients, including:

• Cerebral aneurysm
• Extracranial and intracranial cerebrovascular disease
• Intracerebral hemorrhage
• Ischemic stroke
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage

What Sets Our Stroke Care Apart from Others?  

VCU Health uses an innovative hybrid operating room endovascular suite, a unique hybrid operating room that allows for the use of traditional neurosurgical techniques in combination with endovascular (minimally invasive) treatments. This advanced suite utilizes cutting-edge imaging technology for improved outcomes. In addition, our Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit is located in the Critical Care Hospital so patients receive the highest level of care.

• Advanced neuro imaging, multimodal CT perfusion and angiography in evaluation
• First in Virginia to use liquid copolymer in treatment of cerebral aneurysm.

We continue to be a leader in stroke education and research, with National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and industry-sponsored grants. Our expert team doesn’t just treat your stroke, we find out why the stroke occurred. Our goal is to eliminate risk factors we can control to diminish the risk of another stroke. Additionally, some of our patients participate in the latest clinical trials as we discover groundbreaking new ideas and innovative treatments to reduce the risk of stroke. Past and current clinical stroke studies include:

• New transdermal pro-drug with potential anti-inflammatory impact in acute ischemic stroke
• Newer treatments for cerebral aneurysm, vasospasm in subarachnoid hemorrhage and minimally invasive neurosurgery plus IV-TPA in intracerebral hemorrhage
• Pre-hospital ambulance stroke evaluation by telemedicine
• Treatment of embolic stroke of unknown source (ESUS)
• Virginia Women’s Stroke Prevention Initiative

Vascular and Critical Care Neurology Fellowship

In addition to providing top-of-the-line patient care, our faculty are involved in teaching and guiding medical students and residents. Learners gain knowledge and develop skills in prevention, treatment and recovery for patients with all types of cerebrovascular disease.

Certified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, our one-year vascular neurology fellowship provides comprehensive training in the inpatient and outpatient management of cerebrovascular disorders. Areas of training include neuroimaging, neurocritical care, acute stroke evaluation, assessment for stroke intervention and outpatient stroke prevention. Fellows also have ample opportunity to participate in research and ongoing clinical trials.