APP) - Neurosciences

University of Virginia

About The Position

Although this program is an outpatient-focused track, APP Fellows will rotate briefly throughout key inpatient environments within UVA Medical Center such as general neurology consult service, the Neurointensive Care Unit, inpatient stroke service, and others to enhance the global understanding of acute neurologic disorders. As part of the core clinical curriculum, fellows will then spend the remainder of time rotating with experts in outpatient neurology specialty clinics including general outpatient neurology, neuromuscular disorders, stroke, movement disorders, and more. Fellows are required to take a patient load under the guidance and supervision of a designated preceptor, increasing their patient load and level of responsibility throughout the program as determined by their competency and overall clinical development. Fellows are evaluated on their clinical performance and competencies after each rotation.

Requirements

Master’s Degree as an Advance Practice Provider (Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant)
Less than 1 year of experience in desired specialty.
License or license eligible as an Advance Practice Provider (Physician Assistant or Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner) as set forth by the state of Virginia.
Must demonstrate and maintain all credentialing and licensing requirements of the UVA Medical Center, the Virginia Board of Medicine or the Virginia Board of Nursing, and the appropriate certifying bodies.
Must be enrolled with all payers through Delegated Credentialing and can participate in Medicaid and Medicare for billing.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through American Heart Association required.

Responsibilities

Independently and in close collaboration with the primary preceptor, attending neurologists, neurosurgeons, fellows, and interdisciplinary team members, provides comprehensive, specialized neuroscience care across the continuum, with emphasis on the ambulatory/outpatient settings (epilepsy, stroke, movement disorders, headache, neuromuscular, neuro-oncology, and general neurology clinics).
Performs focused, comprehensive neurologic history and physical examinations (including detailed mental status, cranial nerve, motor, sensory, coordination, gait, and reflex assessments) in both acute and ambulatory environments.
Accurately documents findings in the electronic health record, highlighting pertinent positives, negatives, progressive changes, and red-flag symptoms critical to neurologic diagnosis and management.
Orders and interprets diagnostic studies relevant to neurosciences, including laboratory tests, and neuroimaging (e.g., CT, MRI, EMG, EEG, etc).
Formulates differential diagnoses and definitive neurologic diagnoses using advanced clinical reasoning grounded in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and evidence-based guidelines.
Develops, implements, and longitudinally evaluates individualized, evidence-based treatment plans tailored to inpatient acute management and ambulatory chronic disease management, including titration and monitoring of disease-modifying therapies.
Prescribes and manages pharmacologic interventions (e.g., anti-seizure medications, thrombolytics/antiplatelets, disease-modifying therapies for MS, Parkinson’s regimens, migraine prophylaxis, therapeutic agents, immunomodulators, etc/) and non-pharmacologic interventions (lifestyle modification, physical/occupational/speech therapy referrals, botulinum toxin injections, etc.).
Initiates timely specialty consultations and multidisciplinary referrals (neurosurgery, neuro-ophthalmology, neuropsychology, palliative care, epilepsy monitoring unit, rehabilitation services) and coordinates transitions between inpatient and ambulatory care settings.
Collaborates with attending physicians and clinical preceptors with detailed outpatient follow-up plans.
Incorporates age-specific, culturally sensitive, and disease-specific considerations into all plans of care; provides longitudinal education and shared decision-making for patients and families managing chronic neurologic conditions in the ambulatory setting.
Advocates for patients and families by addressing educational needs, treatment options, clinical trial eligibility, advance care planning, disability resources, and ethical issues unique to neurologic illness (capacity assessment, driving restrictions, end-of-life decisions).
Serves as an expert consultant in neurosciences for inpatient services, emergency department, and outpatient primary care providers.
Maintains strict confidentiality of protected health information in accordance with HIPAA and institutional policy.
Ensures compliance with national clinical standards and quality metrics (AAN, AANP, Joint Commission Stroke/Seizure Center certification, CMS) through interdisciplinary collaboration and performance improvement initiatives.
Clearly explains diagnostic tests, procedures (lumbar puncture, botulinum toxin injection, etc), and treatment plans—including risks, benefits, and anticipated effects—to patients, families, staff, and learners in both inpatient and ambulatory contexts.
Performs designated procedures after demonstrated competency and privileging (e.g., lumbar puncture, botulinum toxin injections for migraine/dystonia/spasticity, etc.) under initial supervision of the primary preceptor, progressing to independent practice in the ambulatory setting as appropriate.
Meets or exceeds all defined clinical milestones by the conclusion of the fellowship year, as evaluated through multisource feedback, portfolio review, and direct observation.
Serves as an exemplary professional role model for colleagues, interdisciplinary team members, the institution, and the broader healthcare community through consistent demonstration of integrity, accountability, and clinical excellence.
Exhibits unwavering respect, cultural humility, and collaborative spirit in all interactions with patients, families, staff, learners, and the interdisciplinary care team.
Demonstrates emerging leadership by actively mentoring junior APPs, residents, nurses, and students; fostering interdisciplinary teamwork; and championing initiatives that empower others to deliver high-quality care.
Advocates for the expanded role and value of Advanced Practice Providers through patient/family education, professional presentations, community outreach, and/or participation in hospital committees or professional organizations.
Assumes progressive leadership responsibilities within the fellowship, including (but not limited to) leading quality-improvement efforts, presenting in formal educational sessions, or representing the APP group in departmental initiatives.
Meets or exceeds all defined leadership and professionalism competency milestones by the conclusion of the fellowship year, as evaluated through multisource feedback, portfolio review, and direct observation.
Actively participates in a robust, structured didactic curriculum including weekly protected lectures, high-fidelity simulation sessions, procedural skills labs, case-based discussions, morbidity & mortality reviews, grand rounds, and other educational activities as designed by the Fellowship Director and Program Faculty.
Completes scholarly projects during the fellowship year, including an evidence-based practice initiative and/or quality-improvement project and presentation, and Abstract with E-Poster presentation.