The New Jersey Neuroscience Institute (“NJNI”) at JFK Medical Center is seeking a Neurointensivist to join their rapidly growing neurocritical care program. Qualified candidates must be US board eligible/certified in Neurocritical Care. Neurology residency training is preferred, however candidates with training in other specialties may be considered. The incoming neurointensivist will join an expanding neurocritical care team that includes other specialty trained neurointensivists, neurosurgeons, NP/PA’s, neurology residents/fellows, and administrative personnel. The Neurocritical Care program is supported by full neuro-interventional capabilities, a nationally renowned stroke program and onsite rehabilitation institute, active neurology residency and fellowship programs, and ongoing clinical trials and basic science research programs. 

The position at NJNI will include a full faculty appointment within the Department of Neurosciences at the Seton Hall University School of Health & Medical Sciences. Academic teaching and mentorship opportunities are available through NJNI’s Neurology Residency program, and through the Stroke & Cerebrovascular Division’s 3 fellowship programs, including Vascular Neurology, Neurocritical Care, and Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology. Director level leadership opportunities exist for qualified candidates.

Ideally located within one of the largest U.S. catchment populations, the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute at JFK Medial Center has been rated as the best hospital in New Jersey for the treatment of stroke and complex neurological disorders. JFK has been a state-designated Comprehensive Stroke Center since 2007 and was only the 8th hospital in the nation to be certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by the Joint Commission. JFK Medical Center is a US News & World Report “Best Hospital” located in Edison, NJ; less than an hour commute from Manhattan and 30 minute drive to Newark Liberty International Airport.

Neurosciences Critical Care Unit

JFK Medical Center’s Neurosciences Critical Care Unit (“NCCU”) provides comprehensive care and management to critically ill patients by utilizing evidence based strategies and state-of-the art technology. The NCCU is ‘open’ in the sense that attending physicians consult with a wide range of specialists with admitting privileges to JFK (hence the essential requirement for an individual with highly developed communication skills and tact). Since the creation of the NICU at JFK Medical Center in 2011, the unit has grown significantly to include 6-Neurology/Neurosurgery dedicated beds, with an additional 6 flex beds to be utilized when necessary. The average NCCU census is 10 beds (5-6 vascular and 4-5 post-procedure). It is anticipated that the size of the NCCU will expand to as many as 20 beds over the next 24 months.

Neurocritical Care Cases typically treated in the NCCU include:

• Post-Op Craniotomies (primarily vascular – aneurysm and subarachnoid hemorrhage)
• Acute Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke (admitted by the Comprehensive Stroke Center)
• Refractory Status Epilepticus
• Autoimmune and demyelinating disorders
• CNS infections
• Various Neurologic complications of critical illness
• Virtually no spine or brain trauma

Patient Care Procedures
JFK Medical Center’s ICU, MICU, and NCCU are managed by ICC Healthcare (Intensive Care Consortium). ICC Healthcare is the largest intensivist group in the U.S., and uses board certified critical care physicians to care for their client’s ICU patients. ICC Healthcare physicians follow specific protocols to improve patient care, to improve quality of care, and to improve patient/family satisfaction. The JFK Medical Center is one of 15 hospitals along the eastern seaboard that depend on ICC Healthcare.

Due to its pulmonology orientation, ICC Healthcare has deferred to the Neuroscience Institute to recruit and staff the NCCU with attending neurointensivists. The ICC Healthcare critical care doctors will be involved as the case coordinators for the NCCU. Neurointensivists will be expected to perform all traditional neurocritical care procedures in the NCCU, including ventilator management, central lines, intubations and drains. Pulmonologists and Neurologists work closely and collaboratively with regard to consultations, ventilator management, etc.

Due to the open nature of the NCCU, protocol is more broadly defined than in a strictly closed unit. To avoid wide swings in patient care and outcomes; cases are widely discussed among the NJNI attending physicians, ICC physicians and referring primary care physicians in order to reach a consensus regarding patient orders. Thus, it is very important for candidates to be well skilled in all non-trauma related clinical procedures, and be receptive to collaboration with a wide network of colleagues.

Resident Involvement in the NICU
Residents rotate actively in the NICU. The Senior Resident rotates clinically similar to that of a first year neurocritical care fellow.

Neurointensivist Clinical Rotation & Call Schedule
The call schedule is 1 in 4 (weeks and weekends). NP’s and residents take the first call during the day, and residents take first call at night. When not on service, the Neurointensivist will have the opportunity to pursue specific research interests (basic or clinical) and/or develop residency curriculum and NCCU protocols. There will be no outpatient clinic requirements, but there is an opportunity to participate in clinics if the incoming neurointensivist wants to generate more RVUs.

In summary, the Neurocritical Care faculty opportunity at the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute will include:

• Protected time for research pursuits
• Teaching opportunities with an ACGME accredited Neurology Residency Program and fellowship programs
• Clinical establishment with the leading provider of neurological services in a catchment population of 4 million
• Aggressive financial compensation package which will include a guaranteed base salary, bonus opportunity, retirement package, CME sponsorship, etc.
• Full academic faculty appointment with the Seton Hall University School of Health & Medicine (all academic ranks are welcomed to apply)
• Ideal Suburban Location that provides a charming and affordable lifestyle with immediate access to the amenities of NYC and Philadelphia. Midtown Manhattan is less than 45 minutes away via train.
• School Systems that have been ranked #1 in the country

New Jersey Neuroscience Institute

The JFK Medical Center has been consistently recognized as one of the best Hospitals in the New York Metro Area for the clinical specialty of Neuroscience (brain disorders) by U.S. News & World Report. The New Jersey Neuroscience Institute (“NJNI”) at JFK Medical Center is a clinical leader in stroke, brain tumors, neurocritical care, endovascular surgical neuroradiology, sleep medicine and neurophysiology. NJNI offers extensive clinical care programs, research, and education in neurology and neurosurgery.

NJNI’s multidisciplinary approach serves the varying medical, surgical and rehabilitation needs of patients with neurological diseases and injuries. The NJNI physician’s team includes 41 multi-disciplinary faculty members comprised of neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuro-pathologists, neuro-psychologists, neuroscience researchers, and allied health professionals who are dedicated to a program of care that meets the specific needs of each individual patient. The medical team has active research being performed and has published more than 50 peer-reviewed papers in the last year. The New Jersey Neuroscience Institute at JFK Medical Center is currently conducting a range of research projects, including clinical trials. These trials include multiple trials in stroke, epilepsy, brain tumors, movement disorders, and other ongoing studies. Basic research is conducted in molecular gene expression in stroke, gene therapy, ocular-motor physiology, pupillomotor physiology, and vestibular physiology.

In 2011, NJNI continued the expansion of its neuroscience specialties by creating a neurocritical care unit, expanding the endovascular capabilities with a new biplane angiography unit, and continuing research in brain tumor treatment.
 

Neurology Infrastructure at NJNI
The New Jersey Neuroscience Institute is experiencing an exciting growth phase in size of faculty and clinical volume. The program has a team of 18 neurologists, all with subspecialty expertise. NJNI has an ACGME accredited 3-year Neurology residency program and 3 fellowship programs. The program has 12 neurology residents and 7 fellows (4 stroke/NCC/endovascular, 1 clinical neurophysiology, 2 sleep medicine). The neurology faculty is complemented by 12 neuropsychologists who are very actively involved with the movement disorders and epilepsy programs. NJNI has a 34 bed inpatient unit, including 5 hard wired EEG beds (3-adult, 2 peds on separate floor). In 2013 there were 740 admissions through the ED, of which 420 were ischemic stroke, 120 hemorrhagic stroke.

The specialists at the NJ Neuroscience Institute take a multidisciplinary team approach, relying on open communication, to ensure a unique treatment program for each patient. These disciplines include:

• Behavioral Neurology
• Epileptology
• Neurology
• Neuro-ophthalmology
• Neuro-oncology
• Neuro-radiology
• Neuro-pathology
• Neuro-psychology
• Neuro-rehabilitation
• Neuro-audiology
• Neurosurgery (brain and spinal)
• Otoneurology
• Pain management
• Pediatric neurology
• Pediatric neurosurgery
• Radiation oncology (using x-rays or radioactive substances to treat cancer)

Medical Technology & Instrumentation
Technology includes two 64-slice CT Scanners, a fully equipped neuro-interventional program including 2 Biplane Imaging devices, 2 fellowship trained neurologists with endovascular training and 4 supporting neuro-radiologists (250-275 interventional procedures annually – the number is expected to increase due to new relationship with a local program). 3 Tesla MRI scanners (Tesla = 1, 1.5 and 3). Gamma Knife procedures are performed by Dr. Landolfi, Director of Neurology.

NJNI Research Overview

• NJNI publishes over 50 peer review papers per year.
• NJNI has approximately 20-25 clinical trials running concurrently at any given time.
• The majority of clinical trials are vascular, followed by neuro-oncology; other trials include Huntington/Parkinson’s Disease, MS, etc.
• There is a clinical trial section within the Department of Neurology. 2 MD coordinators run the clinical trial logistics for the Department.
• There is a strong capacity and infrastructure to support clinical trials. The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is very receptive and supportive of research related pursuits within the Department of Neurology

Basic Science Research

• NJNI has a basic science section which includes 3 full time PhD Basic Scientists and a Director of Neuroscience Research (Gay R. Holstein, PhD).
• NJNI has 5 separate basic science labs.
• The basic science labs are equipped for histological, ‘cold room’, light microscope (digital imaging) and small animal surgery/euthanasia.
• NJNI is actively involved with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
• Dr. Holstein is an R01 funded Professor at Mount Sinai. 20% of her time is funded by NJNI for her routine and active support. She provides active mentorship to NJNI faculty with regard to research programs relating to the basic sciences
• There is also a research lab coordinator.

Research Labs

• Molecular Biology
• Materials Science
• Gene Therapy
• Autonomic Physiology
• Sleep Lab
• Vestibular Systems Lab

Seton Hall University – Academic Affiliation

The School of Graduate Medical Education at Seton Hall University provides residency and fellowship training to physicians throughout the northern half of New Jersey. A large array of medical and surgical specialties are covered in these training programs with the participation of many hospitals. The New Jersey Neuroscience Institute is a department within the University and provides residency training in Neurology. JFK Medical Center is an affiliate of the University for the purposes of this training, providing the administrative offices and the clinical setting for faculty and residents.

JFK Medical Center

JFK Medical Center, a 441-bed institution contains a 32-bed neuroscience unit, which includes a five-bed video-EEG unit and an eight-bed stroke unit. There is also a five-bed pediatric special care unit. A neurocritical care unit serves neurologic and neurosurgical patients. The medical center also provides Gamma Knife, IMRT, interventional neuroradiology, extensive MRI capabilities, functional MRI, MR spectroscopy, diffusion and perfusion imaging, and SPECT imaging. The affiliated JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute has a 30-bed Brain Trauma Unit and 70 general rehabilitation beds, many of which serve neurologic patients. There is also a 20-bed unit for patients with Huntington’s disease at the JFK Hartwyck Nursing, Convalescent and Rehabilitation Center at Cedar Brook. Neurology also treat patients in JFK Medical Center’s Emergency Medicine Department, where they conduct extensive clinical trials for stroke patients. The ED renovation project will complete in the summer of 2014, and will include an integrated CT scanner

Equipment & Technology:

• 24-hour ambulatory EEG
• Polysomnography with a special pediatric room
• Brain SPECT
• Computerized ENG
• CT, CT perfusion and CT angiography
• Conscious sedation
• PET/CT
• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• MRI, MRA, MRV and MR Perfusion
• Pediatric EMG
• Posturography
• Rotary chair testing
• Stereotactic surgery
• Stereotactic radiosurgery
• Transcranial Doppler
• Video EEG

Location Specifics

JFK Medical Center is located in Central New Jersey, with immediate access to both New York City and Philadelphia from major highways and through public transportation. Middlesex County, where the medical center is located, is one of the fastest-growing suburban areas in the country. Excellent local and county school systems and numerous job opportunities make the Edison area a desirable place in which to live, work and raise a family.

• Ideal and affordable suburban lifestyle with immediate access to New York City and Philadelphia
• Midtown Manhattan is a 35 minute train ride from JFK Medical Center
• Nationally Ranked School Systems – Edison’s school system is ranked highly in the state, according to New Jersey Magazine. The nearby Princeton and Millburn/Short Hills school systems are consistently ranked as the top public high schools in the nation.
• “America’s 10 Best Places to Grow Up” – Ranked by US News & World Report
• “Most Livable Small City” – Ranked 28th in the US by CNN Money Magazine
• “Best Places to Live” – Ranked 2nd in New Jersey by Money Magazine
• Edison is the namesake town for the world famous inventor, Thomas Edison. Thomas Edison was known as the “Wizard of Menlo Park”, where his main lab for inventions was located.