Neurology Residency
The Neurology Residency Program at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University is a three-year advanced training program designed to provide comprehensive clinical experience in medical and surgical neurology. The program prepares residents for board certification through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) in Neurology.
The residency is supervised by Dr. Dominik Faissler, D.V.M., DECVN (Neurology).
Program Highlights
Training takes place at the Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals in North Grafton, Massachusetts, The hospital maintains a high caseload of medical and surgical neurology cases and provides 24-hour emergency services for critical referrals throughout New England.
Residents devote the majority of their training to small-animal neurology and neurosurgery while also participating in consultations involving food-animal, exotic-animal, and equine neurology cases.
The residency curriculum includes rotations in:
- Internal Medicine
- Soft Tissue Surgery
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Emergency & Critical Care
- Ophthalmology
- Radiology
- Cardiology
- Pathology
- Access to the NIH-supported REVEAL academic enrichment program
Emergency responsibilities are shared among house officers.
Advanced Diagnostic & Clinical Resources
Residents have access to a wide range of advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies, including:
- CT imaging (Toshiba Aquilion 16)
- MRI imaging (Siemens Magnetom 1.5T)
- Digital radiography
- Electrodiagnostic laboratory capabilities:
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Nerve conduction studies
- Evoked potentials
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
- On-site linear accelerator for neuro-oncology treatment
The neurology service also offers a two-week neuropathology and neurosurgery rotation at New England Medical Center in Boston.
Academic & Teaching Opportunities
Residents actively participate in:
- Weekly journal clubs
- Pathology conferences
- Clinical conferences
- Seminars
- Faculty and student clinical rounds
The program includes clinical teaching responsibilities for second-, third-, and fourth-year D.V.M. students.
Completion of an original research project is required as part of the residency.
Collaborative Environment
The residency is supported by a multidisciplinary team of board-certified specialists in:
- Surgery
- Internal Medicine
- Emergency & Critical Care
- Oncology
- Cardiology
- Ophthalmology
- Radiology
- Dermatology
- Anesthesiology
- Clinical and Anatomical Pathology
- Nutrition
- Behavior
Residents also have opportunities to collaborate with neuroscience faculty involved in basic science research.
Appointment & Benefits
Appointments are 12 months in duration and renewed annually based on satisfactory performance.
Upon successful completion of the program, residents receive a certificate of residency training.
Benefits include:
- Health and life insurance
- Professional liability insurance
- Two weeks of annual vacation
- Travel allotment
- Eligibility for participation in the TIAA-CREF retirement plan upon completion of the three-year program
Applicants should be aware that the hospital maintains a professional dress code.
Application Information
Applications are submitted through the AAVC Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP).
For additional information, please email Dr. Dominik Faissler, Program Director, or by phone at (508) 839-8758.
Tufts University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.