Mercy Health now offers Neurology Residency Program
Nationwide, finding a neurologist can be difficult. In fact, studies estimate that by 2025, there will be a 19% shortage of neurologists in the U.S. That means that the demand for neurologists in 2025 will be 21,440, but only about 18,060 will be available.
With the goal of ensuring that state-of-the art neurology services grow in Northwest Ohio, Mercy Health has established a General Neurology Residency Program at Mercy Health - St. Vincent Medical Center.
The 4-year residency program will begin in July and will train four residents per year. Under the direction of neuroendovascular surgeon Sam Zaidat, MD, the program will help build up the area’s neurology expertise. This program is in addition to a Stroke Fellowship that was created by Mercy Health in 2016.
“Hundreds of thousands of patients suffer from neurological disorders each year and stroke remains the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the US,” said Dr. Zaidat, medical director of Mercy Health neuroscience and neurovascular services. “We are building the next generation of physicians to combat these diseases and so help our communities live healthier lives.”
Mercy Health has provided Graduate Medical Education since 1896 and was the first medical education provider in Northwest Ohio.
With the addition of this program, Mercy Health oversees 12 independent GME (residency and fellowship) programs accredited by Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME ). These programs include:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Internal Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
- Family Medicine
- Transitional Year
- General Surgery
- Orthopedics
- Obstetrics/Gynecology
- Podiatry
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Hospice-Palliative Care Medicine
Within these programs, Mercy Health employs approximately 400 medical residents and fellows throughout our statewide system, of which about 200 are based at St. Vincent. The ACGME, AOA and CPME have awarded ongoing maximal accreditation to all of our respective programs.
“The creation of this program further shows Mercy Health’s commitment to growing medical education within Northwest Ohio,” said Randy Schlievert, MD, vice president of Academic Affairs for Mercy Health – Toledo. “We recognize our patients are looking for medical professionals, and in particular specialists, who are available where they live and work and so Mercy Health looks to build a network that addresses those needs.”
Mercy Health also remains deeply committed to undergraduate medical education. We continue to serve as a major training site for the medical students from Ohio University, St. George’s University and the University of Toledo (UT). We also have established a robust and growing relationship with the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) in Akron.