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in making care exceptional

The Neurological Institute (NI) at Cleveland Clinic is excited to announce a new one-year Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Fellowship for recently graduated nurse practitioners and physician assistants/associates. The fellowship offers structured postgraduate training in the neurosciences to support the transition to neurological and neurosurgical specialty practice. Through mentored clinical experiences, specialty rotations, and dedicated education, fellows will develop a broad neuroscience knowledge base, strengthen clinical reasoning and judgment, and build the skills and confidence needed to care for patients with complex neurological and neurosurgical conditions. We are now accepting applications for our inaugural 2027 cohort.

Application Requirements

To be considered, your application must include all of the following. Incomplete applications will be closed without review.

• Current curriculum vitae 

• Personal statement describing your interest in neurology and your career goals

• Three letters of recommendation (at least one from a clinical preceptor or faculty member familiar with your clinical work 

• PA or NP program transcripts 

Selection Process and Program Commitment

• Selected candidates will be invited to a virtual round-table interview with the program directors, NI leadership, and faculty.

• Fellows who accept a position agree to complete 52 weeks of training at Cleveland Clinic and affiliated regional hospitals. All program requirements must be met before the certificate of completion is awarded.

Timeline for the Inaugural Cohort (2027)

• Application deadline: December 28, 2026

• Interviews and offers: rolling, as applications are received

• Anticipated start date: April 5, 2027

Because interviews are conducted and offers extended on a rolling basis, early application is strongly encouraged; positions may be filled before the deadline.

Eligibility 

All applicants must have: 

• Completed, at minimum, a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant/Associate master’s program with degree conferred no later than December 28, 2026

• National board certification:

• • Nurse practitioners: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care, or Family Nurse Practitioner certification from a nationally recognized certifying body 

• • Physician assistants: NCCPA certification (PA-C) 

• An active, unrestricted Ohio license (APRN license for NPs; PA license for PAs) obtained before the start date 

• Ability to be credentialed by Cleveland Clinic Medical Executive Committee and Board of Governors   

All board examinations and certifications must be successfully completed at least 6 weeks before the program start date (by February 22, 2027). Because Ohio licensure and Cleveland Clinic credentialing take several weeks, we encourage applicants to begin the licensure process as soon as they are certified. 

Program Structure and Curriculum 

The NI APP Fellowship is based at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus in Cleveland, Ohio, home to the Neurological Institute’s new state-of-the-art building opening in 2027, with travel to our Ohio regional and satellite facilities as educational opportunities arise. The fellowship is 12 months long; two fellows will be selected for the inaugural cohort beginning April 2027. 

The NI APP Fellow will spend approximately 70% of their time in supervised clinical experiences across a broad range of neurological and neurosurgical specialties, including: 

• Neurology Foundations: Neuroanatomy, pathophysiology, neuroradiology, and neurological examination 

• General Neurology: Including autonomic disorders, headache, TBI/concussion, and neuromuscular medicine 

• Cerebrovascular and Neurocritical Care 

• Epilepsy 

• Movement Disorders and Functional Neurological Disorders 

• Neuroimmunology 

• Brain Health 

• Neurosurgery: Including spine and brain tumor care 

• Electives: Opportunities to explore additional specialties or expand training in an area of interest, such as Sleep Medicine or Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 

The remaining time is dedicated to educational activities, including weekly didactics, simulation, case-based learning, independent study, and a Capstone Project. Completed during the fourth quarter, the project is tailored to the fellow's interests with faculty mentorship. Examples include a poster presentation, manuscript submission, or a quality improvement project presented within the Neurological Institute. 

Compensation 

Fellows are hired into full-time, salaried, fixed-term positions for the 52-week program and are eligible for applicable full-time benefits as described in Cleveland Clinic’s Total Rewards materials. Salary is paid semi-monthly. Fellowship compensation is set at a training rate that is lower than compensation for standard APP positions, reflecting the program’s structured educational and mentorship components. 

After the Fellowship 

Upon successful completion of the fellowship, graduates are encouraged to apply for open APP positions within the Neurological Institute or across the Cleveland Clinic enterprise. The fellowship is a time-limited appointment; employment ends at the conclusion of the program for fellows who do not secure another Cleveland Clinic position. Post-fellowship employment is not guaranteed. 

Why Choose the NI APP Fellowship 

Post-graduate fellowship training is increasingly recognized as a valuable pathway for NPs and PAs seeking a rewarding career in neurology. The Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute APP Fellowship seeks driven, passionate NPs and PAs and provides an innovative opportunity to train in an enriching, supportive environment, learning from world leaders in medicine. Cleveland Clinic maintains a world-renowned reputation as a forerunner in patient care, leadership, innovation, and education. Fellows benefit from strong mentorship, robust clinical volume, and a culture that values education, and patient-centered care. This is an ideal setting for trainees seeking advanced clinical training while actively contributing to a forward-thinking academic community.   

Responsibilities:

• Conducts thorough medical histories, performs complete physical examinations (where indicated), initiates appropriate lab, radiology tests or other special tests required for evaluation of illness, and scrutinizes lab data to establish a record of the patient's current health status and to develop a working diagnosis and treatment plan.  Works in collaboration with the health care team.
• Performs and interprets common laboratory, radiologic, cardiographic and other routine diagnostic procedures used to identify pathophysiologic processes as credentialed and privileged by the Medical Executive Committee and the Governing Body of the applicable hospitals.
• Performs routine and specialized procedures as credentialed and privileged by the Medical Executive Committee and the Governing Body of the applicable hospitals.
• May prescribe and monitor medications as allowed by license through applicable state board and Cleveland Clinic policies.
• Educates patients and answers questions regarding their disease, treatments, related drug and treatment side effects and hazards.
• Participates in medical team rounds; collaborates with nursing, medical and other healthcare team members regularly to ensure quality patient care.
• Refers patients to specialists as appropriate for consultation or for specialized health resources and treatment.
• Ensures continuity of care by serving as a liaison between patient and other members of the multi-disciplinary care team or with other specialty areas as necessary.
• Participates in quality monitoring thru the review of records and treatment plans for patient outcomes on a periodic basis to assure quality care.
• Facilitates appropriate length of stay, discharge planning and compliance with regulatory standards for inpatient management.
• Supports professional development of the health care team.
• Promotes translation of evidence-based practices, guidelines, and research.
• May conduct research studies.  May assists in data collection and analysis.
• May serve as clinical preceptor for students. May onboard new caregivers.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education:

APRN 

Effective 05/01/2014: MSN required upon hire or within 3 years of hire for external hires and internal hires moving from a non-APRN licensed role to an APRN licensed role. 
Graduate of an accredited APRN program. 
If in neonatal care service area Master’s Degree is required upon hire. 

PA 

Graduate of an A.R.C. approved Physician Assistant Program. 
Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies and/or higher degree obtained from a program recognized by their practicing states Licensing Board. 

Certifications: 

NP 

• Currently licensed as a Nurse Practitioner in applicable state(s). 
• Must be licensed as an RN in applicable state(s).
• National certification as a Nurse Practitioner by nationally accredited organization recognized by state Board of Nursing. 
• Basic Life Support (BLS) through the American Heart Association (AHA) required. 
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) through the American Heart Association (AHA); or Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) through the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) may be required based upon work setting. 
• Must have arrangements with at least one physician in accordance with requirements set forth by the State Board of Nursing in applicable states. 
• Must be credentialed and privileged by the Medical Executive Committee and the Governing Body of the applicable hospitals.

PA

• Certification as a Physician Assistant through the NCCPA or successor organization recognized by their practicing states Licensing Board. 
• License to practice and prescribe issued by their practicing states Licensing Board.
• Current DEA License or DEA designee as required by NCQA.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) through the American Heart Association (AHA) required. 
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) through the American Heart Association (AHA); or Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) through the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP); or Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) American Heart Association may be required based upon work setting. 
• If a candidate has held a license to prescribe within another jurisdiction and needs to obtain a master's degree in order to apply for prescribing privileges the candidate will be subject for review for eligibility for hiring within our system. 
• Must have a Physician Supervision Agreement and signed addendum to Physician Supervision Agreement. 
• Must be credentialed and privileged by the Medical Executive Committee and the Governing Body of the applicable hospitals. 

Languages:

• Oral and written communication in English

Complexity of Work:

• Excellent analytical and decision-making skills are required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrated competency and the ability to perform advanced assessment and diagnosis.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize the electronic medical record.
• Demonstrates a high standard of moral and ethical behavior.
• Demonstrates compassion and professionalism and a commitment to excellent patient care.
• Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgement, and the ability to work independently.
• Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action.

Work Experience:

• Related clinical experience preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Typical physical demands include the ability to walk and stand for long periods of time.
• Manual and finger dexterity and eye/hand coordination to perform physical examinations.
• Requires corrected vision and hearing to a normal range.
• Occasionally lifts and carries items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• May require exposure to communicable diseases and/or body fluids.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required.