Fairview Southdale Hospital’s award-winning stroke program continues to improve on patient experience and standards of care for health conditions that affect the nervous system and brain. Medical director Alexander Zubkov, MD, PhD, FAHA, recently became one of a handful of fellowship-trained neurocritical care subspecialists in the country and is now recognized as a Fellow of the American Heart Association (AHA) for his ongoing commitment to treatment of stroke.

Zubkov’s certification in neurocritical care from the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS) furthers his commitment to patient care through the specialty’s focus on the relationship of the brain with other organ systems during illness. Zubkov is one of 6 neurologists in Minnesota and 212 in the United States with this certification. UCNS establishes standards for neurology fellowship training and is sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology, the American Neurological Association, the Association of University Professors of Neurology, the Child Neurology Society, and the Professors of Child Neurology.

In addition to his UCNS certification, he recently earned an AHA Fellowship, an honor reserved for physicians, scientists and healthcare professionals with a clinical interest in cerebrovascular (brain) diseases. The fellowship recognizes and awards leadership within the AHA/ASA relative to cerebrovascular diseases and stroke.

Zubkov joined Fairview Southdale Hospital in 2008 as medical director of the stroke program. Since that time, patient outcomes and satisfaction scores have improved significantly. “Dr. Zubkov’s dedication to stroke and neurocritical care is apparent in the consistent, personalized care he provides,” says Jeoff Will, director orthopedic and neurosciences, Fairview Southdale Hospital.

Renowned as one of the top stroke hospitals in the country, Fairview Southdale Hospital is rated number one in Minnesota for Stroke Care by HealthGrades two years in a row. Named a Joint Commission-accredited Primary Stroke Center in 2004, the program is a leader in stroke prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. For an appointment or to learn more, visit southdale.fairview.org.