Diagnostic Radiology Fellowship

Goals and Objectives

The Diagnostic Radiology fellowship is a one-year program for advanced training in more than one area of study. The goals of the Diagnostic Radiology fellowship are as follows:

• To educate trainees in the advanced interpretation of CT, MRI, and Ultrasound examination of the body and in the performance of ultrasound and CT guided procedures.
• To educate trainees in the biology, treatment and recurrence patterns of malignant tumors, particularly as they are reflected in body imaging studies. In addition, to educate trainees in the epidemiology, diagnosis, pathology and therapy of cancer, including screening and identification patterns of recurrence of malignant tumors.
• To provide an opportunity for academic research using the case material and resources of MD Anderson.
• To familiarize those trainees who will be doing breast imaging with federally mandated regulations relative to mammography, with peer review standards, and with daily quality control measures.

Criteria for Selection of Trainees

Selection will be supervised by the Program Director of Diagnostic Radiology, with the consultation of other faculty members in the section. Materials solicited for review will include CV, medical school transcripts, residency program director’s recommendation, three letters of reference and a personal statement. Interview will be required.

Trainees must have completed an ACGME-approved (or equivalent) residency training program in diagnostic radiology.

Duties and Responsibilities of Trainees

The trainee will spend his or her time approximately equally divided among the two subspecialty areas. Responsibilities will include protocol designation for patient studies and occasional monitoring of studies for patient safety and to check results, but will consist predominantly of interpretation of individual cases. The cases will all be checked by the faculty member but will then be dictated by the fellow. Graded responsibility will be given over the year for the consultation service with clinicians. In addition, expectations for the number of cases prepared and read should increase over the year.

The trainee will have one day a week (20% academic time) with presenting/participation at multidisciplinary tumor board conferences with an academic/research requirement that can be published or publishable. It is the responsibility of the trainee to identify a project early in the year. It is possible that the trainee will be required to present a noon conference or give a lecture by the end of the training period.

The trainee may be responsible for “call” on a rotating basis. Call is split with other DR fellows (frequency is 8-9 times/year). Each shift is from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and responsibilities include: answer on-call pager; protocol Body CT exams; and read Body CT, US, plain film inpatient and emergency cases and CT Neuro.

Residents are also expected to have superficial US-guided biopsy experience (nodes, soft tissue, etc.).

Residents and fellows read cases independently, and staff out with the faculty and everyone can participate in the readout process to learn from each other’s cases.

Fellows do not staff out the residents.

Supervision and Evaluation

Abdominal and Breast imaging faculty will provide supervision on all cases interpreted by a trainee. Procedures will initially be closely supervised; however, it is expected that less faculty involvement will be required as the year progresses.

Evaluations of the trainees will be performed twice a year through the institution’s “New Innovations” software. The Program Director will meet with the fellows twice during the year by means of a standardized form with ample space and encouragement of comments. The Program Director will meet with the trainees informally to review their progress and to discuss their feedback on program/faculty performance. The trainees will also evaluate the program at the end of the year. They will fill out the form online through “New Innovations” software, as well as meet informally with the Program Director to discuss their experiences in the program.

Duration of the Training Program

The duration of the program will be one year.

All applicants must have completed an ACGME approved (or equivalent) residency training program in diagnostic radiology.

Required application materials include:

• A curriculum vitae
• Medical school transcripts
• Recommendation from the residency program director
• Three additional letters of reference
• Personal statement
• Interviews will be required
  

Applications to this program are currently on hold. Please email DIEducation@mdanderson.org if you have any questions.