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Breast Imaging Fellowship

Introduction

The breast imaging program is one-year post-graduate fellowship available to Board-certified or Board- eligible radiologists who have completed an accredited radiology residency. The fellowship is not accredited.   No specialty board certification is available through the American Board of Radiology for breast imaging. However, the ABR has granted one year credit toward board eligibility in Diagnostic Radiology for foreign medical graduates who complete the fellowship. This program meets the requirements and recommendations of the Society for Breast Imaging (SBI) for breast fellowships.

This fellowship, which begins July 1 each year, offers 12 months of comprehensive training in all aspects of breast imaging including screening and diagnostic mammography, full field digital mammography, CAD, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, percutaneous procedures (stereotactic, ultrasound and MRI guided core biopsies and vacuum assisted biopsies, cyst aspirations, fine needle aspirations, needle localizations and galactography. 

The Department of Radiology’s Breast Imaging Section has seven faculty members who are board-certified radiologists.  Our breast imaging services are provided at the Breast Consultation Center located within the Barrett Cancer Center of University Hospital.  The center performs over 16,000 screening and diagnostic mammography exams each year using state-of-the-art digital and film screen equipment.

Fellows play an active role in a multidisciplinary approach to breast care and are expected to participate in multidisciplinary conferences, tumor board, teaching, and clinical research.   Participation in clinical research is encouraged, but not required.  Current research projects include full-field digital mammography, computer aided detection (CAD), ultrasound screening, and MRI.

Introduction

The objectives of the Breast Imaging Fellowship are to:

• Train and educate fellows in the advanced interpretation of mammography, ultrasound and MR of the breast and the management of clinical cases
• Perform complicated and uncomplicated interventional procedures in the evaluation of breast cancer, including stereotactic biopsy, and ultrasound
  and MRI-guided procedures such as cyst aspiration, large core and fine needle biopsies, and vacuum assisted biopsies
• Learn the epidemiology, diagnosis, pathology and treatment of breast
  cancer
• Interact proficiently with surgeons, pathologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists in providing multidisciplinary patient care
• Communicate effectively with patients, including how to recommend biopsy, how to explain a cancer diagnosis, and how to develop sensitivity to patients’ emotional needs
• Be familiar with federal accreditation and regulatory roles in breast imaging including peer review standards and quality control measures.

Duties and Responsibilities

Fellows will rotate in mammography, breast ultrasound and breast MRI and procedures.  Mammography responsibilities will include interpretation of screening and diagnostic cases.  All cases read by the fellow will be reviewed by a faculty member.

Fellows will be expected to perform stereotactic biopsies, ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirations, large core biopsies, vacuum assisted biopsies and galactography with graded levels of responsibility, including planning the procedure, obtaining patient consent, and communicating the results to patients and referring physicians.

The fellow will have one-half day per week for academic pursuits.  A research project is encouraged, but some form of scholarly activity is required.  The fellow will meet with the program director early in the year to identify a project with the goal to submit an abstract for presentation at a national meeting or complete a potentially publishable paper by the end of the year.  Funding support is available to conduct a research project as well as to attend a national conference.

Supervision and Evaluation

Responsibility will be given gradually as the fellow exhibits clinical and technical skills as well as judgment commensurate with such responsibility.  In all cases, attending (faculty) radiologist supervision is present.  Initially, the fellow will function as the primary assistant to the faculty during a procedure.  Once the skills are mastered, the trainee will transition to become the primary operator under direct supervision of the faculty who will function as the primary assistant.  More complex cases will require greater exposure to these procedures prior to transitioning the trainee to the primary operator position.  In all cases, the trainee will be directly supervised and/or assisted by the faculty radiologist in attendance.

Evaluation of the fellow will be performed quarterly by faculty members by means of a standardized evaluation form.  Fellows will meet quarterly with the Program Director to review a composite of faculty evaluations and to discuss their progress to date.  At the end of the training program, the fellow will have the opportunity to evaluate the faculty as well as the overall effectiveness of the program in achieving its stated goals and objectives.

Application and Selection Process

Applicants must have an MD or DO degree from an accredited institution, completed an ACGME-accredited residency in diagnostic radiology, and must be an active candidate for certification or certified by the American Board of Radiology at the time of appointment.  Applicants must also be eligible for licensure by the State Medical Board of Ohio.

International medical graduates must hold a J-1 clinical visa unless he/she is a US citizen or holds a valid US Resident Alien card.  IMG’s on a J-1 visa must have a valid IAP-66 to remain active in the training program.  Individuals must have graduated from medical school within the past five years, must be board-eligible in their country of origin, and possess a valid ECFMG certificate which requires passing all components of the USMLE exam as well as other examinations as required by the ECFMG.  The ECFMG certificate must be valid at the start of fellowship or the fellow forfeits his/her position in the program.

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

If you are interested in applying to the breast imaging program please submit the following materials: application form (.doc), current CV, three current letters of recommendation and one-page personal statement.  All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful receipt of the radiology board certification and Ohio State Medical License.  The fellows are employed by UC Physicians/Radiology and are credentialed as faculty at University Hospital, and hold the title of volunteer clinical instructor in the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

Application materials should be sent to:

Princess Turner
Fellowship Coordinator
UC Radiology Department
234 Goodman Street
Cincinnati OH  45267-0761
(513) 584-2146
(513) 584-0431, fax
turnerpl@healthall.com