Residency and Fellowship Program Coordinator
UC Radiology Department
234 Goodman Street
Cincinnati, OH 45267-0761
(513) 584-6484
(513) 584-0431, FAX
rose.alden@healthall.com
Neuroradiology Fellowship
Introduction
Neuroradiology in the Department of Radiology at the University Hospital/University of Cincinnati Medical Center is a one-year ACGME accredited fellowships in neuroradiology. Fellows are exposed to cutting edge technology and superb case material. The large patient population allows the fellow to gain experience in the full continuum of neuroradiologic examinations, procedures and interpretations. Fellows share imaging and procedure responsibilities, usually alternating weeks on CT/MR and angiography. Trainees perform approximately 100 or more angiograms per year and participate in 25-50 interventional procedures per year. Our goal is to produce neuroradiologists, with a strong clinical background, based upon daily exposure to recognized leaders in the field, advanced technology and a widely diverse patient population.
Our program offers trainees state of the art equipment and facilities and access
to:
- Internationally recognized Stroke program - a collaborative effort between Neuroradiology, Emergency Medicine and Neuroradiology.
- Cutting edge technology and state-of-the art equipment.
- Advanced imaging rotation with specific participation and review of CT angiography in the Advanced Imaging Laboratory.
- One of the most internationally acclaimed Children’s Hospital Medical Center recognized for its Pediatric Neuroradiology program.
- Large and diverse patient population.
- Strong didactic teaching program with multi-disciplinary exposure to Neurology, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Pediatric Neuroradiology, Nuclear Radiology and Neuro-oncology.
- Dedicated research time and exposure to fundamentals of experimental design, performance and interpretation of results with access to departmental statistician and access to research space and laboratory facilities including the Center for Imaging Research, the Center for Surgical Innovation and the Neuroscience Institute.
- Multi-completely digital PACS system and voice recognition transcription system.
- Funding support for national meeting attendance.
- Access to the Medical Center’s recently refurbished and expanded University of Cincinnati’s Health Sciences Library and on-line resources.
Nine neuroradiologists and one endovascular neurosurgeon are on staff at The University Hospital, including five full-time and four part-time faculty. All faculty are fellowship trained and seven of the nine faculty members spend 100% of their professional time in Neuroradiology. Eight faculty members hold academic positions in the Department of Radiology. Four additional pediatric neuroradiologists are on staff at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and provide instruction in pediatric neuroradiology. All faculty participate in didactic teaching and direct supervision of trainee performance.
The Neuroradiology Division benefits from strong departments in and good cooperation with Neurosurgery, Neurology, Otolaryngology, and Neuropathology. Multidisciplinary weekly conferences include: Neurology Grand Rounds, Neurosurgery Grand Rounds, Neurology/Neurosurgery resident conferences, Neuro-oncology tumor board, Head and Neck tumor board, and Neurovascular Conference. Multidisciplinary conferences on seizures and pituitary diseases are held bimonthly.
A separate one-year pediatric neuroradiology fellowship is also available through Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Affiliated imaging centers such as Good Samaritan Hospital, Wellington Diagnostic Center, and the Mayfield Imaging Center, though not served by the fellow, contribute to the wealth of teaching material.
Goals and Objectives
The fellowship provides trainees with an organized comprehensive and supervised educational experience in order to develop clinical and research skills in neuroradiology. Training will include both imaging and interventional procedures related to the brain, spine, spinal cord, head and neck, and organs of special sense in adults and children. This neuroradiology training program functions in direct association with The University Hospital/University of Cincinnati College of Medicine ACGME-accredited training program in general diagnostic radiology.
Neuroradiology involves the study and evaluation of the brain, spine, head and neck, and special senses in adults and children including:
- CT of the brain, spine and ENT
- MR of the brain, spine and ENT
- Diagnostic angiography, cerebral and spinal
- Myelography
- Interventional Neuroradiology
- Pediatric Neuroradiology
- Plain films of the skull and spine
At the completion of the fellowship, trainees should:
- Understand the nature of the physician-patient relationship and demonstrate a caring and empathic attitude toward all patients.
- Be able to provide expert consultation services to clinicians, students and other radiologists.
- Know the indications, limitations and risks of all neuroradiologic studies.
- Be able to provide accurate interpretation of all neuroradiology imaging studies.
- Be able to perform and interpret all diagnostic neuroangiography and myelography procedures.
- Have a general understanding of basic neurointerventional procedures.
Curriculum
The Neuroradiology fellowship provides extensive exposure to the performance and interpretation of all aspects of neuroimaging including plain films of the skull, facial bones, cervical spine thoracic and lumbar of the spine: CT and MRI of the brain, extracranial head and neck, TMJ, cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine; PET, SPECT, myelography, CT myelograms, Intracranial and extracranial angiograms; spinal angiology; embolization procedures (external carotid and internal carotid/vertebral/complex) and angioplasty procedures of the head and neck. Approximately 40% of the fellow’s time is spent protocoling and interpreting imaging studies including MR, CT, and plain films. All imaging studies are initially reviewed by the fellow, allowing each to reach his/her own diagnostic conclusions. The imaging studies are then verified by the attending neuroradiology staff with discussions of the findings and teaching points. All diagnostic reports generated by fellows are closely reviewed by the appropriate neuroradiology staff for content, differential diagnosis and clarity. One month of training is spent at Children's Hospital Medical Center under the direction of pediatric neuroradiologists.
Duties and Responsibilities
Fellows will alternate weekly on procedures and imaging. The only designated block time is that spent at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. All other imaging is performed in a modality-based (CT/MRI) daily/weekly rotation with individual techniques within the modality encountered on a regular systematic, on-going basis, more akin to work flow encountered in future clinical practice.
Neuroradiology fellows are expected to attend and participate in weekly neuroscience conferences. In addition neuroradiology fellows supervise/conduct monthly conferences for the radiology residents.
Fellows will have one-half day a week free from clinical duties for scholarly activities. Fellows are expected to participate in research projects in conjunction with attending staff. Projects should be designed to result in an abstract for poster presentation or manuscript. Funds to present abstracts at national meetings will be provided.
Supervision and Evaluation
Responsibility is given gradually as the fellow exhibits clinical and technical skills as well as judgment commensurate with such responsibility. Fellows are assigned a reasonable amount of in-hospital duty hours. On-call responsibilities are rotated weekly and include 24-hour coverage (beeper call from home) for emergency cases. The responsibility or independence given to trainees is dependent on the trainee’s level of knowledge, manual skills and experience; however, in accordance with HCFA recommendations, faculty coverage is present during all invasive procedures. Imaging readout, interpretation, dictation, and procedure performance, interpretation and reporting will be supervised by attending staff.
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
Our Neuroradiology program is approved for three ACGME-accredited positions. We participate in the Neuroradiology Fellowship match administered by the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) and accept the Universal Fellowship Application (.doc).
Applicants are selected based on a review of submitted documentation, relative academic strength and other criteria determined by the Program Director. Applicants must have an MD or DO degree from an accredited institution, completed an ACGME-accredited residency in diagnostic radiology and must be eligible for board certification or certified by the American Board of Radiology. Application deadline is March 15. In addition to registering with the Match, the following documentation is required:
- Completed Universal Application
- Current CV
- Personal statement including goals and professional plans
- Three letters of recommendation including a letter from the director of your residency program
- Copies of USMLE transcripts (Steps 1, 2, and 3 are required prior to beginning fellowship)
- Photo (optional)
Selected candidates will be invited to a personal interview where they will meet with the Program Director, other members of the Neuroradiology faculty who are available, and the current fellows. Interviews are conducted between April 1 and May 31.
International Medical Graduates
IMGs interested in applying to our program must register with the National Match. University Hospital sponsors J-1 visas only. Requests for H1-B visas are at the discretion of the program director and must receive approval through the Office of Graduate Medical Education. Individuals must have graduated from medical school within the past five years 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. A valid Ohio medical license or training certificate must be obtained prior to start of training.
In addition to the documents listed above, IMG’s must also include in their application:
- Verification of ECFMG certification and photocopies of all USMLE exam results
- Copy of medical diploma (translation required)
- Medical School transcript
- Copies of previous GME experience (translation required)
Salary and Benefits
Detailed information regarding the fellowship benefits, stipends, contracts and other policies and procedures can be found on the Office of Graduate Medical Education website at www.med.uc.edu/residency.
For additional information, please contact
Rose Alden
Department of Radiology
University Hospital
234 Goodman Ave.
Cincinnati OH 45219
rose.alden@healthall.com.
(513) 584-6484
(513) 584-0431 fax