Residency and Fellowship Programs

Fellowship Opportunities

The Department of Radiology on VCU’s MCV Campus offers a variety CAQ and Non-CAQ fellowship positions for radiology students.

Non-CAQ Fellowships

The deadline for 2010 applications is Oct. 31, 2008. To obtain application materials for any of the fellowships, contact:

Kimberly Christman

Kimberly Christman
Executive Assistant to the Chair of Radiology
Fellowship Coordinator
Sanger Hall, Room 4-050
Phone: (804) 628-0403
E-mail: kachrist@vcu.edu

Abdominal Imaging Fellowship

The Section of Abdominal Imaging in the Department of Radiology offers a one-year fellowship in abdominal imaging, accredited by the American College of Radiology at VCU Health System. The abdominal imaging fellowship includes clinical experience and thorough instruction in body CT, body MRI, GI, GU and ultrasound.

The purpose of the fellowship is to provide advanced training in all aspects of abdominal imaging. The fellowship is designed to prepare individuals with an interest in abdominal imaging for an academic career or practice with a large subspecialty private group.

Training includes experience with all facets of abdominal CT scanning, ultrasound, abdominal MRI and gastrointestinal and genitourinary radiology. Intraoperative, endosonography and color-flow vascular applications, as well as routine adult and pediatric sonography, are also taught. Interventional techniques such as biopsy and drainage using CT and ultrasound guidance are included in the fellow’s training. Significant experience with abdominal MRI, including MRCP and MRA is offered. Teaching, conference participation and involvement in ongoing research activities are required. Extensive teaching files in CT, MR, GI, GU and ultrasound are available for the fellow’s use.

MRI Fellowship

The Department of Radiology offers one or two one-year MRI fellowships. This fellowship may include rotations in abdominal MRI, noninvasive cardiovascular MRI, and neuro MRI in variable combinations. One month of the fellowship is dedicated to learning the techniques of MRI. The minimum length of any one rotation will be three months.

Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellowship

The Section of Musculoskeletal Radiology in the Department of Radiology offers a one-year fellowship in musculoskeletal imaging. The fellowship is designed to prepare individuals with an interest in musculoskeletal imaging for an academic career or practice within a subspecialized private group.

The musculoskeletal imaging fellowship includes clinical experience and instruction in MRI, CT, arthrography, spinal and extremity interventions and biopsies, and radiography. Significant exposure to musculoskeletal ultrasound is also included. The fellow is expected to fully participate in the education and training of residents and medical students rotating through the musculoskeletal radiology service. Protected research time is available to fellows who wish to pursue research leading to publication and an option for spending one to two months in another section within the Department is available.

Breast Imaging Fellowship

The Section of Breast Imaging in the Department of Radiology offers a one-year fellowship.

The breast imaging program at VCU is an exciting, thriving and progressive program. We offer screening and diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, imaging-guided breast biopsies and fine-needle aspirations of breast lesions, as well as axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes, ductography, preoperative wire localizations and second opinion consultations. We provide services at two sites: the Nelson Clinic at our main campus downtown and Stony Point at our outpatient center.

We are a clinically oriented service focused on providing our patients with accurate and efficient care delivered in a compassionate manner. We are set up to complete diagnostic work ups, including biopsies, on the same day of service. Pathology provides us results within 24 hours of any imaging-guided biopsy and our surgeons will see patients within 48 hours of a breast cancer diagnosis.

Working side by side with staff, the breast imaging fellows are an integral part of the service responsible for all aspects of patient care. The fellows are also responsible for helping cover two multidisciplinary conferences per week, as well as teaching residents and medical students.

Thoracic Radiology Fellowship

The Section of Thoracic Radiology offers a one-year fellowship in thoracic radiology. The purpose of this fellowship is to provide advanced training in all aspects of cardiothoracic imaging. The fellowship includes extensive clinical experience and thorough instruction in performance and interpretation of thoracic CT, including high-resolution techniques, cardiovascular CT and MRI, lung biopsy and chest film interpretation.

Teaching, conference participation and involvement in ongoing research activities are required. Extensive teaching files are available for the use of fellows.

The goal of the fellowship is to prepare the individual with interest in thoracic radiology for an academic career or practice in a large subspecialty group.

Fellowship-Instructor Program

This combination program is designed to allow board-eligible residents the opportunity to gain additional supervised experience while simultaneously assuming the responsibilities of a staff radiologist. Those accepted into this program will receive a faculty appointment as an instructor in the Department of Radiology, but will receive extra training from our attending physicians with a strong emphasis on MRI. In addition, instructors will function as staff radiologists during assigned time periods and for appropriate studies. The allocation of time for additional training and practicing radiology will vary among the radiology subspecialties, but is intended to provide at least 50 percent of time for the additional training in the mandatory and elective rotations.

Over the course of one year, fellow-instructors will rotate through two mandatory three-month rotations. Each fellow will have the opportunity to freely choose assignments in any of the departmental subspecialties to complete the elective portion of the program. The elective rotations must be for a minimum of two months, except for mammography, which may be for only one month. The entire six-month elective period may be spent in a single subspecialty. Fellow-instructors will participate in the weekend call rotation during the entire year and will function as attending faculty radiologists.

Fellowship Qualifications

Applicants for any of the above fellowships should have completed an accredited residency in diagnostic radiology and be board eligible or board certified at the time of the fellowship year.

Application Process

To apply, please provide the following materials:

  • Completed application.
  • Curriculum vitae or résumé.
  • Copy of medical school transcript.
  • Copy of National Board scores.
  • Letter from the dean.
  • Three letters of recommendation – one from the director of your residency program and two from faculty members well acquainted with your abilities.
  • Personal interviews are required.

Please forward these materials to:

USPS
Department of Radiology
Attn: Kim Christman
VCUHS
P.O. Box 980470
Richmond, Va. 23298-0470

Fed Ex/UPS
Kim Christman
VCU Health System
Department of Radiology
1101 East Marshall Street
Sanger Hall, Room 4-050
Richmond, Virginia 23298

Certificate

Upon completion of the program, the fellow-instructor will receive a certificate attesting to the special training in the area of your additional experience.

CAQ Fellowships

The deadline for 2009 applications is April 1, 2008. To obtain application materials for any CAQ fellowship, contact:

Lynn Robb

Lynn Robb
Residency Program Coordinator
Main Hospital, Room 3-406
Phone: (804) 828-3524
Fax: (804) 628-2015
E-mail: klrobb@vcu.edu

Vascular Interventional Radiology Fellowship

The Section of Interventional Radiology in the Department of Radiology offers a one-year ACGME-accredited fellowship in vascular and interventional radiology. The fellowship includes clinical experience and thorough instruction in all forms of percutaneous image-guided procedures and therapies.

The purpose of the fellowship is to provide advanced training in all aspects of interventional radiology. The fellowship is designed to prepare individuals with an interest in interventional radiology for an academic career or practice with a large subspecialty private group.

Training includes experience with all forms of image-guided procedures, including diagnostic angiography, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, vascular stents, IVC filters, thrombolysis, venous access, embolotherapy, TIPS, venous ablation, radiofrequency ablation, percutaneous genitourinary and biliary procedures, as well as abdominal and thoracic aortic stent grafts. Training will also include CTA and MRA interpretation as well as involvement with the vascular lab.

Qualifications

Applicants for any of the above fellowships should have completed an accredited residency in diagnostic radiology and be board eligible or board certified at the time of the fellowship year. To apply, please provide the following materials:

  • Completed application. (www.medschool.vcu.edu/gme/application.html)
  • Curriculum vitae or résumé.
  • Copy of medical school transcript.
  • Copy of National Board scores.
  • Letter from the dean.
  • Three letters of recommendation – one from the director of your residency program and two from faculty members well acquainted with your abilities.
  • Visa requirements: J1 Visa or permanent residency required.
  • Personal interviews are required.

Please forward these materials to:
Lynn Robb
Program Coordinator
P.O. Box 980615
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0615

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran's status, political affiliation or disability.

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