Neuroradiology Fellowship

Centered at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), the program also provides services at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Pennsylvania Hospital and Philadelphia Veterans' Administration Hospital (PVAMC), as well as multiple suburban outpatient imaging centers. Within these settings, fellows will receive training at a Level 1 trauma center, a comprehensive stroke center, a world-renowned pediatric medical center, and one of the nation’s leading cancer centers. At Penn Medicine, we have one of the premier radiology departments in the country, with the residency program consistently considered to be one of the top 10 in the nation.

Although we cover many sites, the clinical and educational campus for our fellows is located in the heart of University City in Philadelphia. All of the main sites are within walking distance, with many convenient public transportation options between them.

Our division prides itself on being able to offer a busy, academically challenging experience in a very supportive environment that fosters learning and professional development. Our goal is to provide a nurturing, high quality, comprehensive and flexible learning experience in all facets of neuroradiology, where talented young physicians are encouraged to maximize their abilities.

We emphasize a multidisciplinary approach to neuroradiology training. The Neuroradiology service has a close interrelationship with the clinical and academic activities of the Departments/Divisions of Neurology, Head and Neck Surgery, Neurosurgery, Radiation and Medical Oncology, Psychiatry, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Emergency Medicine, Trauma, and Pathology. We participate in numerous multidisciplinary conferences at the various hospitals each week. Our holistic approach to neuroradiology education compels us to teach skills beyond image interpretation and emphasize qualities that define a successful radiologist, including communication, compassion, translation of imaging findings to patient management, acceptance of feedback to improve professional development, and evidence of self-learning.

Through exposure to a wide array of complex clinical cases, well thought out didactic lectures, and exciting research projects, we plan to achieve our goal by tailoring a personalized and increasingly challenging educational experience for each fellow based on their individual abilities.

Fellows are trained in the performance and interpretation of all aspects of neuroradiology, including:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computed tomography (CT)
• MR and CT angiography
• Advanced imaging techniques, including MR and CT perfusion, permeability, vessel wall imaging, spectroscopy, CSF flow studies, tractography, and fMRI
• Lumbar puncture and myelography
• Conventional angiography
• Interventional/image guided procedures, including vascular interventions, spinal pain management, spine and head and neck biopsies, blood patches, and vertebroplasties
• Head and neck radiology (at least 4 weeks)
• Pediatric neuroradiology (at least 4 weeks)

Equipment at UPHS, CHOP and PVAMC includes more than thirty 1.5T and 3T MRI units, a 7T MRI unit, PET/MRI, numerous multidetector CT scanners (including PET/CT and portable CT scanners), three biplane interventional radiology suites with rotational angiographic capabilities, hybrid OR/angiography suites, as well as single plane angiography suites, and a magnetoencephalography unit. The Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) also houses an intraoperative MRI unit as well as an MRI unit located within the neurological ICU.

The Neuroradiology Division has been consistently growing for the past decade, including many of our own fellows being hired directly out of fellowship as well as faculty recruited from other institutions, with very low turnover of staff. There are now more than 25 full-time neuroradiologists in the group.

With such a large group of subspecialists, there is someone involved in research in nearly every facet of neuroradiology, including artificial intelligence, brain tumor imaging, vascular imaging/stroke, demyelinating/inflammatory diseases, spine imaging, epilepsy, neuropsycology, neurodegenerative disorders, etc.

The formal curriculum includes multiple weekly didactic lectures given in blocks, with focus on advanced imaging modalities, emergency neuroradiology, neuro-oncology, head and neck/skull base, molecular imaging, physics, health care disparity topics, transitions in care, quality and safety, medical economics, mentoring, and advanced pediatric topics, including fetal MRI. There are extra lectures and workshops in the summer as part of an introductory neuroradiology boot camp and regularly scheduled journal clubs and peer learning conferences throughout the year.

In addition to this extensive didactic curriculum that includes over 80 lectures, there are also weekly interesting case conferences and dedicated case conferences in vascular, head and neck and advanced imaging topics as well as multiple interdisciplinary conferences that the fellows have the opportunity to attend

Scholarly activity is required of all fellows. Many of the neuroradiology staff perform funded research, enabling fellows to readily become involved in ongoing projects. All fellows are paired with both a primary and a secondary mentor. Additionally, multiple research faculty are either members of the neuroradiology division or are employed by centers (e.g., the Center for Biomedical Imaging) that work closely with the division.

The neuroradiology division has its own research core comprised of a research director, project managers, and a large group of research assistants that aid our faculty and fellows in research endeavors, including IRB submissions, patient recruitment for trials, and grant submissions. First-year fellows are provided with ½ to 1 academic day per week, as scheduling allows. Second-year fellows receive roughly 30-40% academic/elective time.

Our program strives to produce the next generation of leaders in neuroradiology, delivering high quality, patient-centered care, engaging in life-long learning and teaching, and performing cutting edge research in neuroradiology/neuroscience. Our graduates have gone on to positions in multiple academic centers and private practices throughout the world as well as within the US military. Our graduates include multiple division chiefs, program directors and group presidents.

Our current fellows bring an amazing array of experiences to their work and come from diverse backgrounds. Meet them!