Medical College of Wisconsin Abdominal/Body Imaging Fellowship Program

• Training in 1-week blocks through 3 core rotations plus several available electives:
  
  • Core rotations:
    
    • Body MR
    • Body CT
    • Ultrasound
  • Electives
    
    • Radiology Procedures
    • Musculoskeletal Imaging
    • Fluoroscopy
    • Breast Imaging
    • Body ED Evening
    • PET/CT
    • Chest/Cardiovascular Imaging
• Four weeks paid vacation
• Up to one week of paid attendance at a nationally recognized meeting and two additional days at the RSNA meeting in Chicago
• Instructor appointment is paid $110,000 per year
• $3000 educational stipend
• Graded shift to independent interpretations of CT and ultrasound examinations
• MR examinations are staffed with faculty throughout the year

Rotation Highlights

Body MR

• Includes all MRs of the abdomen and pelvis (~30-40 exams/day)
• Busy oncologic MR service, including hepatobiliary, pancreatic, renal, rectal, gynecologic, and prostate cancers. High volume of pre- and post-treatment imaging for liver-directed therapies, radiation therapy, and oncologic surgeries
• Non-oncologic MRs, including MR angiography, liver elastography, dynamic pelvic floor imaging/defecography, preoperative benign gynecologic disease
• >15 clinical MR scanners, including top of the line 3T GE and Siemens scanners with the latest sequences
• 2 Gb e-book downloadable on iPad (iOS) includes the body MR curriculum as well as embedded written and video content, both original and from international experts

Body CT

• Includes CTs of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis as well as CT angiography
• Diverse caseload, including high volume of oncologic and non-oncologic CTs. Busy cancer center, level 1 trauma center, and transplant service
• Current generation GE and Siemens CT scanners. Routine use of dual-energy CT and deep-learning image reconstruction
• Close relationship with GE HealthCare, which is sited within 15 minutes of campus
• Dedicated 3D lab performs image post-processing
• Research includes further optimization and utilization of dual-energy technology, deep-learning image reconstruction, and low kVp techniques

Ultrasound

• Abdominal, pelvic, small parts, and vascular ultrasound
• Exposure to liver, kidney, and pancreas transplant ultrasound, shear wave elastography, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound
• Perform thyroid FNAs; opportunities to perform paracenteses and thoracenteses

Radiology Procedures

• Soft tissue biopsies performed using CT and/or ultrasound guidance - abdominal organ, intraperitoneal/retroperitoneal lesions, and lymph nodes
• CT- and/or ultrasound-guided percutaneous and transrectal/transvaginal drainage procedures
• Advanced Radiologic Procedure clinic streamlines consultation and is coordinated by radiology extenders, including dedicated MAs and NPs/PAs
• Emphasis on a comprehensive team approach with staff radiologists, trainees, physician extenders, radiology nurses/anesthesiologists, and technologists
• Siemens Edge 64-channel interventional CT with rapid fluoroscopic CT imaging, 3D CT guidance, and automatic needle tracking capabilities

The non-vascular interventional radiology elective includes comprehensive training ensuring that the fellow-instructor is involved with preprocedural, periprocedural, and postprocedural planning. Our graduating fellow-instructors are able to perform the full gamut of image-guided biopsy and drainage procedures. This marketable skillset can provide additional employment options in academic or private practice positions.

Musculoskeletal Imaging

• Participation in both outpatient and hospital-based settings
• Imaging for the Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks
• Close relationship between the abdominal and musculoskeletal sections with several faculty members participating in both sub-specialties
• Interdisciplinary sports medicine and orthopedic oncology conferences are optional
• CT- and ultrasound-guided soft tissue/bone biopsies are optional
• 2 Gb e-book also includes the musculoskeletal curriculum with embedded written and video content

The inclusion of musculoskeletal imaging provides an additional skillset for those considering private practice or outpatient-based academic positions. The fellow-instructor can bolster their MSK skills by electing to interpret other imaging modalities, participate in procedures, and attend sub-specialty conferences.

Moonlighting opportunities vary from year-to-year depending on departmental needs. Previous opportunities have included:

• Evening shifts for monitoring IV contrast administration at outpatient imaging centers
• Extra diagnostic imaging evening and weekend shifts
• Radiology procedure call