Departmental Fellowships
Advanced Body Imaging Fellowship Program Overview
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
Fellows rotate through Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center (LAC+USC), USC University Hospital and the HCC1 and HCC2 private outpatient clinics. One of the fellowship’s key strengths derives from the breadth of experience and rich diversity offered by having these very different facilities located on one medical campus. All of studies are reviewed on our PACS workstations. Additional 3D Vitrea workstations are located throughout the department.
The goal of the Advanced Body Imaging Fellowship is to prepare confident, capable radiologists for careers in both private practice and academics. Our busy clinical service offers excellent experience in terms of both volume and range of pathology. Research activity is encouraged, and our fellows have enjoyed success in their submissions to national meetings, including the Radiological Society of North America and the American Roentgen Ray Society.
There are numerous, daily didactic and case conferences at each facility. The fellow will be working closely with residents, fellows and faculty throughout the year. During their time at USC, fellows are given the appointment of clinical instructor.
ADVANCED BODY IMAGING AND MRI FELLOWSHIP: Fellows receive comprehensive and supervised training in advanced body imaging, both above and below the diaphragm. The year is divided into monthly rotations, with 4 months of body MRI, 4 months of ultrasound and interventional procedures, and 4 months of electives, which can be tailored, to the fellows' interests. Up to five positions are offered each year.
MRI: The workload includes, but is not limited to, hepatobiliary, genitourinary, oncologic and gynecologic imaging. More specialized examinations are also performed, including dynamic pelvic imaging, prostate MRI and cardiac imaging. The two LAC+USC rotations include neurological cases and the two USC University Hospital rotations include musculoskeletal studies. There are currently 8 magnets on campus, five 1.5T and three 3T.
Ultrasound: The US workload consists of general abdominal, genitourinary, oncologic and transplant imaging. Interventional procedures include CT and US guided biopsies and drainages of both deep and superficial structures and intra-operative ultrasound. Radiofrequency ablation is also performed in conjunction with surgery.
Electives: Options include Breast imaging (mammography, breast US, procedures and breast MRI), PET CT, Cardiac Imaging (CT and MRI), additional MRI rotations (including MSK and Neuro) and oncologic imaging at the Norris Cancer Hospital.
BREAST AND ADVANCED BODY MRI FELLOWSHIP:Fellows receive comprehensive and supervised training in both breast and advanced body imaging. The year is divided into monthly rotations, with 6 months of body imaging and 6 months of breast imaging. Of the 6 months of body imaging, at least 4 of those are spent rotating through body MRI. The remaining 2 months may be dedicated to additional MRI rotations or general ultrasonography and interventional procedures, depending on the fellow’s interest. Mammography, breast ultrasound and breast MRI are covered in the 6 months of breast imaging.
MRI: The workload includes, but is not limited to, hepatobiliary, genitourinary, oncologic and gynecologic imaging. More specialized examinations are also performed, including dynamic pelvic imaging, prostate MRI and cardiac imaging. The two LAC+USC rotations include neurological cases and the two USC University Hospital rotations include musculoskeletal studies. There are currently 8 magnets on campus, five 1.5T and three 3T.
Breast: Women's Imaging FellowshipCALL REQUIREMENTS:The Advanced Body Imaging and MRI Fellowship and the Breast and Advanced Body Imaging Fellowship have no unpaid call requirement. Paid, after-hours moonlighting shifts are offered through LAC+USC Hospital. Fellows are expected to cover 1-3 shifts a month. During these shifts, the fellows work closely with the USC Radiology residents and provide radiology coverage for the Department of Emergency Medicine and acute inpatient cases.
Suzanne L. Palmer, M.D.
Advanced Body Imaging Fellowship Program
Miriam Romero, M.D.
Advanced Body Imaging Assistant Fellowship Program Director