Division of Breast Imaging

Training & Education

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Breast Imaging Fellowship

The University of Southern California offers a one-year training program in Breast Imaging. This program is designed to provide trainees with the unique clinical and technical skills required to practice this specialty. This educational program is organized to provide comprehensive, in-depth training and experience in the evaluation and diagnosis of patients in all aspects of breast imaging. Imaging modalities integrated in the training program include screening and diagnostic digital mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis, breast ultrasound, and breast MRI. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of the breast and contrast-enhanced spectral mammography are being performed at our institution. Image guided breast procedures include pre-operative wire localizations and pre-operative wireless localizations, percutaneous ultrasound guided aspirations/core biopsies, stereotactic and tomosynthesis guided core biopsies, MRI guided core biopsies, and ductography.

Dr. Larsen and Dr. Lee standing next to each other while Dr. Larsen holds a file.

In addition to technical and imaging training, the program provides trainees with a structured experience in the clinical assessment of patients with benign and malignant breast disease. The fellow works in an environment that promotes the development of a medical knowledge base relevant to breast cancer treatment which includes an understanding of the pathophysiology of the underlying diseases. The fellow is an integral part of weekly multi-disciplinary conferences with breast surgery, oncology, radiation oncology, and pathology. There will also be opportunities to rotate with breast surgery, radiation oncology, and pathology. The training program provides ample opportunities for research into new technologies.

 

Program Director

Sandy Lee, MD

Program Coordinator

Eliza Wells

Los Angeles General Medical Center

1200 North State Street
3rd Floor Room 3750A
Los Angeles, CA 90033

(323) 409-7255

Faculty

The program has faculty members who are dedicated breast imaging radiologists – located at Los Angeles General Medical Center, USC Health Science, and USC Verdugo Hills campuses. All faculty members demonstrate a commitment to the subspecialty as documented by membership in professional societies, publications in the field, and ongoing acquisition of CME credits in the field on a yearly basis. This faculty provides fellows with didactic teaching, hands-on supervision of clinical procedures, and direct supervision of patient care including management decisions, interpretive skills, and consultative aspects of the specialty.

 

Facilities and Resources

In 2018, the Lee Breast Center that was previously in the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, was relocated to the state-of-the-art brand-new Healthcare Center 3 building. The equipment includes three dedicated digital mammography units with tomosynthesis, two ultrasound breast machines, and an upright tomosynthesis/stereotactic biopsy device. The fellow will be interpreting screening and diagnostic mammograms and performing core biopsies both with ultrasound and stereotactic guidance. The radiology faculty at the Lee Breast Center work closely with the breast surgeons and oncologists so that they can diagnose and biopsy patients quickly prior to surgery. Many procedures are done weekly. An integrated breast conference is held each week in which surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and oncologists meet to discuss interesting and difficult cases with pathologic correlation. This is an excellent learning experience.

  • The fellow will have an in-depth training in evaluating and interpreting diagnostic mammograms. Our state-of-the-art equipment includes four dedicated digital mammography units, four ultrasound breast scanners, a prone digital stereotactic biopsy table, and multiple needle biopsy devices. Our high patient volume allows for ample opportunities to gain experience in core biopsies and wire localizations. Our close working relationship with the departments of surgery, pathology, radiation oncology, and medical oncology markedly increases our knowledge of breast disease from many perspectives. We all meet weekly at the Multidisciplinary conference to discuss treatment plans for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. The division participates in a monthly departmental noon resident teaching conference. There are weekly breast MRI and interesting case conferences for the residents and fellows given by the breast imaging faculty.

     

  • This state-of-the-art outpatient imaging facility has both a 1.5T and 3T MRI unit for breast MRI and MRI guided biopsies. The fellow plays a crucial role in the interpretation, biopsy and follow up of these studies.

     

  • The USC-VHH Breast Healthcare Center is part of the VHH facility and is located on the first floor of the outpatient building. The equipment includes a state-of-the-art digital breast tomosynthesis mammography unit, ultrasound machine, and tomosynthesis biopsy unit. The fellows get the opportunity to participate in a community hospital setting for breast imaging workup and procedures.

     

Patient Population

The patient population for the program is extremely broad because each of the clinical venues is unique in its focus. Each of the facilities at which the fellow trains has a unique patient population. Los Angeles General Medical Center treats the underserved of LA County and brings a large population of patients with advanced breast cancer. USC Lee Breast Center provides a high level of comprehensive care to patients with unusual and complex breast diseases. The USC-Verdugo Hills Breast Center provides opportunities at a satellite community hospital.

Application

To apply, please complete the Breast Imaging Fellowship Application (SBI Universal Application)  and return it to our Fellowship Program Coordinator, Eliza Wells (elizawel@med.usc.edu) and Program Director, Sandy Lee (sandylee@usc.edu). Along with the completed application, please submit a written personal statement, CV, photograph, and 3 letters of recommendation.

Current and Prior Fellows

  • Kevin Pham, MD (Full Year Fellow)
    Loma Linda University Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Saba Naamo, MD (Full Year Fellow)
    Geisinger Medical Center Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Thomas Clifford, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    Los Angeles General/University of Southern California, Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Jonathan Maw, DO (Breast/Body Fellow)
    Los Angeles General/University of Southern California Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Elaine Dong, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    Kaiser Los Angeles Diagnostic Radiology Residency

  • April Ballard, MD (Full Year Fellow)
    University of California at Irvine Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Bill Zhou, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    University of California at Los Angeles Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Venkat Masarapu, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    Einstein Medical Center Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Lawrence Wei, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    University of Southern California Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Charlton Ong, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    University of Southern California Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Jennifer Sakioka, MD (Breast/Body Fellow, Jan 2023 to Dec 2023)
    Kaiser Los Angeles Diagnostic Radiology Residency

  • Judy Owens, MD (Full year Fellow)
    University of Southern California Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Michelle Wu, MD (Breast Fellow)
    Staten Island University Hospital Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Justin Cheng, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    University of Southern California Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Mashya Abbassi, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    Boston University Diagnostic Radiology Residency

  • Nicholas Ferguson, MD (Full year Fellow)
    Loma Linda Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Aida Moeini, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    University of California at Irvine Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Shawdi Manouchehr-Pour, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    University of Southern California Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Megha Gupta, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    University of Southern California Diagnostic Radiology Residency

  • Anastasia Cruz, MD (Full year Fellow)
    University of California at Irvine Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Ishita Desai, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    University of California at Los Angeles Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Derek Lee, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    University of Southern California Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Sean Maldonado Ramirez, MD (Breast/Body Fellow)
    Harbor-UCLA Diagnostic Radiology Residency

  • Catherine Evans, MD (Full year Fellow)
    Cedars-Sinai Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Amir Talebi, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
    University of Southern California Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Cecil Patel, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
    University of California at Los Angeles Diagnostic Radiology Residency

    Susan Yoon, DO (Breast/body Fellow)
    Albert Einstein Diagnostic Radiology Residency

  • Youn Kyung Lee (JoAnn), MD (Full year Fellow)

    Robert Lynch, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

    Mollie Rashid, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

  • Tejas Manchandia, MD (Full year fellow)

    Shannon Navarro, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

    Nasim Khadem, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

  • Jennifer Choi, MD (Full year Fellow)

    Zaihleen Keller, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

    Carolyn Lim, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

    Allison Roberts, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

  • Brenna Chalmers, MD (Full year fellow)

    Chester Bai, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

    Kimberly Hoang, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

  • Rita Krane, MD (Full year fellow)

    Joon Richard Lee, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

    Brittany Kazmierski, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

  • Payal Jain, MD (Full year fellow)

    Nicole Darcy (French), MD (Breast/body Fellow)

    Kristen Nagata, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

  • Sandy Lee, MD (Full year fellow)

    Kirash Vahidi, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

  • Samir Jethwa, MD (Full year fellow)

    George Spanos, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

    Christian Sell, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

  • Elizabeth Little, MD (Full year fellow)

    Jennifer Daly MD (Breast/body Fellow)

    Kristen Belen, MD (Breast/body Fellow)

     

  • Amy Soetaert, DO (Full year fellow)

  • Kimberly Wycoff Bickell, MD (Full year fellow)

  • Ruby Obaldo, MD (Full year fellow)