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.
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 / Faculty Program Director:
Sandy Lee, MD
sandy.lee@med.usc.edu
Program Coordinator:
Eliza Wells
elizawel@med.usc.edu
Los Angeles General Medical Center
1200 North State Street
3rd Floor Room 3750A
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Phone: (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.
Los Angeles General Medical Center Mammography
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.
Healthcare Center 2
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.
USC-Verdugo Hills Hospital (VHH) Breast Healthcare Center
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 (sandy.lee@med.usc.edu). Along with the completed application, please submit a written personal statement, CV, photograph, and 3 letters of recommendation.
Current and Prior Fellows
2023-2024
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
2022-2023
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
2021-2022
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
2020-2021
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
2019-2020
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
2018-2019
Youn Kyung Lee (JoAnn), MD (Full year Fellow)
Robert Lynch, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
Mollie Rashid, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
2017-2018
Tejas Manchandia, MD (Full year fellow)
Shannon Navarro, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
Nasim Khadem, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
2016-2017
Jennifer Choi, MD (Full year Fellow)
Zaihleen Keller, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
Carolyn Lim, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
Allison Roberts, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
2015-2016
Brenna Chalmers, MD (Full year fellow)
Chester Bai, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
Kimberly Hoang, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
2014-2015
Rita Krane, MD (Full year fellow)
Joon Richard Lee, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
Brittany Kazmierski, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
2013-2014
Payal Jain, MD (Full year fellow)
Nicole Darcy (French), MD (Breast/body Fellow)
Kristen Nagata, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
2012-2013
Sandy Lee, MD (Full year fellow)
Kirash Vahidi, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
2011-2012
Samir Jethwa, MD (Full year fellow)
George Spanos, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
Christian Sell, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
2010-2011
Elizabeth Little, MD (Full year fellow)
Jennifer Daly MD (Breast/body Fellow)
Kristen Belen, MD (Breast/body Fellow)
2009-2010
Amy Soetaert, DO (Full year fellow)
2008-2009
Kimberly Wycoff Bickell, MD (Full year fellow)
2007-2008
Ruby Obaldo, MD (Full year fellow)