Abdominal Imaging

The program is designed to enable the Abdominal Imaging Fellow to accumulate a broad base of medical knowledge, to develop interpretive and technical skills under supervision, and to become proficient at clinical decision-making and consultative services. The fellowship can provide teaching and research opportunities based on fellow interests.

Upon completion of the fellowship, graduates will have a strong foundation to build an academic career in radiology or to enter subspecialized or general private practice. Specifically, the fellowship focuses on providing advanced training in cross-sectional imaging of the abdomen and pelvis with a strong emphasis on abdominal and pelvic MRI. Experience can also be gained in interventional procedures including CT- and ultrasound-guided biopsies; abscess drainages; and if desired, image-guided ablations.

The Abdominal Imaging faculty place a strong emphasis on our role as consultants to referring providers and especially as caregivers to the patients we serve.  We also believe that the time spent on every service should be pleasurable and educationally rewarding.

For the last several years, our fellows have been able to secure their top choices for radiologist positions, often in highly competitive markets.

Applying for 2026-2027 Positions

As a non-match fellowship, our program complies with the timeline established by the Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments (SCARD). Our program cannot accept applications or offer an opportunity to interview until November 1, 2024. Applications may be uploaded to Interfolio ahead of time, but will not be reviewed until November 1.

Exceptions to the SCARD embargo include:

• Applicants whose spouse/domestic partner is also applying for a medical fellowship in the same year
• Internal candidates
• Military candidates
• International candidates – international candidates are defined as applicants from programs that are neither ACGME or RCPS programs (i.e. Canadian applicants are NOT excluded from the embargo.)

Interviews will begin January 13, 2025 and end March 31, 2025. A personal interview is required for all applicants. Interviews will be conducted virtually for this cycle upon the recommendation of SCARD.

To apply for this position, please go to apply.interfolio.com/152893. For full consideration, applications must include a curriculum vitae; a cover letter/personal statement; three current letters of recommendation; USMLE Transcript which includes Step I, II, and III scores (or equivalent); and ECFMG (if applicable).

Acceptance into the program will be on a rolling basis. Per SCARD guidelines, applicants have until January 29, 2025 to accept or decline any offer made before January 29. For any offer made on or after January 29, the candidate has a one-day grace period to accept or decline the offer.

For questions about the position or fellowship, please contact Karen Hyde via email at grm4na@uvahealth.org.

Applying for 2025-26 Positions

To apply for this position, please go to https://apply.interfolio.com/129825. For full consideration, applications must include a curriculum vitae; a cover letter/personal statement; USMLE Transcript which includes Step I, II, and III scores (or equivalent); and ECFMG (if applicable). Three current letters of recommendation are to be sent directly to Fellowship Program Administrator, Karen Hyde at grm4na@uvahealth.org.

For questions about the position or fellowship, please contact Karen Hyde via email at grm4na@uvahealth.org.

Additional Application Information

Applications from graduates of non-U.S. radiology programs are considered on a case-by-case basis if the duration of the completed training is at least five years and includes one year of clinical training in the U.S. Please note that for international graduates, recommendation letters must be from radiologists in the U.S.

Fellows are selected on the basis of their medical training, general and academic achievements, and personal qualities. No preference is given to any particular medical school or geographic area, nor is race, sex, or national origin a consideration. International medical graduates need to have a permanently validated ECFMG certificate and to have passed USMLE Steps I, II, and III. They will be offered a visa for the duration of their fellowship.

The University of Virginia is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness.

The experience of recent years has shown that most applicants for Abdominal Imaging fellowships are primarily looking for expert-level training in abdominal and pelvic MRI as well as broad exposure to US, CT and image-guided procedures. We use this as a starting point for creating the curriculum of our Abdominal Imaging fellowship.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Rotations on our MRI service will expose the fellow to MRI of the liver, biliary system, pancreas, female pelvis, 3T prostate MRI, rectal cancer staging, and a variety of urological MRI examinations. We use state-of-the-art equipment including several 3 Tesla scanners and a variety of MRI contrast agents. Fellows on MRI will be responsible for protocoling and interpreting MRI studies. Great emphasis will be placed on building an advanced understanding of MRI physics as far as it is relevant for image interpretation. Our world-class research/physics faculty help us to achieve these goals.

Computed Tomography
We run a busy CT service, with scanners located within the University Hospital, two outpatient imaging centers, and the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center. We use modern CT techniques such as dual energy, iterative reconstruction and other dose-reduction strategies. CT colonoscopies are performed and fellow involvement is encouraged.

Ultrasonography
The ultrasound service covers all areas of abdominal and pelvic ultrasound examinations including extensive exposure to transplant ultrasound. Fellows will also have the opportunity to learn ultrasound elastography as well as contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Image-Guided Procedures
Our procedure service performs approximately 350 CT- and ultrasound-guided biopsies and drain placements as well as image-guided ablation procedures of renal tumors per month. Fellows will have the opportunity to gain expertise in these areas. It is divisional policy that our fellows have first choice of all procedures over other trainees.

Fluoroscopy
Our division offers the full spectrum of fluoroscopic examinations and procedures. Fellows are not scheduled on this rotation; however, given our very large number of fluoroscopically-guided esophageal balloon dilations, individuals who are interested in this particular procedure or fluoroscopy as a whole will generally have the opportunity to spend time on this service.

Electives
Fellows get up to four weeks of elective time throughout the year that can be spent within the division (thoracic imaging, fluoroscopy, OB/GYN ultrasound) or outside the division (cardiovascular imaging, interventional radiology, pediatric imaging, breast imaging, MSK imaging, neuroradiology, or nuclear medicine).

Conferences and Tumor Boards
There is a dedicated Tuesday morning fellows’ conference with presenters including Abdominal Imaging faculty as well as other radiology faculty and referring providers. Topics are tailored to the fellow level.

Fellows will also participate in UVA clinical conferences and tumor boards. The degree of involvement during presentation and responsibility will gradually increase throughout the year. The following clinical conferences and tumor boards are covered:

• GI Tumor Board, Thursday 7-8 a.m.
• GYN Tumor Board, Wednesdays at 4 p.m.
• GU Conference, Wednesday at 7 a.m. (bi-weekly)

In addition, there is a weekly divisional Wednesday morning conference where interesting cases are reviewed.

Call Responsibilities
Fellows take call every 4th or 5th weekend. Responsibilities are primarily to interpretation of MRI exams with faculty supervision.

Internal Moonlighting
Optional internal moonlighting opportunities are available within our department.

Optional Internal Moonlighting (overnight “24/7” ED coverage)
The UVA Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging offers internal moonlighting involving the interpretation of overnight ED studies. Most MSK and some other clinical instructors participate, but it is optional. Participating instructors are given a home workstation, which allows for this coverage to largely be done from home if desired. Participants are also pardoned from regular daytime clinical duties. Subspecialty faculty are available for backup coverage should a question arise overnight. Various advanced imaging studies or complicated cases where a subspecialty read is necessary can receive a preliminary report overnight with final read by a subspecialty attending in the morning. Subspecialty services are also available for urgent overnight procedures, such that the clinical instructors can focus on diagnostic studies. The program has helped our fellows to maintain and further develop general radiology skills for both boards preparation and practice, while also increasing their confidence in independent image interpretation. Notably, contributing to this coverage also supplements income by approximately $15,000 / week.

Teaching and Formal Learning
The fellows are expected to participate in the education of the radiology residents and medical students who rotate through their areas on a daily informal basis. Fellows can attend the 12:15 p.m. residents’ conference if related to abdominal imaging. Each fellow usually gives 1-2 residents’ conferences per year. Fellows do not independently staff daytime services.

Salary and Benefits
Our fellows receive an annual salary that is competitive with what is offered by other institutions. They receive medical and dental care benefits for themselves and their immediate family. Additionally, malpractice insurance is provided at no charge.

Our fellows receive an annual stipend to cover expenses related to attending meetings or buying books. Each fellow is encouraged to attend one educational meeting of their choice.

Additional significant educational benefits are offered by the University of Virginia that can be used to take UVA courses.

Vacation and Leave Policy
Fellows have 22 days of vacation time (plus additional time off during Christmas or New Year’s), and up to 5 days of meeting time to be spent at national radiology meetings.

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