Musculoskeletal Imaging

During the training, we expect fellows to:

• Provide excellent patient care and timely service to our referring clinicians
• Foster a service-oriented atmosphere in our reading rooms as well as in our personal interactions with referring clinicians, imaging technologists, and radiology colleagues
• Provide efficient image interpretation such that we add value to the patient’s workup
• Learn from each other and remember that we’re all teachers as we interact with residents, medical students, and clinicians on a daily basis

Upon completion of the Musculoskeletal Imaging Fellowship Program, fellows will:

• Have seen enough cases that they feel comfortable interpreting radiographs, CT, ultrasound and MRI studies involving the musculoskeletal system
• Be comfortable performing a wide range of image-guided musculoskeletal procedures, including arthrography, bone and soft tissue biopsies, a variety of pain control injections, and ultrasound guided procedures
• Confidently operate independently in all areas of our practice, including the interpretation of emergency radiology studies, having been given graded responsibilities as the year progressed
• Complete at least one research project during the year, which includes submission of at least one manuscript for attempted publication or submission of an abstract to a meeting for presentation

Minimum entry requirements include successful completion of a diagnostic radiology residency and the ability to obtain a medical license in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Applying for 2025-2026 Positions

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, 2023. Applications may be uploaded to Interfolio, but will not be reviewed until November 1. Applications will be accepted through December 31, 2023.

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 may take place between January 8 and March 31, 2024. Interviews will likely largely be held in the month of January 2024. A personal interview is required for all applicants. Interviews will be conducted virtually for this cycle upon the recommendation of SCARD. Please note: we are unable to accept the SSR Common Application.

To apply for this position, please go to http://apply.interfolio.com/129838. For full consideration, applications must include a curriculum vitae, cover letter/personal statement, USMLE Step I, II, and III scores (or equivalent), and ECFMG (if applicable). Three current letters of recommendation are to be sent directly to the program coordinator Sandy Kerns, at sk9ef@uvahealth.org.

For questions about the position or fellowship, please contact Sandy Kerns via email at sk9ef@uvahealth.org.

Applying for 2024-2025 Positions

Please apply through Workday by clicking here and searching for requisition #R0038803. For full consideration applications must include a cover letter/personal statement; USMLE Step I, II, and III scores (or equivalent); and ECFMG (if applicable). Three current letters of recommendation are to be sent directly to the program coordinator Sandy Kerns at sk9ef@uvahealth.org.

Please upload requested documents through the CV portal on Workday. (Workday does not provide a distinct portal for these documents.)

For questions about the position or fellowship, please contact Sandy Kerns via email at sk9ef@uvahealth.org.

Additional Information

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

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.

Pre-Employment Drug Testing and Background Check

Resident/fellow appointment is conditional based on the approval of the Clinical Staff Credentials Committee (CSCC) and the Clinical Staff Executive Committee (CSEC) and based on successful completion of credentialing, including but not limited to our review and acceptance of information from the criminal background check, successful completion of the pre-employment drug screen, passing applicable medical licensing exams (USMLE, COMLEX or MCCQE), receipt of a Virginia Medical License (if applicable), honest and accurate completion of all required paperwork and training modules prior to Orientation. For more information, please see the sample GME Contract linked here.

For Residency and Fellowship Applicants Requiring Visa Sponsorship

Institutionally, we sponsor the J1 clinical visa. Decisions about sponsorship of other visa types are made at the department level. All graduates of international medical schools must hold a valid certificate issued by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) to be appointed as a resident or fellow following the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Clinical MSK Fellowship

The majority of fellows, 7-8 per year depending on research fellowship interest, will be in this category. Fellows spend nearly all their time on the clinical rotations described below. Limited academic time is generally available for fellows actively working on an academic project. Fellows in this track are expected to complete at least one paper for publication or submit one abstract for presentation at a national meeting.

MSK/Informatics Hybrid Fellowship

One position per class will be in a hybrid MSK/informatics track. This track is intended for a fellow with a dual interest in MSK imaging and informatics. The hybrid fellow will asymmetrically divide time between clinical MSK work (~80%) and clinical informatics experience and research (~20%). The ideal candidate for the hybrid position is at least entertaining the idea of an academic career (though not required) and has aptitude (though not necessarily experience) in engineering or information technology/systems.

The UVA Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging has system of coverage for overnight ED studies which allows for final signing of studies overnight. Our MSK clinical instructors have the opportunity to supplement Emergency radiologists to provide this coverage.  Fellows are given a home workstation which allows for this coverage to largely be done from home if desired. Subspecialty attendings are available for backup coverage by pager should a question arise. Various advanced imaging studies or complicated cases where a subspecialty read is necessary can potentially receive a preliminary read such that they can be read by a subspecialist in the morning. Subspecialty services are also available for urgent overnight procedures, such that the MSK clinical instructors can focus on diagnostic studies. The program has helped our fellows to maintain and further the development of general radiology skills for both boards preparation and practice, as well as increased confidence in individual image interpretation. In addition, contributing to this coverage supplements income by $15,000 / week.

Our division provides on-site coverage at the UVA Medical Center, Ivy Mountain Musculoskeletal Center, and rarely the Northridge Outpatient Imaging Center. Musculoskeletal imaging performed at other outpatient sites is covered remotely. Distribution of fellow duties on a daily basis is as follows:

• Hospital Early, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Cross sectional studies and procedures)
• Hospital Late (flexible as a remote shift), 12:30 – 9 p.m. (Plain film and procedures, urgent studies after 4 p.m.)
• Ivy Mountain MR/CT (often 2 fellows), 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Ivy Mountain Ultrasound/plain film, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Ivy Mountain Fluoroscopy procedures, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Optional 24/7 coverage, 9 p.m. – 6 a.m.
• Vacation or academic

One fellow at a time will be assigned to be the MSK call fellow for the week. The primary duty is on the weekend when the call fellow (along with the attending on call) catches up on any MRI or radiographic outpatient exams performed during the week, reads inpatient or other high priority diagnostic studies performed over the weekend, and performs any urgent musculoskeletal procedures.

Click here to view all current MSK Faculty

• We are a non-ACGME accredited fellowship and our fellows are credentialed as clinical instructors. This allows them to final sign diagnostic studies and procedural reports. Our clinical instructors final sign radiographs and spine CT during the day as the year progresses, in addition to final signing responsibilities in the optional 24/7 shift. This graduated exposure to independence produces fellows who are confident when joining a job in either private practice or academics.
• Outpatient rotations are performed at the new, state-of-the-art Ivy Mountain Musculoskeletal Center (pictured above), with two MRIs, two fluoroscopy suites, musculoskeletal ultrasound, standing foot CT and radiographs all in close proximity to the orthopedic clinics.
• Spine imaging, outpatient as well as trauma, is split between MSK and Neuroradiology, providing our fellows with subspecialty level spine imaging training.
• Large volume of bread-and-butter orthopedic sports medicine MRI cases.
• Heavy procedural emphasis. We run a busy interventional service with 15-18 studies a day at Ivy Mountain fluoroscopy, 10-12 studies at Ivy Mountain on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, several ultrasound guided interventions daily at Ivy Mountain, and 1-2 biopsy procedures a day at UVA Medical Center.
• Dedicated conferences geared solely towards our musculoskeletal fellows on a weekly basis. Additional multidisciplinary conferences are held with our orthopedic surgeons and other referrers, an average of one every other week.
• Optional 24/7 coverage program helps to maintain general radiology skills for boards and practice and results in income potential significantly greater than most fellowship positions.
• As a large fellowship, we have a large network of former fellows in practice throughout the US which can be highly beneficial when searching for a job post-fellowship.
• Practice in a collegial environment with attendings who are dedicated to teaching, all while living in one of the best places to live on the East Coast.

Income and Benefits

The 24/7 program helps to significantly boost income during the fellowship year. The nightly coverage rate is around $15,000 / week, with higher rates for covering of holidays. This pay is superimposed on the base pay that is linked to the UVA PGY salary level of support, which is currently $74,400.  Additional moonlighting opportunities for contrast coverage may be present as well.

Fellows receive medical and dental care benefits for themselves and their immediate family. Additionally, malpractice insurance is provided at no charge. The benefit package for our fellows largely follows those available to other UVA employees and can be seen here.

Our fellows receive an annual stipend of $1,250 for books and $1,650 for travel for meeting attendance.

Vacation and Leave Policy

Our fellows have 22 days of vacation time plus additional time off at holidays. Additional time off may be granted for fellows presenting at national radiology meetings.

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