Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Fellowship Program

Abdominal Imaging Fellowship

Fellows in abdominal imaging at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) will divide their time equally among body CT, ultrasound, and MR imaging in a patient population that is challenging and diverse. The medical center maintains active transplantation, surgical, and cancer programs, and the Abdominal Imaging section sees a wide variety of both routine and esoteric diseases, injuries, and health-related problems. Fellows may also rotate to the Baltimore VA Medical Center adjoining the University Hospital.

The Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine has state-of-the-art equipment, including 3T and 1.5T MR systems, 64- and 40-slice CT scanners, a multislice, real-time CT fluoroscopy system for interventional procedures, and Acuson Sequoia ultrasound equipment. All studies are interpreted using voice recognition on a hospital-wide PACS system, with 3D postprocessing workstations available. The Abdominal Imaging section, with 4 full-time faculty members, has recently moved to a suite of imaging and procedure rooms, offices, reading rooms, and patient service areas in the new Weinberg building. Both UMMC and the VA have comprehensive PACS systems.

Approximately 20,000 body CT scans are performed each year. Interpretation of the studies is directed by faculty radiologists. Fellows also participate in the review and reporting of PET/CT studies. A new PET/CT scanner with 16-slice technology is located in the department’s Nuclear Medicine division.

The Abdominal Imaging section performs approximately 10,000 ultrasound examinations each year, including abdominal, transplant, obstetrical, pediatric, head, and vascular studies, as well as ultrasound-guided biopsies and aspiration procedures. Eight ultrasound scanners are currently in use, all with harmonic imaging and power Doppler capability. 3D and extended field-of-view technology have recently been added.

In addition to imaging studies, many percutaneous procedures and biopsies are performed under faculty supervision by fellows and residents in the Abdominal Imaging section.

Research is encouraged during the fellowship period, and elective time for research or other educational experience is provided. Time is also made available for preparation of research papers and presentations. Six clinical radiological conferences are held each week at which fellows are expected to present cases. And 2 hours of dedicated teaching are provided for residents and fellows daily.

Two fellowship openings are available in Abdominal Imaging at UMMC beginning in July 2008 and 3 in July 2009.

For additional information about fellowships in Abdominal Imaging contact: Barry Daly, MD, section director, at: bdaly@umm.edu.

This page was last updated on: January 9, 2008.