Neuroradiology Fellowship


Overview

The Neuroradiology fellowship program at UPMC provides fellows with the opportunity to become a part of a large academic practice that provides Neuroradiology services for UPMC's academic campuses as well as UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The fellowship is ACGME accredited for 1 year of post graduate training. Additional focused second year training is available in Pediatric Neuroradiology, spine intervention and head and neck imaging. The program currently accepts three to four fellows each academic year.

Based at Presbyterian University Hospital (PUH) in the heart of Oakland and amidst the University of Pittsburgh campus, the program benefits from an expansive catchment area that includes western Pennsylvania and portions of surrounding states. National and international clinical referrals are also common, which further broaden the scope and volume of the clinical material. In addition to primary Neuroradiologic services at the UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh campuses, where the fellows rotate, teleradiology and consultative support are provided for up to 13 other hospitals in the UPMC system, including Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC and Hillman Cancer Center.

Within the Neuroradiology division the fellows educationally benefit from super-subspecialized coverage of spinal intervention, head and neck imaging and pediatric neuroradiology. During the fellowship there is ample exposure to multi-disciplinary conferences, including ENT, Epilepsy, Neurology, Neuro-oncology tumor board, Neurovascular / Stroke conferences, Interdisciplinary Skull base surgery, weekly Neurosurgical M&M, and monthly Pituitary conferences. The Neuroradiology division conducts multiple intradivisional conferences including a monthly case-based conference held for both fellows and residents, and a fellow specific conference each week. A quarterly Neuroradiology divisional quality assurance / quality improvement conference is also held, during which the fellows actively participate in root cause analysis.

An active MRI Research Center and PET imaging center further expand clinical services as well as provide tremendous support to the research mission of the department. Research efforts are underway utilizing a recently installed PET / MR system in the research center. Numerous staff are available in both the MRI Research Center and the PET center in support of research projects. A dedicated research coordinator works within the Neuroradiology division. Further departmental research support is available geared towards the pursuit of grant funding.

Rotations

PUH Reading Room:
The PUH reading room rotation encompasses general Neuroradiology and benefits from strong Neurosurgery and Neurology programs within the UPMC system as well as a variety of other clinical services. This rotation provides exposure to the full gamut of Neuroradiology studies including CT/CTA, MRI/MRA, CT and MR perfusion studies, MR Spectroscopy, and Myelography. In addition, volumentric analysis is incorporated into a number of clinical protocols. The fellows also participate in the workup, paradigm selection, and interpretation of functional MRI examinations.

Head & Neck:
The ENT program at UPMC has been consistently ranked among the top programs in the country by US News & World Report. Neuroradiology fellows at UPMC spend approximately 3 months on the dedicated head & neck service exploring imaging of the skull base, temporal bone, face, and neck. In addition to CT and MR, the Head and Neck service interprets whole-body PET/CT exams in head & neck oncology patients. Common head & neck procedures include biopsies, sialograms, dacrocystograms, and fluoroscopic evaluations.

Spine:
The spine rotation (approximately 2 months) provides hands on experience with both diagnostic and therapeutic spine procedures including discograms, nerve root blocks (cervical, thoracic and lumbar), epidural steroid injections, facet blocks, medial branch blocks, SI joint injections, rhizotomies, lumbar drainage catheter placement, drainages, vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty and sacroplasty. Extensive experience in a wide range of CT guided biopsies of the spine, interverterbral discs, and paraspinal structures is also provided.

Neuroangiography:
Neuroradiology fellows spend approximately 1.5 months on the neuroangiography service and take part in diagnostic cerebral angiography, acute stroke care, carotid stenting, aneurysm coiling, vascular malformation treatment, and tumor embolization procedures. Fellows also participate in the structured vascular and neuroangiography online curriculum sponsored by the ASNR.

Pediatric Neuroradiology:
Fellows with spend approximately 2 months at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC where they work with dedicated pediatric neuroimaging experts. Fellows gain experience in all facets of Pediatric Neuroradiology in support of busy pediatric Neurosurgical, ENT, Neurology, Oncology and Transplant services.

Neuropathology:
The neuropathology rotation consists of two weeks spent with the neuropathology service and includes participation in the weekly neuropathology conference.

Call

Neuroradiology fellows take weekend call on average 1 out of every 4 weeks during the year consisting of in-house duty from 7am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday. After hours call for emergent procedures is covered by pager from home and is shared by the fellows. Potential responsibilities on pager call include emergent lumbar punctures, myelograms and triage/performance of spinal interventional procedures. UPMC has a full division of nocturnist staff Radiologists including Neuroradiologists who provide final interpretation of ED/Trauma neuro studies between the hours of 5pm and 7am.

Benefits

In addition to the salary and health/dental/optical/retirement benefits provided to UPMC employees, fellows are provided and educational funding allotment during the 12-month fellowship for expenses such as meeting attendance, travel expenses, electronic education materials, etc. Fellows are expected to present at least one research paper at an annual neuroradiology societal meeting, such as the ASNR annual meeting, ASHNR, ASSR, or ASFNR. Past fellows have also presented work at RSNA and ARRS. Fellows will also attend the annual week-long MR physics course given by UPMC Neuroradiology staff physician, Dr. Emanuel Kanal.

Application

Our program participates in the NRMP Neuroradiology Match program and ERAS. Applications are reviewed and interviews scheduled according to the common recruitment season schedule established by the ASNR in accordance with ERAS and NRMP. Additional information regarding the fellowship match process can be found on the ASNR Fellowship Portal. The applicant requires an institutional training license, be a US citizen or hold appropriate visas and satisfy entry criteria as determined by the ACGME. The University of Pittsburgh/UPMC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.

Please submit your completed application through ERAS.


Program Director:
Allison Weyer, M.D.
Department of Radiology
Division of Neuroradiology
Email: weyerag2@upmc.edu

Program Coordinator:
Sandra Minor
Email: minosl@upmc.edu

Mailing Address:
203 Lothrop Street
EEI Suite 700
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Telephone: (412) 647-3530
Fax: (412) 647-5359