Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellowship

Director: Christopher G. Roth, MD

Tuition: $1,000/day, $4,800 per week, $3,600 for each additional week up to 1 month, $2,000 for each additional week after 1 month

Approximate number of cases per day: 60

The computed body tomography visiting fellowship offers close contact with dedicated CT radiologists. The majority of this fellowship consists of participation in the reading of body CT images. Fellows may work with technologists on workstations and multi slice scanners (with prior arrangement) and also participate in weekly conferences/lectures.

The objective of this program is to support development of an understanding of the computed tomographic sectional diagnosis of the mediastinum, chest, abdominal organs, retroperitoneum and pelvic structures. The visiting fellow will also have the opportunity to develop confidence in the selection of appropriate computed tomographic protocols for specific clinical problems. This fellowship is offered in one-week blocks. Subspecialty concentrations available include chest, abdominal and vascular. The visiting fellowship experience can be tailored to individual needs. Equipment: Multidetector CTs from several manufacturers with 256, 64 and 16 detectors are used daily in the division. CT fluoroscopy is also used for interventions. Workstations from multiple manufacturers as well as standalone workstations are available for review.

Among the goals of the CT visiting fellowship is to rapidly gain exposure to a high volume of a wide breadth of case material and address practice gaps.  The rich variety of cases spanning trauma, oncologic and angiographic indications, CT colonography, renal and liver donor evaluation and others and including the application of dual-energy CT accomplishes this goal.  Regarding specific practice gaps, a teaching case system and ability to search for specific topics, as well as a digital lecture library featuring lectures given by body CT faculty (among others), provide the means to gain exposure to specific topics or conditions to help fill these gaps.  Faculty members are available to provide guidance and direction in this regard as needed.

This fellowship is designed to meet the following practice gap: physicians in practice have a lack of exposure to the range of pathologies and techniques seen at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Learning Objectives

• Identify proper CT protocols.
• Explain how to interpret a wide range of CT cases.
• Demonstrate a competency in the analysis of CT scans.

Director: Donald G. Mitchell, MD

Tuition: $1,000/day, $4,800 per week, $3,600 for each additional week up to 1 month, $2,000 for each additional week after 1 month.

Approximate # of cases per day: 20-30 body, vascular and cardiac cases

This fellowship emphasizes routine and advanced clinical applications of Body MRI, including dynamic multiphasic gadolinium enhancement (extracellular and hepatobiliary agents) in all body parts, gynecologic MRI, total body MRA, MRCP, enterography, elastography, prostate fusion biopsy, etc. This busy teleradiology-based service reads body cases from a total of about nine 1.5 Tesla units, three 3.0 Tesla units with advanced features (one of which includes PET-MRI), two 1.0 Tesla units and three open MRI systems (1.5T, 0.7T and 0.3T), providing a unique opportunity to learn protocol optimization for systems with varied capabilities. We also issue official second opinions on a large number of cases submitted to us from throughout the world, including from all vendors. This second opinion service emphasizes gaps that exist in current practice, and how these gaps can be bridged by proper theoretical and practical education. All case interpretation and teaching is by body MRI specialists who emphasize practical application of MRI physics and techniques. Depending on interest, a combined body/ musculoskeletal fellowship can be arranged.

This fellowship is designed to meet the following practice gap: physicians in practice are often not exposed to the range of pathologies and techniques seen at a Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.  There are physicians who do not have exposure to a high volume of these types of scans.  

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the unique value of each pulse sequence included in an efficient but comprehensive body MRI protocol.
• Utilize prostate MRI to target lesions suspicious for cancer, for fusion biopsy.
• Collaborate within a multidisciplinary team to deliver optimal care to patients with primary or metastatic liver lesions, including liver-specific or systemic therapy.
• Manage optimal utilization of a high technology exam like MRI so that it improves the cost-effectiveness of medical care to patients with suspected disease in the abdomen and pelvis.

Director: William Morrison, MD

Co-Director: Adam Zoga, MD

Tuition: $1,000/day, $4,800 per week, $3,600 for each additional week up to 1 month, $2,000 for each additional week after 1 month.

Approximate # of MRI/CT cases per day: 80; 2,500 per month

This fellowship is geared toward the individual desiring flexible advanced training in Musculoskeletal Imaging. The participant can custom-tailor a self-directed program to include observation of MRI, CT, and radiography readout, as well as interventional bone and joint procedures. This fellowship program incorporates advanced imaging of shoulder, knee, foot and ankle, hip, wrist, elbow, and professional sports medicine imaging. Approximately 30-40 MR arthrograms (direct and indirect) are reviewed each week. Procedures include biopsies of bone and soft tissue, arthrograms, nerve blocks, disc aspiration and discography. An extensive digital teaching file is available for review. Personal consultation on individual cases and protocol selection is available.  The Program Directors can identify practice gaps and guide the visiting fellow to cases and resources directed toward their unique education needs.  The fellowship is very flexible in terms of time and content.

This fellowship is designed to meet the following practice gap: physicians are often not exposed to the range of pathologies seen in the department. There is a lack of knowledge and exposure to the types of scans the visiting physician would experience at their own practice.  

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate a greater understanding of clinical Musculoskeletal Radiology practice.
• Employ skills to improve efficiency and patient care.
• Demonstrate an improved knowledge of diagnosis of musculoskeletal pathology, including injury, degeneration, infection, neoplasia, and metabolic conditions as well as musculoskeletal intervention.