The Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at Indiana University School of Medicine offers a one-year, non-ACGME-accredited fellowship in advanced neuroimaging for fellows interested in pursuing a second year of neuroradiology fellowship training to prepare for a career in academics or to hone skills in advanced tumor, epilepsy or functional imaging. This fellowship has been approved by the IU School of Medicine Office of Graduate Medical Education.
Program Requirements
Candidates interested in this program must have completed a radiology residency in an accredited program, as well as one year of neuroradiology fellowship training or equivalent experience. As part of the Advanced Neuroimaging program, fellows spend a significant portion of their time working to master clinical applications of Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC) MR perfusion, Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE) MR perfusion, Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) MR perfusion, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tractography, functional MRI, MR spectroscopy, and CT perfusion. Fellows also fulfill rotations in general neuroradiology, pediatric neuroimaging, and head and neck imaging.
Advanced Neuroimaging fellows are paired with a faculty mentor and perform a scientific research project with the expectation of at least one published research endeavor during the year of training. These projects are presented at the Campbell-Klatte Annual Oration and are also expected to be presented at a national society meeting. Advanced Neuroimaging fellows have 40 academic days to accomplish these research requirements with the support of the Indiana University Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences Office of Research Imaging (ORI).
Advanced Neuroimaging fellows are also responsible for presenting case conferences and journal club discussions throughout the year, and work closely with residents from the IU School of Medicine Diagnostic Radiology Residency program with the expectation that fellows solidify their knowledge and future practice habits in this area of medicine by adequately preparing and teaching subjects in neuroimaging.
Facilities and Equipment
Fellows in the Advanced Neuroimaging Fellowship program train at the following sites in Indianapolis:
- Neuroscience Center: Connected to IU Health Methodist Hospital, the central neuroradiology reading room for the IU Health system serves more than five major Indiana hospitals and several imaging centers. Methodist Hospital houses one of two level 1 trauma centers in Indiana as well as a Comprehensive Stroke Center and the largest neuroscience critical care unit in the United States. While at this site, Advanced Neuroimaging fellows help to manage a busy neuroradiology service along with faculty, while making critical advanced imaging decisions under guidance of Indiana University School of Medicine’s neuroradiology faculty. Fellows serve the needs of several service lines, managing oncology, seizure and neurodegenerative patients at the Neuroscience Center and at IU Health University Hospital through multidisciplinary collaboration and tumor boards. Fellows are also given opportunities to maintain their abilities in general neuroradiology and head and neck imaging in this premier reading location.
- Riley Hospital for Children: Fellows rotating at this prestigious pediatric tertiary care center train with accomplished pediatric neuroradiologists and interact with other clinicians to experience pediatric CNS tumor imaging, genetic and metabolic disorders affecting the CNS, and the range of CNS pathology affecting the pediatric population.
Curriculum
Advanced Neuroimaging Fellows participate in four-week rotations to bolster experience in a variety of advanced-neuroimaging techniques, including Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast (DSC) MR perfusion, Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE) MR perfusion, Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) MR perfusion, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tractography, functional MRI, MR spectroscopy, and CT perfusion. The majority of time is spent at the Goodman Hall/Neuroscience Center Reading Room, reading side-by-side with up to six faculty during the daytime reading hours. Additional rotations during this fellowship year include pediatric neuroimaging at Riley Hospital, where fellows focus on pediatric advanced imaging experience and head and neck imaging. Elective months provide a flexible experience for greater focus on a desired area of specialization.
Call Responsibilities
Call for this fellowship program consists of one-week blocks with at-home pager call on weeknights and nine-hour daytime shifts of cross-sectional work on weekends. Fellows take no more than Q4 week call, even if the total neuroradiology fellow complement is less than four—less call if the fellow complement is above four. It is the opinion of the program director and faculty that increasing call responsibilities beyond Q4 leads to a detriment in education. Fellows are occasionally called for emergency procedures.
