University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Program

UT Southwestern Medical Center offers a comprehensive one-year Abdominal Radiology Fellowship that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). This program is designed to provide fellows with extensive training in a range of abdominal imaging modalities. The fellowship is primarily based at Parkland Memorial Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center that serves a large and diverse patient population, alongside additional clinical sites such as William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, Rogers Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, and the Clements Imaging Building (PET Center). Each of these sites contributes to the fellows’ clinical experience through a broad exposure to various cases and imaging techniques.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum is structured around vital learning rotations that include:

• 12 weeks of Body CT
• 12 weeks of Body MR
• 8 weeks of Body Procedures
• 8 weeks of Ultrasound
• 4 weeks of GI/GU/Fluoroscopy
• 4 weeks of PET
• 4 weeks of an elective rotation

Fellows also engage in resident and medical student education, assist referring clinicians, and partake in quality improvement projects. The clinical workload is high, with over 21,000 CT scans, 5,000 MR examinations, 25,000 ultrasound procedures, and numerous image-guided interventions performed annually, providing considerable learning opportunities during fellowship training.

Facilities and Equipment

The fellowship utilizes advanced clinical facilities equipped with:

• Four dual-energy CT scanners, including a Philips IQON spectral CT device
• One 320-row CT scanner
• Three 256-row CT scanners
• Twelve 64-row CT scanners
• Seven 3T magnets
• Seven 1.5T magnets
• Multiple ultrasound units

Additionally, fellows have access to cutting-edge research equipment, such as a 7T magnet, further enhancing their training in an innovative environment.

Faculty

The fellowship is backed by 17 full-time Abdominal Imaging faculty members, as well as five Nuclear Medicine faculty. This esteemed team provides mentorship, oversight, and guidance throughout the fellowship year.

Professional Development and Conferences

The program emphasizes academic growth through structured educational opportunities, including:

• 24 lectures provided by faculty over the course of the year
• Participation in interdisciplinary conferences
• Regular Radiology Grand Rounds

Fellows are also guaranteed dedicated research time each week, encouraging scholarly activity that may lead to publication and conference presentations.

Salaries and Benefits

Fellows receive compensation commensurate with their PGY level. They are entitled to competitive salaries that are consistent nationally compared to other teaching programs. The program also grants an annual leave of 25 days, and fellows accrue sick leave monthly, ensuring a work-life balance during their training.

Application Process and Competitiveness

The fellowship accepts five fellows annually. Candidates must have completed an accredited residency program in Diagnostic Radiology. The program is competitive, and international medical graduates (IMGs) are welcomed, with support in securing J-1 visas for training. The program is noted for being friendly to both DO applicants and IMGs.

Applicants must provide three letters of recommendation (one from a current Program Director), medical school transcripts, a CV, a personal statement, and board test scores. There is no specified maximum for failed STEP exams, although candidates should be certified or eligible for board certification in Diagnostic Radiology.

Call Duty and Electives

Fellows participate in a call rotation week approximately nine times in the academic year. This call includes both home contact and faculty backup during evening hours on weekdays and full coverage over weekends, ensuring hands-on experience with direct supervision. Additionally, fellows receive four weeks of elective time to explore interests in various subspecialty areas within radiology.

Visa Support

UT Southwestern offers visa support exclusively for J-1 visas, focusing on fostering opportunities for international medical graduates to train within its facilities.