Magnetic Resonance Imaging Fellowship

Facilities

Approximately 14,000 studies are performed annually and the growth rate in MRI procedures is 30% per year of late, primarily due to the development of new applications of MRI. Fellows also have the opportunity to review case material referred for expert interpretation from outside MRI centers. Our scanners are maintained at the state-of the-art, including:

At UW Hospital:

• 1.5 T GE EXCITE II Echo-speed
• 1.5 T GE CV cardiovascular scanner
• 1.5 T GE Echo-speed at Waisman Center (available 50% time for clinical research)
• 1.5 T GE short bore twin speed vascular interventional magnet interfaced to x-ray fluoroscopy and flat-panel 3D rotational angiography (available for 50% research time)
• 3.0 T GE short-bore whole body scanner (available for 50% research time)
  
• 3.0 T GE head-only scanner at Waisman Center (available for 50% research time and limited clinical cases)

At Research Park Sports Medicine Facility:

• 1.5 T GE Signa (primarily musculoskeletal) scanner
• 0.7 T GE Open Speed scanner open MRI
• 3.0 T GE long-bore whole body scanner

In addition, fellows gain experience interpreting studies for Phillips, Hitachi, and GE scanners during our outside film over-read services.

Software is continually upgraded to remain state-of-the-art. Most MR scans are read on a state-of-the-art color ALI PACS, and advanced post-processing is performed on one of several GE Advantage Windows workstations. A full-time 3D technologist and 3D lab provide support and training for advanced workstation applications. In-house technologists staff the MRI Section from 6:30 AM-11:45 PM, with on-call services from 11:45 PM-6:30 AM. The Section also has dedicated nursing personnel to do patient screening, injections, and conscious sedation. Research personnel are available to assist with patient recruitment, human subject compliance, data reconstruction, and statistical analysis.

In addition to providing patient care services, the MRI Section has several major research projects, including cardiovascular MR techniques, MRA, and functional neuroimaging. In addition, we have recently initiated a program in MR-guided endovascular intervention. The Section is involved in multicenter and multi-discipline trials studying cardiovascular and oncologic applications of MR. Fellows are encouraged and have the opportunity to develop independent research projects. The fellows are encouraged to submit their work to the ISMRM, and if the abstract is accepted, the fellows are sent to the annual meeting.

Formal teaching includes daily departmental conferences and weekly grand rounds, as well as dedicated weekly Section journal review sessions. In addition, an outstanding MRI physics didactic teaching program is provided during the fellowship. Fellows may gain experience in cardiovascular, body, musculoskeletal, and neurologic MRI, in addition to practical applications of advanced MR post-processing tools. The specific distribution amongst the clinical disciplines is tailored to the needs of the individual, however a typical rotation includes 6 months doing body/cardiovascular MRI at UW Hospital, 4 months on the Neuro-MRI service, and 2 months on musculoskeletal MRI at our dedicated sports medicine scanner.