About the Program

The breast imaging program is a one-year post-graduate fellowship available to Board-certified or Board-eligible radiologists who have completed an accredited radiology residency. The fellowship is not accredited.

No specialty board certification is available through the American Board of Radiology for breast imaging. However, the ABR has granted one year credit toward board eligibility in Diagnostic Radiology for foreign medical graduates who complete the fellowship.

This program meets the requirements and recommendations of the Society for Breast Imaging (SBI) for breast fellowships.

This fellowship, which begins July 1 each year, offers 12 months of comprehensive training in all aspects of breast imaging including screening and diagnostic mammography, full-field digital mammography, tomosynthesis, CAD, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and percutaneous procedures (stereotactic, ultrasounds and MRI-guided core biopsies and vacuum-assisted biopsies, cyst aspirations, fine needle aspirations, needle localizations, and galactography).

The Department of Radiology’s Breast Imaging Section has five faculty members who are board-certified radiologists.

Our breast imaging services are provided at the Breast Imaging Center located within the Barrett Cancer Center of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, West Chester Hospital Breast Imaging Center, West Chester Hospital Outpatient Imaging Center, the Cincinnati Veterans Administration Hospital, and the UC Health Mobile Diagnostic Program. The center performs over 25,000 screening and diagnostic mammography exams each year using state-of-the-art digital and film screen equipment.

Fellows play an active role in a multidisciplinary approach to breast care and are expected to participate in multidisciplinary conferences, tumor board, teaching, and clinical research. Participation in research is required.

Goals and Objectives

The goals and objectives of the Breast Imaging Fellowship are to:

• Train and educate fellows in the advanced interpretation of mammography, ultrasound and MRI of the breast and the management of clinical cases
• Perform complicated and uncomplicated interventional procedures in the evaluation of breast cancer, including stereotactic biopsy, and ultrasound and MRI-guided procedures such as cyst aspiration, large core and fine needle biopsies, and vacuum assisted biopsies
• Learn the epidemiology, diagnosis, pathology and treatment of breast cancer
• Interact proficiently with surgeons, pathologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists in providing multidisciplinary patient care
• Communicate effectively with patients, including how to recommend biopsy, how to explain a cancer diagnosis, and how to develop sensitivity to patients’ emotional needs;
• Become familiar with federal accreditation and regulatory roles in breast imaging including peer review standards and quality control measures.