The didactic curriculum includes review of basic tools including guidewires, catheters, needles, embolization materials, stents, angioplasty balloons, and snares. There is also a review of basic techniques for all types of procedures which is reinforced prior to each procedure.
The Fellows Conference held weekly will involve discussion of basic and advanced techniques, review of current literature, morbidity and mortality, and a review of new techniques and devices.
Fellows are exposed to outstanding case material. A trainee will perform approximately 1000 or more VIR procedures during the year. The fellow is encouraged to participate in the most challenging cases on the day’s schedule. Therefore, our fellows gain a strong experience in TIPS, PTC, SIRT, TACE, visceral arteriography, and various embolizations.
The interventional radiology exposure is impressive also since our hospital is a level 1 trauma center and a liver transplant center. The CTA run-offs are interpreted by the VIR fellow.
One month of training is spent at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center under the direction of full-time pediatric interventional radiologists. One month of training is with the UC Health vascular surgeons who enrich the fellow’s experience in peripheral vascular disease arteriography and vascular interventions, including endovascular aneurysm repair.
A two week rotation is performed in the Vascular Ultrasound Laboratory. There is opportunity to rotate at the Cincinnati Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Multidisciplinary weekly conferences include: Hepatobiliary Conference and Thoracic Oncology Tumor Conference.
There are monthly VIR Morbidity and Mortality Conferences.
There are Interesting VIR Case conferences and VIR Fellow Core Lectures every 2 weeks throughout the fellowship.
Participation in clinical research projects and attendance at the annual SIR meeting is encouraged.