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.

The fellow will be responsible for coordinating the Interventional Radiology service under the direct supervision of the program director and attending faculty. Responsibility is given gradually as the fellow exhibits clinical and technical skills as well as judgment commensurate with such responsibility.

The fellow will schedule all cases, complete pre- and post-procedure evaluations, supervise Radiology residents performing simple procedures, complete short- and long-term follow-up with written documentation, review studies with faculty, dictate and correct reports prior to distribution, and prepare teaching files.

Morning review of cases will be done each day to allow the faculty, fellows and residents an opportunity to discuss techniques, emergency cases and prioritization in scheduling, review evaluations and treatment of complications, and discuss any special requirements with the technicians and nurses.

IR fellows are expected to attend and participate in weekly conferences. In addition, fellows supervise/ conduct monthly conferences for the radiology residents.

Fellows will have one-half day a week free from clinical duties for scholarly activities. Fellows are expected to participate in a research project in conjunction with attending staff.

Projects should be designed to result in an abstract for poster presentation or manuscript. Funds to present abstracts at national meetings will be provided.