Program Highlights

• More than 12,000 babies are delivered at Parkland Health & Hospital System every year, and UT Southwestern Medical Center has the largest Obstetrics/Gynecology Residency Program in the United States. This results in extensive exposure to a range of imaging modalities, including obstetrical and gynecologic ultrasound, fetal MR imaging, hysterosalpingograms, sonohysterograms, SISES, exposure to FemVue, interventional biopsies and drainages with ultrasound and CT.
• Fellows rotate through two full-service breast imaging centers with significant volume and varied patient populations. This allows for a full breast imaging training experience in both diagnostic and interventional modalities, including digital mammography, contrast-enhanced digital mammography, tomosynthesis, breast MRI, seed/radiofrequency localization, and breast biopsies using ultrasound, stereotactic, mammotone, and MR-guided techniques.
• Fellowship training occurs at multiple hospitals and clinical locations including Parkland Memorial Hospital (870 beds), Clements University Hospital (460 beds), Rogers Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, and additional outpatient imaging centers.
• Fellowship training is provided by Diane Twickler, M.D., FACR, and faculty in the breast, abdominal, and pediatric imaging divisions as well as OB/Gyn faculty.
• Rotations include one to two days per week spent in breast imaging, and two to three days per week are spent in obstetrical and gynecological ultrasound and MR. Electives can be requested for additional exposure to procedures in abdominal imaging and body MRI with advanced approval.

Beyond the clinical experience

Fellows are responsible for planning, monitoring, and interpreting examinations, assisting in resident education and training, consulting with referring clinicians, and participating in research.

Benefits

• Fellows receive four weeks elective time to pursue academic interests in other subspecialty sections of the Department
• Pay is commensurate with PGY level
• Fellows have three vacation weeks and one meeting week

Call Duty

There are no call duties or weekend shifts as part of this fellowship program.

Facilities and Equipment

Clinical facilities consist of

• Obstetric and gynecologic sonography for Parkland hospital and outpatient clinics with 27 ultrasound units and nine portable machines
• Multiple 1.5T/3T whole-body clinical MRI systems (Philips, GE, and Siemens)
  • Four within Parkland Memorial Hospital
  • Five in outpatient imaging
  • Eight in University Hospital Imaging Services
• Two 3T and one 7T whole-body magnets dedicated entirely to research.
• McKesson PACs (Parkland) and iSite PACs (UT Southwestern).
• UT Southwestern Center for Breast Care and Parkland Comprehensive Breast Center with:
  • Dedicated breast coil MRI with biopsy capability
  • Three Philips iu22 ultrasound units with elastography software
  • Hologic prone stereotactic biopsy table
  • Two vacuum-assisted and automated biopsy devices
  • Four Hologic Dimensions mammography units (two with tomosynthesis software)
  • Two Hologic Selenia mammography units
  • Hologic SecurView reading stations

Conferences

Radiology resident teaching conferences are held daily throughout the year and include both didactic lectures and case-based presentations. Fellows are expected to attend and participate in the pertinent conferences. Fellows also take a leadership role in Gynecology Oncology weekly tumor board and interdisciplinary Breast Tumor Board.

Radiology Grand Rounds are held monthly with prestigious visiting and local professors, offering the opportunity to meet and learn from leading national authorities on an array of topics.

Informative multidisciplinary clinical conferences in combination with medicine, surgery, pathology, and the various clinical subspecialties are available.

Research Opportunities

Intellectual vibrancy and technological innovation are core values of the Department. Time will be reserved for pursuit of academic and research projects, which are plentiful. Such projects include, lab research, clinical research, analysis of disease processes, imaging techniques, and procedure management issues.