Advanced Molecular Imaging and Theranostics Fellowship
Why UT Southwestern
UT Southwestern Medical Center is one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, with a distinguished faculty that has received six Nobel prizes, and that includes 25 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 22 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators. UT Southwestern is the No. 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth, second in Texas, and among the top 50 programs nationally in six clinical specialty areas, according to U.S. News & World Report.
Our one-year Texas Medical Board approved Advanced Molecular Imaging and Theranostics Fellowship provides clinical and academic training, which enables physicians to become independent subspecialty consultants in advanced molecular imaging and radioligand therapy. We accept 2 fellows per academic year (July 1-June 30).
The program is based at UT Southwestern Medical Center, with clinical service at Parkland Health & Hospital System, Clements University Hospital, the PET Center at Clements Advanced Imaging Center, Children’s Health℠, and the Dallas VA Medical Center, providing 13 rotations a year.
Our Mission
The mission of the Advanced Molecular Imaging and Theranostics program is to provide outstanding educational opportunities to fellows through innovative teaching, clinical training, and exposure to research, quality, and leadership initiatives, enabling our trainees to become outstanding providers and leaders in the field of molecular imaging and therapy.
Program Aims
- Educate physicians aspiring to specialize in world-class diagnostic nuclear medicine
- Train physicians for expertise in current and emerging innovative treatment of patients using therapeutic nuclear medicine
- Provide training opportunities in the setting of a large academic medical center with three tertiary care hospitals that serve a diverse population of adult and pediatric patients
- Foster research participation through exposure to cutting-edge technologies
Asha Kandathil, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Program Director
Abtin Doroudinia, M.D.
Clinical Associate Professor
Daniel Lee, M.D.
Associate Professor
William Moore, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Nghi Nguyen, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Orhan Öz, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Division Chief of Nuclear Medicine
Research Lab
Fangyu Peng, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Robert Carson Sibley, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Xuexian "Sean" Yan, M.D.
Associate Professor
Program Highlights
- Fellows rotate through Parkland Memorial Hospital (870 beds), Clements University Hospital (460 beds), the PET/CT Center, Children’s Health Dallas (487 beds), and Dallas VA Medical Center
- A high-volume clinical experience offers immense learning opportunities. More than 16,000 nuclear medicine studies are performed annually, providing clinical services that include general nuclear medicine, nuclear cardiology, oncologic PET/CT, cardiac PET/CT, and SPECT/CT with all FDA-approved radiopharmaceuticals such as 18F-FDG, 18F- FES, 68Ga-Dotatate, 64Cu-Dotatate, Ga-68 Gozetotide (PSMA), 18F Fluciclovine (Axumin).
- Fellows will participate in FDA approved radionuclide therapies for benign and malignant thyroid disease, somatostatin receptor positive tumors, bone pain palliation, neuroendocrine tumors, and prostate cancer.
- Fellowship training is provided by nine nuclear medicine faculty, with three faculty dual-trained in nuclear medicine (ABNM) and diagnostic radiology (ABR), five faculty in nuclear medicine (ABNM), and one faculty in diagnostic radiology (ABR)
- Additional faculty include five nuclear cardiologists, a pediatric radiologist, and a clinical physicist
Facilities and Equipment
Clinical equipment at Clements University Hospital and Parkland Health & Hospital System include:
- Two clinical PET/CTs and one research PET/CT
- Nine SPECT/CTs
- Two dedicated cardiac SPECT cameras
Conferences
Nuclear Medicine residency and fellowship conferences are held from 7:30am to 8:30 am on weekdays throughout the year and include didactic lectures, case-based presentations, and journal clubs. In addition, residents attend and present at monthly clinical protocol meetings, research meetings (in conjunction with the cyclotron program), cyclotron program journal clubs, and quarterly quality assurance presentations. Residents also participate and present in multidisciplinary conferences, in combination with medicine, surgery, medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, and other clinical subspecialties.
Radiology Clinical Grand Rounds and Research Grand Rounds are held monthly with prestigious visiting and local professors, offering the opportunity to meet and learn from leading national authorities on a variety of topics.
Research Opportunities
Intellectual vibrancy and technological innovation are core values of the Nuclear Medicine Division and the Department of Radiology, which are developed through research and collaborative efforts of the clinical faculty, medical physics, and research faculty. Department and Division faculty publish in leading imaging journals. Dedicated research rotations are included in the Nuclear Medicine Residency program, and are very highly encouraged.
Residents are required to engage in scholarly activity as part of their training in and ACGME-accredited program. Results must be published or presented at institutional, local, regional, or national meetings. Residents also complete a quality improvement project annually.
Pilot project funds and dedicated research time are provided to those who wish to pursue an academic career.
The Nuclear Medicine Division has state-of-the-art instrumentation with PET/CT, SPECT/CT, GMP cyclotron facility, image reconstruction and analytical core laboratories for translational molecular imaging and clinical trials. We have multiple FDA-approved INDs for novel radiotracers for translational research, as well as NCI-sponsored multicenter clinical trials. In addition, we have access to animal imaging facilities with animal SPECT/CT and animal PET/CT.
The Cyclotron & Radiochemistry Program, in collaboration with researchers throughout campus, can facilitate research using radiotracers labeled with 18F, 15O, 13N and 11C, macromolecules tagged with metal radioisotopes, such as 64Cu, 89Zr, 55Co. Residents can participate in research projects in neurodegeneration, oncology, cardiology, metabolism, immunology and innovative technologies (nanomedicine, theranostics).
Salaries and Benefits
Hospital stipends are set annually and are competitive nationally with those of other teaching programs. The amount, shown in the chart below is effective November 6, 2024. Most Radiology Fellows are compensated at a PGY 6 level.
| Salary | |
|---|---|
| PGY 1 | $63,900.00 |
| PGY 2 | $66,355.00 |
| PGY 3 | $69,112.00 |
| PGY 4 | $72,486.00 |
| PGY 5 | $75,835.00 |
| PGY 6 | $79,086.00 |
Comprehensive benefits including low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance are available to contracted house staff, as well as a group life insurance plan, and several wellness and employee assistance programs.
Medical malpractice insurance is provided for Radiology house staff by the Department through the University of Texas System group plan.
The Fellow’s assignments and vacation usage will be determined and/or approved by the Program Director. Fellows will accrue vacation and sick leave on a monthly basis and may utilize such leaves consistent with State law and the Policies and Procedures adopted by UTSW to implement the State law.
Requirements
- Candidates must be ABR/ABNM certified or eligible.
- Candidates must be for a Physician-In-Training (PIT) in the state of Texas prior to beginning their fellowship.
Application Process
The program provides two one-year fellowship positions annually. Information regarding the application process can be found under How to Apply on the main Fellowships page.
International Medical Graduates
For questions regarding International Medical Graduates, please visit our fellowships page.