Education

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Fellowship

Description of Fellowship

An advanced magnetic resonance imaging training program (two years) is offered to individuals who have successfully completed their radiology residency and are board certified. (The Penn Radiology Department also offers a Body Imaging Fellowship, which includes 5-6 months of MRI as well as training in CT and ultrasound.)

As this is an NIH-funded fellowship, applications for the 2-year MRI fellowship can only be accepted from United States citizens.

The MRI fellowship provides training in the performance and interpretation of all aspects of magnetic resonance imaging. Fellows are supervised by staff radiologists and are responsible for the performance and interpretation of all examinations under the supervision of staff radiologists.

mri sectionAll fellows are encouraged to perform research. Research papers and presentations at national meetings are strongly encouraged. Fellows are scheduled for a variety of presentations. They also present lectures for the residents, medical students, and visiting fellows.

The fellowship provides thorough training in the interpretation and performance of MRI. Fellows acquire training in musculoskeletal, body, vascular, and cardiac MRI, and develop a thorough understanding of the principles of magnetic resonance. Training also includes magnetic resonance spectroscopy and surface coil technology.



Equipment

The section's equipment consists of seven 1.5 Tesla whole body instruments. Four are GE 1.5 Signa MR systems, and two are Siemens 1.5 T Symphony Scanners in the Penn Tower Outpatient Center. We also have a 1.5 T Siemens magnet devoted full-time to research, two smaller bore animal systems (1.9 T, 4.7 T), and a Signa simulator for pulse programming.

Research

The section conducts research in musculoskeletal biomechanics, high resolution imaging of the pelvis, vascular MRI including bolus chase MR angiography, analysis of segmental myocardial function, and clinical spectroscopy. mri sectionTwo developmental thrusts of the research are high-speed imaging applications and novel MR contrast agents.

We employ MR to improve resolution in imaging of the prostate and colon, using the endorectal coils developed here. We use detailed histopathology and MR images of resected specimens to improve understanding of the origins of the signal intensities observed in MRI. These studies will influence the staging of carcinomas in the prostate and colon. The techniques will help physicians better understand the origins and time course of benign prostatic disease. We have plans for a program in clinical MR spectroscopy, especially focusing on proton studies of neoplasms.

We are attempting to improve the screening techniques for breast cancer, using high-resolution MR to decrease the number of negative surgical biopsies. One interdisciplinary project unites radiologists, a pathologist, and a breast surgeon.

In a major project we use MRI to evaluate osteoporosis. To study the micro-architecture of trabecular bone, we developed a technique that assesses its structure quantitatively.

mri section In cardiac MRI research, we developed the technique of studying heart wall motion by using spatial modulation of magnetization (ASAP). We are improving the measurements by using special receiver coils (especially phased arrays) and very rapid imaging. Studies of blood flow with MRI have a distinguished history here, and we are continuing this work, especially with flow in pulmonary arteries and coronary artery bypass grafts. We developed rapid-flow imaging techniques which we now apply to study respiratory effects on cardiac return and output, particularly in constrictive pericarditis. An ongoing program develops techniques for cardiac MR spectroscopy, permitting studies of regional metabolism and its response to ischemia and reperfusion.

The Clinical Service

Clinically, MRI is very active. We annually conduct more than 13,000 clinical MR examinations covering the full spectrum of musculoskeletal, neuroradiologic, cardiac, abdominal, peripheral-vascular, and pelvic cases.

Educational Resources

There is a case review or teaching conference every day. Our current schedule includes Musculoskeletal case review Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, MRA conference on Tuesday, and Abdominal MRI conference on Thursday. There is an MRI follow-up conference on Monday, as well as training in MR physics for our fellows.

Our Center for Continuing Education contains an extensive videotape library (and carrels for viewing), teaching files, and a large library of educational software developed at our institution. The continuing education program in MR is quite popular, attracting physicians worldwide to week-long visiting fellowships throughout the year. Residents and fellows on the MRI service may use the full resources of the center and participate in its seminar programs.

Applying for the Fellowship

Application materials may be downloaded from this site.



Universal Fellowship Application Form (Provided by the APDR.)
Departmental Fellowship Application Form

Please mail applications to the address listed below.


For more information or to submit an application, contact:

Mark Rosen, MD, Phd (Marcy Roche)
Department of Radiology
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce Street/1 Silverstein
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Office: 215.662.6470
FAX 215.662.3013
marcy.roche@uphs.upenn.edu

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Last Updated:12/20/06 ALK