Fellowship Overview
The fellowship program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania provides
comprehensive experience in all aspects of Nuclear Medicine, including both diagnostic and
therapeutic applications of radionuclides. Fellows receive instruction in theoretical and
practical aspects of the field, including relevant basic sciences.
The fellowship includes clinical training in general adult nuclear medicine, pediatric
nuclear medicine, nuclear cardiology and positron emission tomography, as well as
instruction in medical nuclear physics, radiation biology, radiation protection,
instrumentation, radiopharmaceutical chemistry, and statistics. Past fellows have gone on
to excellent staff positions in both clinical and academic programs. The department is
widely regarded as one of the best in the United States and participates in a wide range
of research activities in which fellows are required to participate. The program meets all
of the training requirements recommended by the American Board of Nuclear Medicine.
The principal objectives of the Nuclear Medicine Fellowship program are:
- To teach the safe handling and use of unsealed radioactive preparations for medical purposes.
- To teach the technical skills required to effectively diagnose and treat patients with radiotracer preparations.
- To teach trainees a system of self-learning that will allow them to continuously adapt to a constantly changing field of medical science. To prepare the trainees for successful careers in both academic medicine and clinical practice.
Conferences
The didactic teaching component of the fellowship program includes daily Nuclear
Medicine Morning Conferences, which features lectures on clinical nuclear medicine,
radiopharmaceutical sciences, physics and instrumentation, PET, computers and journal
clubs. Fellows also attend the Nuclear Medicine 210 Course, which is a month long didactic
given each year in January. It includes 6-7 hour lectures a day for four weeks, and
fellows are cleared of clinical responsibilities during the period of this course. Basic
sciences (physics and instrumentation, radiopharmaceutical chemistry, radiation biology,
radiation protection, and statistics) are heavily emphasized in this course. Clinical
topics are also discussed.
Teaching during clinical rotations includes close supervision by the attending staff.
Throughout the day, nuclear medicine examinations are reviewed by the staff physicians and
discussed with the trainees. These sessions provide a good opportunity for the trainees to
utilize the knowledge they have gained in the classroom. The nuclear medicine trainees
take the primary responsibility for performing the required examination including
interviewing the patients, quality control and reviewing and dictating results.
Clinical Rotations
There are 5 different monthly rotations for the fellows: cardiac nuclear medicine (HUP), general nuclear medicine (HUP), pediatric nuclear medicine (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia), non-imaging procedures and general nuclear medicine (Veterans Affairs Medical Center), and general nuclear medicine (Presbyterian Medical Center). During a training period of 1 year in nuclear medicine, each fellow spends 6-12 weeks in each of these rotations. In addition, while at HUP, trainees participate in the PET Center activities including patient interviewing and image interpretation. Plans are underway to make certain that trainees are adequately exposed to treatment procedures with monoclonal antibodies for lymphomas and possibly other cancers. Extensive training is provided during Course 210 and morning conferences with regard to physics, dosimetry, radiobiology and radiation safety related to therapeutic application in nuclear medicine. With the introduction of radioimmunotherapy to daily practice of nuclear medicine at HUP, a heavy emphasis is placed on this important aspect of the field.
The program is structured so that the trainee's responsibilities increase progressively
throughout the fellowship. During the first 6 months of training, trainees are more
closely supervised, but they are progressively allowed more responsibility for the
remainder of the program. The program also is sufficiently flexible so that trainees with
varied backgrounds can adjust to the rigorous educational activities provided. Trainees
with backgrounds in non-imaging fields are encouraged to participate in the ongoing
training sessions of the Department of Radiology. The trainees become familiar with a
variety of methods of investigation, with a special emphasis on the use of radionuclides.
Each trainee is expected to participate in ongoing research activities under the
supervision of the staff.
In each of the rotations assigned, the primary responsibility for the service belongs to
the attending staff physician. The trainees work under the direct supervision of the
designated attending physician. However, depending on the degree and the duration of
training, trainees are allowed a substantial level of independence. Ultimate
responsibility lies with the attending physician, however, and fellows are encouraged to
consult them when they are uncertain about decisions that may adversely affect the
patient.
Fellow Responsibilities
Trainees start the day at 8:00 a.m., when the morning rounds begin. Fellows go to their
designated assignments as soon as the conference ends. They are required to remain in the
designated location until the assigned duties are completed. In general, trainees spend
7-8 hours/day conducting their respective duties. Trainees are on-call every 4-5 weeks for
an equivalent period of one week each time. They are assisted by the technologist during
these calls. Trainees are called in when needed and are not required to stay on-site. The
frequency of emergency studies is low during weeknights, but increases during the
weekends. However, the frequency is not excessive and, judging from feedback from prior
fellows, appears to be manageable. The faculty is available to assist and review the
studies on a routine basis.
Applying for the Fellowship
Application materials may be downloaded from this site. Either the Universal
Fellowship Application Form (Provided by the APDR.) or the
Departmental
Fellowship Application Form will be accepted. Please mail applications to the
address listed below.
-
Chaitanya Divgi, MD,
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce Street, 116 Donner,
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283
Office: 215-615-3687/Fax: 215-349-5843
Email:
chaitanya.divgi@uphs.upenn.edu
angela.dorman@uphs.upenn.edu
The University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA © 2006,
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
