Designed to provide broad and deep exposure to emergency and trauma radiology while allowing significant flexibility to fit fellow’s interests and career goals.

Emergency Radiology: Minimum six (6) 4-week blocks 

Related electives: 

• While not required, it is strongly encouraged that a fellow pursuing a career in emergency radiology complete at least 2-3 blocks rotating in one or multiple of these subspecialties:Neuroradiology
• Abdominal radiology
• Cardiothoracic radiology
• Musculoskeletal radiology
• Pediatric radiology

Other electives:

• These less closely-related rotations are made available to fellows depending on their career interests and future job responsibilities:
  • Breast radiology
  • Nuclear medicine
  • Vascular & interventional radiology

• Didactics
  • Fellow encouraged to attend resident conferences given by the ER division whenever possible
  • Other ER-specific learning opportunities will include ASER lectures, monthly division peer learning conferences, and other interdisciplinary conferences at UNC
  • When rotating off-service, fellow should attend any educational conferences hosted by that division (e.g. weekly neuroradiology conferences)
• Fellow teaching
  • Educating residents and medical students is a great opportunity for fellow to enhance their teaching skills while consolidating their own knowledge
  • When time and study volumes allow, fellow is encouraged to participate in workstation teaching of residents and medical students
• Fellow will be expected to give 1-2 resident conferences during the academic year
• Scholarly activity
  • Program will pay for fellow to attend the ASER annual meeting; attendance is highly encouraged
  • Scholarly activity requirement:
    • Fellow is expected to complete at least one scholarly project while in fellowship
    • Options for satisfying the requirement include educational exhibits, case reports, scientific projects, and other scholarly work at the discretion of the program director

ER blocks:

• Each ER block will consist of 7 evening shifts (4p-1a) followed by 7 days free of clinical responsibilities
• Overnight (9p-6a) shifts are OPTIONAL, not required
• If a fellow works a stretch of 7 overnight shifts, this will be followed by 14 days free of clinical responsibilities
  • No more than TWO (2) overnight weeks shall be scheduled during the fellowship

Elective blocks:

• Clinical schedule during non-ER blocks is at the discretion of the division hosting the fellow
• The fellow is expected to follow the clinical schedule (including any call responsibilities) provided by the hosting division

ER blocks:

• The fellow will be expected to function with a high degree of autonomy
• Interpreting the full breadth of radiology examinations ordered through the emergency department and in other emergent settings 
• Promptly communicating critical and unexpected results to clinical teams
• Adding value as a consultant, both in verbal communication with clinical teams and via well-organized and clinically relevant radiology reports
• Protocoling studies as needed, with attending input only in complex or unusual cases
• Working with technologists to troubleshoot challenging cases, including contrast reactions, imaging artifacts, etc.
• Assisting residents with fluoroscopic and percutaneous image-guided procedures as needed

 

Elective blocks:

• While rotating in other divisions, clinical expectations are identical to those of that division’s fellows
• Clinical responsibilities while on other services will be discussed with individual division chiefs and/or fellowship director

Because fellow education is an overriding priority, the fellow will NEVER be required to issue final interpretations on imaging studies while working in the ER division.

Fellows may have the option of issuing final reports at the discretion of the program director and other faculty

• Details dependent on fellow comfort and skill level
• This can be addressed through dialog between the fellow and program director as the fellowship year progresses

Fellow evaluation

• Formative evaluation and constructive feedback to allow identification of strengths and weaknesses are crucial for a fellow’s development into a well-rounded clinical subspecialist
• Evaluation based on ACGME Core Competencies
• Fellow will meet with the program director at the following intervals after beginning the program to discuss his/her progress:
  • 6 weeks
  • 6 months
  • 11-12 months
  • Other meetings may be scheduled as needed to address any concerns or issues as they arise

Mentorship

• Providing fellow mentorship is a core responsibility of the fellowship director and other program faculty 
• Faculty will be available as needed to discuss fellow’s career development and provide requested advice
• Faculty will provide support during job search and application process

• Clinical moonlighting opportunities are available to fellows, including shifts specific to trainees (preliminary reports) and shifts usually filled by attending radiologists (final interpretations)
• Fellow will be permitted to sign up for moonlighting shifts with the approval of and at the discretion of the program director, provided there is no conflict with core clinical duties
• Attending moonlighting shifts may not be filled by the fellow until two (2) months of fellowship have been completed

• Salary:
  • Standard non-ACGME radiology fellow salary
• Benefits:
  • Standard non-ACGME radiology fellow benefits
• Vacation
  • Ten (10) days to be used during non-ER blocks

Required application materials*:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Personal Statement
• Recent Photo
• Three (3) Letters of Recommendation from Faculty
• Exam Transcripts (USMLE/COMLEX-USA)
• ECFMG Certificate (if applicable)

Once required materials are submitted, candidates may be selected for an on-site or remote interview with program faculty.

John P. Nazarian, MD, Emergency Radiology Fellowship Director

Virginia B. Carver, Emergency Radiology Fellowship Coordinator