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Interventional Radiology

Oncologic Imaging in IR Fellowship

In recent years, the number of imaging-related technologies to support cancer diagnosis and image-guided therapies has increased drastically. A growing number of minimally invasive image-guided cancer therapeutics are efficacious for an increasing number of solid neoplasms. These include chemoembolization, radioembolization, radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, irreversible electroporation and cryo-ablation. A significant variety of palliative interventions is also part of the therapeutic arsenal, including drainage, vascular stents, cryoneurolysis, and pain interventions. This ACGME-accredited Oncologic Imaging in Interventional Radiology fellowship is designed to allow trainees interested in oncology to gain additional clinical knowledge and procedural skills in this area. We accept one to two fellows a year for this fellowship. Fellows rotate throughout our clinical services within the main UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill, our Hillsborough Hospital, the IR clinic in Meadowmont, and our Endovascular Center. This one-year fellowship provides ample time for clinical, research, and educational activities. It focuses heavily on oncologic care with participation in multidisciplinary conferences, journal club, and tumor board. Trainees will learn the entire spectrum of Oncologic Imaging, including hepatobiliary, musculoskeletal, genitourinary, and vascular procedures. Trainees will also participate in our morning conferences with the remainder of the IR department.

This fellowship is housed in the Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill. It may be used during training to complete the 5-year American Board of Radiology alternative pathway in interventional radiology.

This year long curriculum involves rotation at several different locations:

  • 4-5 days per week of active interventional radiology procedural experience. This will be under the guidance of Dr Keefe to determine the location (UNC main campus, UNC Hillsboro campus, UNC Endovascular center).
  • 2-3 days per month of interventional oncology clinic. This will be in a clinic with a heavy oncology focus.
  • 1 day per 4 week interval of protected academic time to focus on interventional oncology research. Depending on the depth of the research project, additional time may be granted at the discretion of the program director.
  • Participation in Departmental Grand Rounds, journal club, Morbidity and Mortality conference, Morbidity, Mortality and Improvement conference, Multidisciplinary conferences and guest lectures.
  • We have 10 different procedural suites within our UNC Chapel Hill campus. Three of these rooms are shared with vascular surgery and neuroIR. There are 6 standard angiosuites, 2 biplane rooms and 2 CT procedural rooms.
  • We have two procedural suites within our UNC Hillsborough campus, one fixed unit and one C-arm. This hospital performs standard IR procedures and allows significant one-on-one time with the attending.
  • We have two procedural suites within our UNC Endovascular center which are both free-standing C-arms. One room is focused on dialysis interventions while the other is focused on endovascular procedures.
  • We have 8 clinic rooms without our Meadowmont clinic site. Here trainees will rotate through various attending clinics to see both pre- and post-procedural patients.
  • Call is split evenly among the PGY5/6/7 independent and integrated IR residents and the IO fellows. This typically results in call every 6 week days and every 6th weekend.
Check out information about living in Chapel Hill with videos and resources.
Fellows earn 4 weeks (20 days) of vacation for the year with an additional week of vacation over the Christmas/New Years’ holidays.
As non-ACGME fellows carry a full North Carolina state license, they are able to moonlight within UNC or work at facilities outside of UNC for income or training supplementation.

To be eligible for consideration for an IO fellowship, candidates must complete the following requirements:

  • Candidate must have completed a training program in diagnostic and/or interventional radiology either within or outside of the US.
  • Candidate must have completed Step 1, 2, and 3 successfully.
  • Candidate must have 2 letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a peer within the past 2 years.
  • We are able to accept applicats that require a J1 visa.
  • Please email our program coordinator, Caroline Carswell at caroline_carswell@med.unc.edu with your CV, letters of recommendation and a letter of intent for review. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with the latest acceptance date of Jan 1 of the academic year. This will allow time for visa processing if required.

Faculty