{"id":8727,"date":"2026-04-08T14:01:33","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T18:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/?page_id=8727"},"modified":"2026-05-08T12:31:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T16:31:33","slug":"abr-alternate-pathway-for-international-medical-graduates-imgs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/education\/graduate-medical-education-gme\/fellowship\/abr-alternate-pathway-for-international-medical-graduates-imgs\/","title":{"rendered":"ABR Alternate Pathway for International Medical Graduates (IMGs)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">The UNC Department of Radiology is committed to fostering global talent through the ABR Alternate Pathway. This four-year pathway is designed for exceptionally qualified radiologists trained outside the U.S. or Canada to achieve American Board of Radiology (ABR) certification while contributing to our clinical, educational, and research missions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Why UNC?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<li>Collaborative academic environment in Chapel Hill.<\/li>\n<li>Diverse subspecialty exposure.<\/li>\n<li>Pathways toward faculty appointments (Instructor\/Assistant Professor) for eligible candidates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<som-cell cell-info=\"{&quot;ID&quot;:8740,&quot;post_author&quot;:&quot;83776&quot;,&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-08 15:42:10&quot;,&quot;post_date_gmt&quot;:&quot;2026-04-08 19:42:10&quot;,&quot;post_content&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_title&quot;:&quot;IMG Fellowship \\u2013 Muthu Quote&quot;,&quot;post_excerpt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_status&quot;:&quot;publish&quot;,&quot;comment_status&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;,&quot;ping_status&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;,&quot;post_password&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_name&quot;:&quot;img-fellowship-muthu-quote&quot;,&quot;to_ping&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;pinged&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_modified&quot;:&quot;2026-04-08 19:40:04&quot;,&quot;post_modified_gmt&quot;:&quot;2026-04-08 23:40:04&quot;,&quot;post_content_filtered&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_parent&quot;:0,&quot;guid&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.med.unc.edu\\\/radiology\\\/cell\\\/img-fellowship-muthu-quote\\\/&quot;,&quot;menu_order&quot;:0,&quot;post_type&quot;:&quot;somcell&quot;,&quot;post_mime_type&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;comment_count&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;filter&quot;:&quot;raw&quot;}\" cell-meta=\"{&quot;_wpv_contains_gutenberg_views&quot;:[&quot;&quot;],&quot;_upd_sortorder&quot;:[&quot;1&quot;],&quot;layout&quot;:[&quot;RepeatableBoxes&quot;],&quot;cellInformation&quot;:[&quot;{\\&quot;singleCellBlocks\\&quot;:{},\\&quot;repeatableBoxes\\&quot;:[{\\&quot;boxImage\\&quot;:\\&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.med.unc.edu\\\/radiology\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/1384\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/CT_SakthivelMuthu_Web_220706.jpg\\&quot;,\\&quot;boxQuoteText\\&quot;:\\&quot;The ABR Alternate Pathway at UNC provides international radiologists with a seamless transition into American practice through high-caliber clinical exposure and dedicated mentorship. Having navigated this pathway myself to join the faculty, I can attest to its focus on academic excellence and the unique opportunity to innovate alongside world-class colleagues. Our program is supported by esteemed faculty across multiple radiology subspecialties, ensuring a well-rounded and prestigious training environment for every candidate. We provide a structured foundation of clinical research and guidance, empowering physicians to refine their expertise within our state-of-the-art facilities. Ultimately, this pathway serves as a vital gateway for talented physicians to obtain ABR board certification while contributing meaningfully to the future of radiology.\\&quot;,\\&quot;boxBylineQuoteeName\\&quot;:\\&quot;Dr. Muthu Kumar Sakthivel, MD, DABR,DNB,DMRD,FSCMR\\&quot;,\\&quot;boxBylineQuoteeTitle\\&quot;:\\&quot;Program Director, Cardiothoracic Imaging Fellowship, Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship &amp; Director of Radiology NST Fellowships\\&quot;,\\&quot;boxBylineQuoteeProfileUrl\\&quot;:\\&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.med.unc.edu\\\/radiology\\\/people\\\/muthu-sakthivel\\\/\\&quot;}],\\&quot;boxCustomStyles\\&quot;:{\\&quot;includeBackgroundImage\\&quot;:0,\\&quot;backgroundColor\\&quot;:\\&quot;darkBlue\\&quot;,\\&quot;columnLayout\\&quot;:\\&quot;0\\&quot;},\\&quot;boxType\\&quot;:\\&quot;imageBoxes\\&quot;,\\&quot;boxStyleOption\\&quot;:\\&quot;quote-boxes\\&quot;}&quot;],&quot;apiCallInformation&quot;:[&quot;{}&quot;]}\"><\/som-cell>\n<div role=\"tablist\" class=\"panel-group yourcustomclass oscitas-bootstrap-container\" id=\"unc-accordion-0\">\n\n<div class=\"panel panel-default oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n    <div id=\"panel-heading-details-0-0\" class=\"panel-heading oscitas-bootstrap-container\" role=\"tab\">\n\n        <h2 class=\"panel-title oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n            <button class=\"accordion-toggle oscitas-bootstrap-container collapsed\" \n                id = \"button-details-0-0\"\n                data-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                data-parent=\"#unc-accordion-0\"    \n                aria-controls=\"#details-0-0\"  \n                aria-expanded=\"false\" \n                href=\"#details-0-0\">\n                ABR Pathway Requirements &amp; Logic            <\/button>\n\n        <\/h2>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"details-0-0\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse  oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-body oscitas-bootstrap-container\">The Four-Year Rule: To qualify for the ABR Diagnostic Radiology (DR) exams, IMGs must complete four years of continuous or discontinuous training at an ACGME-accredited institution.<br \/>\n\u2022 Retrospective Credit: International Medical Graduate (IMG) Radiology Fellows transferring to UNC from other programs may be eligible for up to 24 months of retrospective credit for prior U.S.-based radiology fellowships, though the final award of this credit remains subject to American Board of Radiology (ABR) approval.<br \/>\n\u2022 UNC Residency Integration: While distinct from the standard residency, Alternate Pathway trainees are integrated into our high-volume clinical services.<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n        \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"panel panel-default oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n    <div id=\"panel-heading-details-0-1\" class=\"panel-heading oscitas-bootstrap-container\" role=\"tab\">\n\n        <h2 class=\"panel-title oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n            <button class=\"accordion-toggle oscitas-bootstrap-container collapsed\" \n                id = \"button-details-0-1\"\n                data-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                data-parent=\"#unc-accordion-0\"    \n                aria-controls=\"#details-0-1\"  \n                aria-expanded=\"false\" \n                href=\"#details-0-1\">\n                Available Subspecialty Fellowships at UNC            <\/button>\n\n        <\/h2>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"details-0-1\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse  oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-body oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Alternate Pathway at UNC is supported by our comprehensive suite of subspecialty fellowships. Trainees typically rotate through these divisions or complete year-long fellowships in specific areas:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-weight: 400\">\n<li><strong>Abdominal Imaging:<\/strong> Focuses on high-level cross-sectional exams (CT\/MRI\/US) of the liver, kidneys, and transplant imaging.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship: <\/strong>A specialized track focusing on complex cardiovascular pathology. Training includes dedicated experience in Cardiac CT (Coronary CTA), Cardiac MRI (CMR), and advanced post-processing techniques. Rotations\u00a0 will be offered in Nuclear Cardiac Imaging &amp; Vascular Imaging.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Breast Imaging:<\/strong> A comprehensive 12-month program covering all facets of breast health, including mammography, US, and MRI-guided procedures.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cardiothoracic Radiology:<\/strong> Specialized training in cardiac MRI, Coronary CTA, and complex thoracic pathology.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Emergency Imaging:<\/strong> Training in the rapid interpretation of acute trauma and critical care imaging.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Musculoskeletal (MSK) Imaging:<\/strong> Interpretation of radiographs, CT, and MRI, alongside bone\/soft tissue biopsies and joint injections.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Neuroradiology:<\/strong> Advanced training in brain, spine, and head\/neck imaging.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Neurointerventional Radiology:<\/strong> A 24-month specialized program for minimally invasive neurovascular procedures.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cross-Sectional Imaging Fellowship: <\/strong>A comprehensive program emphasizing high-level diagnostic skills in CT, MRI, and Ultrasound. Fellows develop proficiency in protocol design, advanced 3-D imaging techniques, and percutaneous image-guided interventions across adult and pediatric populations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interventional Radiology (IR):<\/strong> Offers both Integrated and Independent pathways, focusing on image-guided therapies and oncology.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Interventional Oncology Fellowship:<\/strong> Fellows 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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n        \n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"panel panel-default oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n    <div id=\"panel-heading-details-0-2\" class=\"panel-heading oscitas-bootstrap-container\" role=\"tab\">\n\n        <h2 class=\"panel-title oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n            <button class=\"accordion-toggle oscitas-bootstrap-container collapsed\" \n                id = \"button-details-0-2\"\n                data-toggle=\"collapse\"\n                data-parent=\"#unc-accordion-0\"    \n                aria-controls=\"#details-0-2\"  \n                aria-expanded=\"false\" \n                href=\"#details-0-2\">\n                Contact Us            <\/button>\n\n        <\/h2>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div id=\"details-0-2\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse  oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-body oscitas-bootstrap-container\">\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\">For inquiries regarding the ABR Alternate Pathway or specific fellowship positions, please contact <a href=\"mailto:vbcarver@med.unc.edu\">Virginia B. Carver, Fellowship Coordinator<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Department of Radiology<\/strong> UNC School of Medicine Old Clinic Bldg, CB #7510 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7510 <strong>Website:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/education\/\">med.unc.edu\/radiology\/education<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n        \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<som-cell cell-info=\"{&quot;ID&quot;:8777,&quot;post_author&quot;:&quot;83776&quot;,&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-05-08 11:52:03&quot;,&quot;post_date_gmt&quot;:&quot;2026-05-08 15:52:03&quot;,&quot;post_content&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_title&quot;:&quot;IMG Pathway &#8211; Girish&quot;,&quot;post_excerpt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_status&quot;:&quot;publish&quot;,&quot;comment_status&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;,&quot;ping_status&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;,&quot;post_password&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_name&quot;:&quot;img-pathway-girish&quot;,&quot;to_ping&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;pinged&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_modified&quot;:&quot;2026-05-08 12:03:02&quot;,&quot;post_modified_gmt&quot;:&quot;2026-05-08 16:03:02&quot;,&quot;post_content_filtered&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_parent&quot;:0,&quot;guid&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.med.unc.edu\\\/radiology\\\/cell\\\/img-pathway-girish\\\/&quot;,&quot;menu_order&quot;:0,&quot;post_type&quot;:&quot;somcell&quot;,&quot;post_mime_type&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;comment_count&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;filter&quot;:&quot;raw&quot;}\" cell-meta=\"{&quot;_wpv_contains_gutenberg_views&quot;:[&quot;&quot;],&quot;_upd_sortorder&quot;:[&quot;1&quot;],&quot;layout&quot;:[&quot;RepeatableBoxes&quot;],&quot;cellInformation&quot;:[&quot;{\\&quot;singleCellBlocks\\&quot;:{\\&quot;imagePercent\\&quot;:50,\\&quot;imageMinHeight\\&quot;:350},\\&quot;repeatableBoxes\\&quot;:[{\\&quot;boxImage\\&quot;:\\&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.med.unc.edu\\\/radiology\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/1384\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/MSK_GirishGandikota_Web_220923.jpg\\&quot;,\\&quot;boxQuoteText\\&quot;:\\&quot;At the University of North Carolina, we are deeply committed to supporting and integrating international medical graduates through our ABR Alternate Pathway program. As someone who completed the ABR Alternate Pathway and trained in India, England, and Canada before joining UNC faculty, I understand firsthand the challenges and opportunities this journey presents.  Our department provides strong mentorship, clinical exposure, and institutional support to help candidates navigate the American Board of Radiology certification process and build successful academic careers. UNC offers an inclusive, collaborative environment where global perspectives are valued. We offer more than a pathway; we provide a professional home dedicated to long-term growth, excellence, and belonging.\\&quot;,\\&quot;boxBylineQuoteeName\\&quot;:\\&quot;Girish Gandikota, MD\\&quot;,\\&quot;boxBylineQuoteeProfileUrl\\&quot;:\\&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.med.unc.edu\\\/radiology\\\/people\\\/girish-gandikota\\\/\\&quot;,\\&quot;boxBylineQuoteeTitle\\&quot;:\\&quot;Senior Advisor NST Fellowships, Vice Chair Faculty Affairs, Division Chief of Musculoskeletal Radiology, MSK Fellowship Director, and Professor of Radiology\\&quot;}],\\&quot;boxCustomStyles\\&quot;:{\\&quot;includeBackgroundImage\\&quot;:0,\\&quot;backgroundColor\\&quot;:\\&quot;mediumBlue\\&quot;,\\&quot;columnLayout\\&quot;:\\&quot;0\\&quot;},\\&quot;blockType\\&quot;:\\&quot;imageBlocks\\&quot;,\\&quot;blockStyle\\&quot;:\\&quot;\\&quot;,\\&quot;boxType\\&quot;:\\&quot;imageBoxes\\&quot;,\\&quot;boxStyleOption\\&quot;:\\&quot;quote-boxes\\&quot;}&quot;],&quot;apiCallInformation&quot;:[&quot;{}&quot;]}\"><\/som-cell>\n<som-cell cell-info=\"{&quot;ID&quot;:8736,&quot;post_author&quot;:&quot;83776&quot;,&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2026-04-08 15:28:11&quot;,&quot;post_date_gmt&quot;:&quot;2026-04-08 19:28:11&quot;,&quot;post_content&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_title&quot;:&quot;About \\u2013 Clinical Divisions \\u2013 ABR Pathway \\u2013 Fellowships \\u2013 Half Image&quot;,&quot;post_excerpt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_status&quot;:&quot;publish&quot;,&quot;comment_status&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;,&quot;ping_status&quot;:&quot;closed&quot;,&quot;post_password&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_name&quot;:&quot;about-clinical-divisions-abr-pathway-fellowships-half-image&quot;,&quot;to_ping&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;pinged&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_modified&quot;:&quot;2026-04-08 15:29:35&quot;,&quot;post_modified_gmt&quot;:&quot;2026-04-08 19:29:35&quot;,&quot;post_content_filtered&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;post_parent&quot;:0,&quot;guid&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.med.unc.edu\\\/radiology\\\/cell\\\/about-clinical-divisions-abr-pathway-fellowships-half-image\\\/&quot;,&quot;menu_order&quot;:0,&quot;post_type&quot;:&quot;somcell&quot;,&quot;post_mime_type&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;comment_count&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;filter&quot;:&quot;raw&quot;}\" cell-meta=\"{&quot;_wpv_contains_gutenberg_views&quot;:[&quot;&quot;],&quot;_upd_sortorder&quot;:[&quot;1&quot;],&quot;layout&quot;:[&quot;SingleCellBlocks&quot;],&quot;cellInformation&quot;:[&quot;{\\&quot;singleCellBlocks\\&quot;:{\\&quot;imagePercent\\&quot;:50,\\&quot;imageMinHeight\\&quot;:350,\\&quot;mediaType\\&quot;:\\&quot;image\\&quot;,\\&quot;textAlignment\\&quot;:\\&quot;left\\&quot;,\\&quot;titleAccent\\&quot;:1,\\&quot;cellHeader\\&quot;:\\&quot;APPLICATION\\&quot;,\\&quot;cellText\\&quot;:\\&quot;For details on applying to our fellowship program, please click on the \\u201cApplication Information\\u201d tab below.\\&quot;,\\&quot;blockImage\\&quot;:\\&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.med.unc.edu\\\/radiology\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/1384\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/Application_AdobeStock_246476033-scaled.jpeg\\&quot;,\\&quot;addButton\\&quot;:\\&quot;true\\&quot;,\\&quot;buttonText\\&quot;:\\&quot;Application Information\\&quot;,\\&quot;buttonLink\\&quot;:\\&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.med.unc.edu\\\/radiology\\\/education\\\/graduate-medical-education-gme\\\/fellowship\\\/abr-alternate-pathway-for-international-medical-graduates-imgs\\\/application-overview\\\/\\&quot;,\\&quot;layoutImageRight\\&quot;:\\&quot;true\\&quot;,\\&quot;backgroundColor\\&quot;:\\&quot;white\\&quot;},\\&quot;repeatableBoxes\\&quot;:[],\\&quot;blockType\\&quot;:\\&quot;imageBlocks\\&quot;,\\&quot;blockStyle\\&quot;:\\&quot;halfImage\\&quot;}&quot;],&quot;apiCallInformation&quot;:[&quot;{}&quot;]}\"><\/som-cell>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The UNC Department of Radiology is committed to fostering global talent through the ABR Alternate Pathway. This four-year pathway is designed for exceptionally qualified radiologists trained outside the U.S. or Canada to achieve American Board of Radiology (ABR) certification while contributing to our clinical, educational, and research missions. Why UNC? Collaborative academic environment in Chapel &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/education\/graduate-medical-education-gme\/fellowship\/abr-alternate-pathway-for-international-medical-graduates-imgs\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about ABR Alternate Pathway for International Medical Graduates (IMGs)\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83776,"featured_media":0,"parent":244,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"layout":"","cellInformation":"","apiCallInformation":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-8727","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","odd"],"acf":[],"_links_to":[],"_links_to_target":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8727","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/83776"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8727"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8727\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8781,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8727\/revisions\/8781"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/radiology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}