Vascular & Interventional Radiology Fellowship

The Vascular and Interventional Radiology division of the Department of Radiology at Loma Linda University Medical Center offers 3 fellowship positions each year. The one year fellowship consists of rotations at Loma Linda University Medical Center and Surgical Hospital. The fellowship also offers elective time in non-invasive vascular imaging lab.

Clinical Work

The fellowship offers exposure to a vast variety of cases. Fellows gain expertise in all the major pillars of the field of Vascular Interventional Radiology (VIR), including peripheral arterial disease, interventional oncology, trauma intervention, biliary and transplant interventional, etc. The strength through collaboration with vascular surgery in sharing the PAD case load offers our fellows a unique opportunity and a great training in treating peripheral arterial disease, both clinically and technically. Our fellows are primary operators in such procedures with both the interventionalists and vascular surgeons. In addition, we have a very active interventional oncology program that includes chemoembolization, radioembolization, cryoablation and RFA. We are also active in therapeutic procedures including uterine fibroid embolization, TIPS, IVC filter placement/retrieval, dialysis access interventions, DVT thrombolysis, venous angioplasty, stenting, arterial embolization, endoleak embolization, varicose vein ablation, thoracic duct embolization. Nonvascular interventional procedures cover biopsy and drainage of all the major organ systems, liver and biliary tract, GU tract, portal system and GI tract, including percutaneous gastrostomies and jejunostomies). Finally, without dedicated pediatric IR staff on site, our division provides full coverage for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, the only major pediatric hospital in the region. Our fellows gain unique experience in routine and exotic, high-end pediatric procedures alike. Although a majority of time is spent at Loma Linda University Medical Center, in an academic university hospital setting, our fellows are also exposed to the community-based radiology setting at the Surgical Hospital. Our caseload is more than adequate, giving the benefit of having only 3 fellows per year. The fellows work in a collegial fashion in sharing and dividing high-end procedures.

Educational Conferences and Resources

Weekly conferences include liver tumor conference and joint vascular conference run by vascular surgery and VIR. Monthly Morbidity and Mortality conferences give a unique opportunity to learn from past mistakes and to achieve better future outcome in patient care. Morning rounds where all the cases of the day are discussed provide learning experience for the fellows to brainstorm and plan. All fellows are encouraged to participate in research with a mentor. All fellows are also given opportunity to attend one conference each year.

Physical Facility

We are currently equipped with two interventional suites at the main medical center and one at the Surgical Hospital. Multiple digital workstations are available in the common work area for reviewing studies. All three hospitals are within very short driving distance of one another. Ultrasound machines are available in all of the interventional suites. State-of-the-art CT and PET-CT scanners are available for non-vascular procedures such as biopsies and drainages.