Vascular and Interventional Radiology (VIR) Fellowship

The Western Pennsylvania Hospital offers a fully accredited fellowship in vascular and interventional radiology (VIR).  Open to applicants who have completed an ACGME radiology residency, the fellowship consists of one-year of clinical training.  Following completion of the program, physicians should be prepared to successfully sit as candidates for all three sections of the interventional boards:  vascular diagnosis, vascular intervention, and non-vascular intervention. 

 

Vascular Diagnosis:  This combines the traditional use of angiography with newer non-invasive modalities such as CTA, MRA, and ultrasound.  Despite the increasing use of the less invasive alternatives, expertise in diagnostic angiography remains the centerpiece of the training program and is essential to becoming a practiced vascular interventionalist.  Peripheral vascular, renovascular, visceral, and neuroangiography are all regular parts of the training program.  There is also an extensive experience in hemodialysis fistula diagnosis and management.   

 

Vascular Interventions:  The section remains extremely active in peripheral vascular interventions.  Simple angioplasty and stenting (including drug-eluting stents) have been augmented by the development of an active program in endografting.  The VIR section places approximately sixty aortic endografts per year for the management of aneurysmal disease. These procedures are performed in conjunction with the vascular and cardiovascular surgery sections.  The section performs carotid stenting procedures and serves as an investigational site for the development of new carotid stents.  Embolotherapy is also emphasized both as a supportive technique for those patients undergoing endografting as well as a stand-alone approach to malignant (e.g., chemo-embolization) and non-malignant (e.g., uterine fibroid embolization) conditions.  Venous therapies include IVC filter placement, venous thrombolysis, and dialysis related procedures (eg., versus stenting, declotting procedures). 

 

Non-Vascular Interventions:  A wide variety of organ access procedures are included in the training program. CT and ultrasound guided access for diagnostic sampling (e.g., biopsy) as well as therapy (e.g., abscess drainage) are the core.  Biliary and GU procedures are included.  Experience with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) under CT and US guidance is part of the program as well. 

Program Director

 

Gordon K. McLean, M.D.

The Western Pennsylvania Hospital

4800 Friendship Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA  15224

Ph:  412.578.4810

Fax:  412.688.7751

 

Application Requirements

We will be accepting applications for the 2008/2009 Fellowship Program and will be participating in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Match. In the spring of 2007 or any time thereafter, you can register for the match at http://www.nrmp.org.

Please send the following application materials in care of Lilly Perry, VIR Fellowship at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital.

• Universal Application Form, which can be accessed at http://www.apdr.org/directors/docs/FellowshipApplication.doc
• Current C.V.
• Personal Statement
• Three letters of recommendation (one of which is to be from your residency program director)

 

Offers for personal interviews will be made upon application review by the Fellowship Application Review Committee. Completion of an accredited four-year radiology residency program is a requirement for acceptance. Membership in SIR is strongly recommended.

 

For more information, contact Lilly Perry at lperry1@wpahs.org.