• To train fellows to become efficient, practical, and skilled in the multi-modality imaging of rheumatologic disease and sports related injuries including conventional radiography, CT, arthography, ultrasound and MRI.
• To train fellows to become proficient in orthopedic oncologic imaging including conventional radiography, ultrasound, CT, and MRI.
• To train fellows to become efficient, practical, and skilled in the preoperative workup and postoperative imaging of orthopedic patients including the recognition of possible complications using a multi-modality approach.
• To train fellows to become skilled in the selection, performance and interpretation of image guided intervention including fluoroscopy, CT and ultrasound guided musculoskeletal therapeutic procedures including fenestrations and steroid injections.
• To provide fellows the training and experience to become expert imaging consultants in the subspecialty of musculoskeletal imaging. 
• To provide the opportunity for scholarly activity, including presentations at conferences, lectures and clinical research.
• To provide structure and support for the fellow to improve their teaching skills through active educational opportunities with medical students, residents and other clinical fellows.

The Musculoskeletal Division of the UMass Chan Radiology Department is staffed by seven, fellowship-trained radiologists who are committed to medical student training and graduate medical education. MSK Imaging Fellows are an integral member of the division, participating in daily patient care and facilitating the performance, interpretation, and timely reporting of MSK imaging studies. Fellows are also an essential member in the work-up and performance of MSK interventional procedures.

A wide range of diagnostic services including radiography, US, CT, MRI, and arthrography are complemented by an active MSK interventional service providing diagnostic arthrography, joint injections, and bone and soft tissue biopsies.

Fellows are exposed to a diverse patient population with a wide range of musculoskeletal disease processes in both the hospital and outpatient settings. Our referrals include orthopedics, rheumatology, orthopedic oncology, spine, podiatry and sports medicine.

The fellows responsibilities include assisting the attending staff in resident education and training. The fellowship focuses on achieving a comprehensive understanding of the basic principles of MSK imaging including MRI and CT imaging protocol optimization for sports medicine, bone and soft tissue neoplasms, rheumatologic disease and arthrography.

In addition to clinical activities, the fellows are trained in research methodology, manuscript preparation, and other activities essential to an academic career and objective interpretation of medical literature. Fellows will also receive formal white belt LEAN training as part of their formal training in quality, patient safety and process improvement.  This formal training will be part of a comprehensive instruction in quality, safety and process improvement within the MSK fellowship curriculum.  As part of this curriculum, the fellow will work with the Fellowship Director to develop a process improvement project which can be implemented during the academic year.

Fellows are encouraged to participate in current research projects or initiate projects under supervision of the MSK faculty. Academic time is provided throughout the year for the fellow to work on research interests. Fellows are expected to submit/present an abstract at the annual SSR conference or other national meeting and will be encouraged to complete one manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Radiology resident teaching conferences are held throughout the year and fellows are welcome to attend these conferences, as service duties allow. MSK radiology-specific conferences are held between two to three times per month. Fellows are expected to prepare and present at least two conferences for the diagnostic radiology residents during their fellowship.

Additional conferences are provided including:

• MSK conference held each Friday morning by the MSK radiology division. This informal conference is designed to assist resident, fellows and attending physicians to improve performance, disseminate new medical knowledge, improve patient safety and promote evidence-based medicine. Interesting cases, quality process improvements and articles are discussed.
• Radiology Grand Rounds are held throughout the year with prestigious visiting and local professors, offering the opportunity to meet and learn from leading national authorities on a wide variety of topics.
• Fellows are expected to take a central role in preparing for and conducting interdisciplinary conferences with the radiology faculty. This includes interdisciplinary conferences with Rheumatology, Orthopedics, and Oncology.

UMass Memorial Medical Center (UMMMC) is a 682 bed tertiary care hospital and the major teaching hospital for the UMass Chan Medical School. UMMMC is Worcester county’s only Level I trauma center and the referral center for central New England.
 
Fellows will rotate primarily at the UMMMC University Campus with some clinical time spent at the UMass Memorial Medical Imaging Center (UMMIC), our outpatient MRI center.
 
University Campus is located on Lake Avenue North and is home to the UMass Chan Medical School and its research facilities. UMMMC’s trauma center and ambulatory care center (ACC) are located on this campus providing a large volume of orthopedic cases. University Campus is the primary site of all MSK ultrasound examinations and all image guided MSK interventional cases are performed at this campus.

Memorial Campus is home for the Arthritis and Joint Center and Rheumatology Department. MSK diagnostic imaging studies performed on the Memorial Campus are read via PACs by the MSK division.

UMMIC is located on Shrewsbury Street just minutes from University and Memorial Campuses. UMMIC is the outpatient MRI imaging center for UMMMC housing two 1.5T and one 3T MR systems. PET-CT is also performed at this site and interpreted by the Nuclear Medicine Division. Arthrograms are performed here by the MSK division.

Additional MSK diagnostic imaging studies are performed at our community hospitals (UMass Memorial – Marlborough Hospital, UMass Memorial – Health Alliance Hospital, and UMass Memorial – Harrington Hospital). MSK diagnostic images studies are also performed at outpatient centers in local communities, including sports medicine and orthopedic subspecialists cases performed at Hahnemann Campus as well as community sites in Westborough, Milford, Uxbridge and Barre. Studies performed at these sites are interpreted via PACs by the MSK division.

Clinical Facilities include:

• 8 CT scanners including 1 Siemens dual energy CT
• 10 MR systems including 2 GE 3T Pioneer magnet
• 1 PET/CT
• 12 Phillips iU22 for diagnostic and interventional examinations
• 2 dedicated C-arms for fluoroscopic MSK interventional cases.

Positions Available: 2 per year
Length of Fellowship: 12 months
ACGME: Yes
NRMP Fellowship Match: Yes
Application Dates: Begin accepting 2025 applications: November 1, 2023
Interview Dates: January through March

Contact Information:
Fellowship Coordinator
Tel: 508-856-5745
Fax: 508-856-5774
RadiologyFellowship@umassmed.edu

Requirements:
Applicants must have completed a radiology residency program accredited by the ACGME by the time they begin their fellowship at UMMMC. Applicants must be certified or eligible for certification by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) or equivalent. Acceptance is contingent on obtaining an unrestricted Massachusetts medical license by start date of Fellowship.

Applications must include:

• SSR Common Application for MSK Imaging - Download Application (PDF)
• Personal Statement
• Curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from your residency program director
• USMLE and/or COMLEX scores
  
  • Fellowship applicants need to have passed ALL USMLE scores, Step 1, Step 2CK, Step 2CS and Step 3 (UMass Chan REQUIREMENT).
  • Applications that are missing USMLE Step 3 will not be considered.

Candidates will be considered for interviews once all application materials are received. Letters of Recommendation should be addressed to the respective Program Director and emailed to RadiologyFellowship@umassmed.edu, directly by your Program Coordinator or letter writer.

Musculoskeletal Imaging Fellowship Program