Interventional Radiology

The Department of Radiology of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center offers a 1-year ACGME-accredited fellowship in Interventional Radiology to candidates who have completed an accredited residency program in diagnostic radiology, with 3 positions available each year. Additionally, visiting fellowships of varying lengths can be arranged on an individual basis for practicing radiologists. 

Program Information

Program Director:	Michael Bettmann, MD
Section Secretary:	Sherry Broadstreet sbroadst@wakehealth.edu
Address:	Department of Radiology Wake Forest School of Medicine Medical Center Boulevard Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1088
Phone:	336-716-2463
Fax:	336-716-2029
ACGME Accreditation:	Yes

Clinical Training Offered

All diagnostic vascular and all image-guided interventional procedures

Organization of Fellowship

This 1-year fellowship offers extensive vascular and interventional training, as well as participation in both clinical and basic research.

The Interventional Radiology Section at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center performs more than 5,000 procedures annually, covering the entire spectrum of diagnostic and interventional radiology. These include:

•  Diagnostic arteriography and venography 
•  Angioplasty 
•  Vascular stenting 
•  Thrombolysis 
•  Dialysis access maintenance 
•  Embolotherapy 
•  Vena cava filter placement 
•  Intravascular foreign-body retrieval 
•  Central venous catheter insertion 
•  Percutaneous biliary and genitourinary interventions 
•  Percutaneous gastrostomy and jejunostomy 
•  Percutaneous abscess drainage and biopsy 
•  Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts 

More recently introduced procedures include catheter-directed thrombolysis for the management of iliofemoral venous thrombosis, carotid, vertebral, and renal artery stenting, uterine artery embolization for the treatment of fibroids, and percutaneous radiofrequency tumor ablation and chemoembolization, and treatment of varicose veins.

In addition to the performance of a wide variety of vascular and interventional radiologic procedures, each fellow gains extensive clinical experience in the pre- and post-procedural management of patients who are candidates for intervention, both in the IR clinical area and in the dedicated IR Clinic facility. 

A didactic core curriculum in vascular and interventional radiology is provided. Fellows receive instruction in the performance and assessment of noninvasive laboratory techniques and play an active role in the performance and interpretation of duplex ultrasound, MRA and CTA.

The special procedures area includes 5 state-of-the-art angiography suites, a holding area, a reception area and conferencing facilities. A dedicated color duplex ultrasound unit is available for vascular imaging and procedural guidance. Six fast reconstructing computed tomography scanners, 4 magnetic resonance imaging units, and a positron emission tomography scanner with cyclotron are also available within the department.

Participation in both clinical and basic research is encouraged. Financial support is provided for each fellow to attend 1 medical education meeting. Fellows receive additional support for travel to any major meeting at which they present a scientific paper.

There are daily teaching/work conferences and a written fellowship curriculum.

Faculty

Our faculty consists of 5 full-time interventional radiologists whose training and interests cover all areas of vascular and interventional radiology.

Michael Bettmann, MD Fellowship Director
Hollins P. Clark, MD
Christopher Conley, MD
Brian Kouri, MD
John D. Regan, MD
Jay A. Requarth, MD

Personnel also include a PA, as well as a RN who perform all PICC placements.

Application Procedure

We are currently accepting applications for fellowships to begin July 1, 2011 and July 1, 2012. Radiology residents who desire to begin a fellowship immediately following the completion of their residency should apply in the spring of their 3rd year of radiology residency. 

Minimum qualifications for the fellowship include successful completion of a diagnostic radiology residency and ability to obtain a license to practice medicine in North Carolina. A personal interview is required unless there are exceptional circumstances.

A completed application consists of the following:

•  Completed Fellowship Application  
•  Curriculum vitae  
•  Personal statement or letter of interest explaining career choices and goals 
•  Letter of recommendation from radiology residency program director 
•  Dean's letter from medical school 
•  Two additional letters of recommendation 
•  Photograph (optional, for identification) 

Completed applications, letters of recommendation and supporting documents should be addressed to Ms. Sherry Broadstreet. Requests for application materials and inquiries concerning interview arrangements, the receipt of materials, and administrative details of the application process should be addressed to Ms. Broadstreet at sbroadst@wakehealth.edu