Body MRI

Accepting Applications for July 2024—June 2025

Goal

The fellowship in Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging is designed to provide advanced and dedicated training in all aspects of body and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Length of Program

Twelve months

Qualifications

The successful candidate must have American Board of Radiology eligibility or certification, USA citizenship, J1 visa (or a permanent resident visa), and be able to obtain a Texas Medical License.

Positions Available

Three positions are available.

Applications and Appointment to Interview

Application form
Curriculum vitae
Personal statement
Copy of Medical Diploma and Internship Certificate
Three Letters of Recommendation (one from your Residency Director or Head of Department – current employment)
A copy of your Board Certification, if applicable
A current passport-size photograph

Clinical Emphasis

The fellowship provides a broad-based integrated experience in magnetic resonance imaging including cardiac (viability, functional assessment, masses), brachial plexus, temporal mandibular joint, liver (LI-RADS, Eovist), body, prostate (PI-RADS, MRI guided biopsies), MR bleeding studies, Bone marrow survey, MR neurography, MR elastography, MR enterography, MR lymphangiography (non-contrast, gadolinium-based contrast-enhanced), MRCP (Secretin-enhanced), musculoskeletal emergencies, vascular (Non-contrast, Gadolinium-based contrast-enhanced, Feraheme contrast-enhanced), pediatric (appendicitis, infections, neoplasm, congenital abnormalities), MR urography (functional, anatomic) and fetal; The patient population includes high-risk obstetric patients, cardiac, trauma, renal, pancreas, cardiac and liver transplant patients, as well as general medical, surgical and pediatric patients.

Facilities, Faculty, and Equipment

Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center: Memorial Hermann-TMC is a 1082-bed tertiary care facility with an emphasis in trauma care and transplant surgery. Within Memorial Hermann-TMC is Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, a 278 bed children’s hospital that is a major regional pediatric referral center. Memorial Hermann-TMC is also home to the Heart and Vascular Institute and Mischer Neuroscience Institute, making Memorial Hermann-TMC one of the preeminent institutions in the region for treatment of cardiovascular and neurologic disease. Memorial Hermann-TMC is currently in the process of building a new 15-story building to house the Texas Trauma Institute, scheduled for completion in early 2020. This project will result in significant expansion of the emergency center with increase in emergency center imaging facilities.

The Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center Emergency Center is one of the busiest Level 1 Trauma Centers in the country, being one of only two Level 1 Trauma Centers in a region of 9 million people. Memorial Hermann is also the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the region with a helipad, accepting critical patients from within a 150 mile radius.

Memorial Hermann-TMC Outpatient Imaging Department: The Memorial Hermann-TMC outpatient imaging department is located within the outpatient medical plaza across the street from Memorial Hermann-TMC hospital. The imaging center is self-contained, with both 1.5T and 3T MRI, CT, US, mammographic, radiographic, fluoroscopic, and nuclear medicine facilities on site as well as daily musculoskeletal procedures. The medical plaza is home to multiple specialties, including orthopedics, rheumatology, PM & R, and oncology. The clinical Sports Medicine Institute is currently undergoing a dramatic expansion, with significant increase in number of dedicated orthopedic specialists who specialize in the care of high-end sports athletes, as well as joint replacement, physical therapy, and general orthopedics.

Lyndon B. Johnson County Hospital: LBJ hospital is a 200 bed level 3 hospital acute-care facility, is 1 of 2 major hospitals that are part of Harris Health System which is a fully integrated healthcare system that cares for all residents of Harris County, Texas, includes 23 ambulatory care centers and is a designated nationally accredited healthcare institution by the NCQA as a Patient-Centered Medical Home. LBJ has a fully integrated EMR, PACS, PS360 Voice recognition system and IT infrastructure, is completely serviced by UTHealth and its subspecialties, and has one of the largest level III trauma centers in the nation. LBJ is a leader in quality improvement.

The LBJ Department of Radiology has two 64 slice CT scanners (GE, Phillips), and one 16 slice GE scanner, and a system wide advanced imaging thin client with 3D applications (Vital Images). The Radiology Department performs approximately 3200 CT studies per month, of which about 60% are body imaging cases which include multiphase liver, pancreas, and renal studies, CT urography, enterography, cystography and coronary CT angiography. The Body Imaging section reads these studies and all CT angiography studies.

MRI Equipment Breakdown

Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center: A total of 9 MRI Units: GE 1.5T x 2, GE 3.0T x1, Philips 3T x 3, Philips 1.5T x 1, Seimens 1.5T x 1, Seimens 3.0T x 1. All inpatient magnets are equipped with cardiac MRI capability. Philips 3T magnet equipped with MR Elastography and an InVivo Prostate Biopsy Unit.

LBJ Hospital: GE 1.5T x 1

Conferences and Research Opportunities

At MH-TMC there are weekly interdisciplinary conferences in fetal, liver, urology and female pelvic oncology and monthly in gastroenterology. There are ongoing research and quality improvement projects involving within the Body Imaging section providing opportunities for participation.

At LBJ there are biweekly interdisciplinary conferences in abdominal and pelvic oncology and medical gastroenterology. There are ongoing research and quality improvement projects involving CT and MRI within the Body Imaging section providing opportunities for participation.

Program Director

Larry A. Kramer, MD
Professor of Radiology
Chief of Body and Cardiac MRI

Application and Information Contact

Verlincia Williams
Senior Program Manager
6431 Fannin, MSB 2.010A
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 713-500-7488
Fax: 713-500-7463