Cancer Imaging Fellowship
Mission & Vision
To provide high-quality medical imaging with compassion and caring, and improve the quality of life of our patients and their families.
Mission & Vision
To provide high-quality medical imaging with compassion and caring, and improve the quality of life of our patients and their families.
Program Director’s Welcome
Thank you for your interest in our University of Miami/Jackson Health System Cancer Imaging Fellowship. We invite you to visit our medical center and the outstanding fellowship program that we offer. The program is based at an urban academic medical center in the heart of Miami. The two major teaching hospitals are Jackson Memorial Hospital, the county-owned and run hospital as part of Jackson Health System and UHealth Tower, a University of Miami Hospital and Clinics Facility.
Program Director’s Welcome
Thank you for your interest in our University of Miami/Jackson Health System Cancer Imaging Fellowship. We invite you to visit our medical center and the outstanding fellowship program that we offer. The program is based at an urban academic medical center in the heart of Miami. The two major teaching hospitals are Jackson Memorial Hospital, the county-owned and run hospital as part of Jackson Health System and UHealth Tower, a University of Miami Hospital and Clinics Facility.
Jackson Memorial Hospital offers a one-year cancer imaging fellowship funded by the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Miami. The fellowship includes both disease-based and modality-based training and provides a wealth of experience in both body computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, as well ultrasound, with extra time spent in positron emission tomography and interventional radiology. In addition to a rich clinical experience, fellows are provided with opportunities to teach residents and medical students and participate in journal club and weekly conferences, including multidisciplinary clinical conferences with renowned faculty. Fellows will also have the opportunity to participate with faculty in clinical research projects; engage in research activities for the assessment of new medications and will play an important role in the cancer staging and treatment planning alongside oncologists and surgeons.
Fellows will spend their time rotating through both Jackson Memorial Hospital (a 1,500-bed, tertiary hospital) and University of Miami Health System’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only NCI-designated cancer center in South Florida (and one of only two within the state of Florida). Both centers are high-volume clinical facilities, with state-of-the-art equipment.
Furthermore, our program follows the Precision Medicine Initiative, taking into account every patient’s individuality: variability in genes, environment and lifestyle. This method to patient care is particularly important to teach our fellows and emerging radiologists as it will allow doctors and researchers to predict more accurately which course of action to take in the treatment and prevention of certain diseases.
-R. Patricia Castillo, MD
Description
Fellows will spend their time rotating through both Jackson Memorial Hospital (a 1,500-bed, tertiary hospital) and University of Miami Health System’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only NCI-designated cancer center in South Florida (and one of only two within the state of Florida). Both centers are high-volume clinical facilities, with state-of-the-art equipment.
Furthermore, our program follows the Precision Medicine Initiative, taking into account every patient’s individuality: variability in genes, environment and lifestyle. This method to patient care is particularly important to teach our fellows and emerging radiologists as it will allow doctors and researchers to predict more accurately which course of action to take in the treatment and prevention of certain diseases.
-R. Patricia Castillo, MD
Fast Facts
Accreditation
None
Number of Fellows per Year?
4
Duration of Fellowship?
1 year
Clinical Experience
Year 1
The core curriculum follows general guidelines developed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Resident and Fellow Education for the Society of Abdominal Radiology.
Fellows will split their time rotating through Jackson Memorial Hospital, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Applebaum Diagnostic Imaging Center.
The fellow participates in daily interpretation of diagnostic and cancer screening, as well as problem-solving practice with imaging techniques and computer-aided detection/diagnosis, familiarizing themselves with the fundamentals of cancer detection, pathology, patient management, quality control and the use of standard dictation for the staging of cancer.
Fellows will make informed diagnostic and therapeutic decisions based on patient information and preferences using the latest information technology and scientific evidence, as well as the appropriate clinical judgment and appropriate use of laboratory and imaging studies.
Goals and Objectives
Interpersonal and Communication Skills:
Communicate effectively and professionally with colleagues, patients, referring physicians and staff regarding image issues, informed consents, results of tests or procedures and safety issues.
Medical Knowledge:
Understand the techniques and terminology of diagnostic cancer imaging, recognize the characteristics of benign and malignant lesions and demonstrate proficiency in the triage of different studies. Fellows should also be able to evaluate and adequately utilize magnetic resonance imaging in the detection and evaluation of certain cancers and be able to determine response to treatment in research studies using the multiple assessment criteria such as Choi, Lugano, RECIST and mRECIST.
Patient Care:
Provide compassionate, efficient and safe patient care through appropriate use of diagnostic radiology techniques, and effectively communicate results in an understandable way to patients, referring physicians and appropriate individuals, as needed.
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement:
Evaluate own performance and identify and apply scientific evidence to patient care.
Systems-Based Practice:
Exhibit understanding of equipment, the local healthcare system and any ramifications.
Your Faculty
Patricia Balcacer, MD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Radiology
V. Javier Casillas, MD
Professor, Clinical Radiology
R. Patricia Castillo, MD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Radiology
Chief, Abdominal Imaging
Director, Cancer Imaging and Body Imaging Fellowship Programs
Gisela Henriquez, MD
Voluntary Assistant Professor, Clinical Radiology
Beatrice Madrazo, MD
Professor, Clinical Radiology
Eduardo Scortegagna, MD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Radiology