Abdominal Radiology Fellowship

The Abdominal Radiology Fellowship is a one-year comprehensive, structured, ACGME-approved fellowship comprising clinical, teaching, and research activity in all aspects of abdominal imaging using all available modalities. There is extensive participation in abdominal MRI (MRI 5 blocks, CT 2 blocks, US 2 blocks, 4 flexible blocks including elective time, MSK, and PET-CT. Body biopsies on US block and throughout the year.). The patient population and clinical experience represent both a comprehensive outpatient setting and inpatient tertiary referral center with a high volume of oncology, surgery, gastroenterology, transplantation, and emergency referrals. Fellows will learn to perform and interpret 3D CT angiography, virtual colonoscopy, MRI of the prostate, and other cutting-edge diagnostic studies. In May 2018, we opened a Level One adult trauma center which increased the fellow’s experience in trauma imaging. Fellows participate in gastrointestinal and genitourinary examinations including video fluoroscopy, dynamic proctography, oropharyngeal motility studies, etc.

The Abdominal Radiology fellowship program is ACGME approved.

Resources: The MRI experience includes cutting-edge, dedicated liver, pancreas, prostate, adrenal, renal and pelvic imaging plus MR angiography, enterography, cholangiography, and MRI-guided interventions such as focal laser ablation of prostate cancer and MR guided in bore and MR-ultrasound fusion prostate biopsies, and offers the opportunity to participate in the non-abdominal application. The section conducts approximately 325 MRI of prostate procedures a year.

There are 9 MRI scanners for clinical procedures, including five 1.5T and four 3T magnets with software and hardware for fast imaging sequences, endoluminal imaging, MRA and MRCP. In addition, there are two (1.5 and 3 Tesla) dedicated research MR scanners and a small bore high field strength MR (9.4 Tesla) for specimen and small animal imaging.

State-of-the-art CT, ultrasound, and fluoroscopic equipment are also utilized. CT equipment includes seven scanners, including three 256 scanners, three 64 slice scanners, and one 128 slice scanner, all with iterative does reduction software. A GE dual-energy CT scanner was recently installed. The section conducts 75 CT virtual colonoscopy procedures a year.

Ultrasound equipment includes eight high-end units including procedural guidance, 3-D, elastography, and image fusion software. In addition, ultrasound offers all routine abdominal studies, plus small parts ultrasound, gynecologic ultrasound including endovaginal ultrasound, percutaneous biopsies, prostate biopsies, color and spectral Doppler vascular and transplant studies.

Research: Fellows participate in resident teaching and are encouraged to participate in research. Recent research topics include prostate MR with whole-mount correlation, MR-guided HIFU of prostate cancer, MR lymphography, and CT colonography.  Initiatives in continuous quality improvement including design review and evaluation of integrated PACS tools for accurate and efficient cancer patient lesion tracking and reporting.

Application Process: 

We will fill two Abdominal Radiology Fellowship positions starting academic year 2026. Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year (July, 2026 – June 30, 2027) will be accepted starting November 1, 2024.

Please note that, in accordance with SCARD recommendations, no formal interviews will be conducted before January 13, 2025, and interviews will be completed by March 31, 2025.  All interviews will be conducted by Zoom. Formal offers commence January 27, 2024.  Applicants have until January 29th to accept or decline any offer made before January 27th. For any offer made on or after January 29th the candidate has a 1-day grace period to accept or decline the offer.

Note that international candidates (i.e., applicants form programs that are neither ACME OR RCPS  programs) are excluded from these embargo guidelines. If positions are unfilled by March 31, 2025, the interview process will continue until the positions are filled.

Applicants must have a valid medical license in Illinois, must have completed a residency in diagnostic radiology, and must be board-certified or board-eligible in diagnostic radiology.  International medical graduates must have completed a residency in diagnostic radiology in their country of origin and have a valid, current radiology board certification from their country of origin. These candidates must be eligible to obtain a license to practice medicine in Illinois and must have a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates certification requiring clearance of U.S. Medical Licensing Examination steps 1, 2 and 3. All applications must be complete (including all letters of recommendation, addressed to Drs. Abraham Dachman & Grace Lee) to be considered. 

The full guidelines can be found at: Policies (scardweb.org)

Please scan and email your completed application including required materials and letters of recommendation to Adrian Gutierrez at 
adrian.gutierrez@bsd.uchicago.edu.  

Click here for the Abdominal Radiology application.

Links to Faculty Profiles:

Paul Chang, MD
Professor of Radiology
Vice Chair Informatics

Abraham Dachman, MD
Professor of Radiology
Director of Fellowship Program

Brian Funaki, MD
Professor of Radiology
Section Chief, Interventional Radiology

Ahmed Hamimi, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiology

Carla B. Harmath, MD
Associate Professor of Radiology
Section Chief, Abdominal Radiology

Bora Kalaycioglu ,MD 
Assistant Professor of Radiology

Grace Lee, MD.
Assistant Professor of Radiology

Aytekin Oto, MD, MBA
Professor of Radiology
Professor of Surgery
Director, Body MR

Irai Santana de Oliveira, MD.
Assistant Professor of Radiology

Reza Sirous, MD.
Assistant Professor of Radiology