This program was initiated in 1965 as one of the first 11 Neuroradiology training programs in North America to be recognized and funded by the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness. It was accredited by the ACGME in 1993.
Candidates for fellowship must have satisfactorily completed an accredited residency training program in diagnostic radiology in North America or a program of comparable quality and duration within their home country must be eligible for examination in diagnostic radiology by the American Board of Radiology (ABR).
One Year Fellowship
The fundamental purpose of the one year fellowship program is to provide in depth experience and training in all facets of modern clinical neuroradiology. Specifically, fellows are trained in the design, supervision and interpretation of diagnostic MR and CT imaging studies of the brain, head and neck, and spine, including MR and CT angiography, MR spectroscopy and functional MR imaging studies. Extensive experience is also provided in the performance and interpretation of diagnostic and interventional neuroradiological procedures including cervicocerebral angiography, percutaneous image guided biopsy and drainage of head, neck and spine masses and myelography, epidural nerve blocks and related spine procedures.
The Division of Neuroradiology staff includes 8 full time academic CAQ eligible or certified neuroradiologists and provides complete neuroradiological coverage for the three major teaching hospitals of the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center: University of Minnesota Medical Center - Fairview, Hennepin County Medical Center and Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. All three institutions are well equipped with multiple 1.5T and 3.0T clinical MR scanners, multichannel CT scanners and state of the art equipment for angiography and image guided diagnostic and interventional procedures. Particular emphasis is placed on image guided surgical treatment of neurological disorders; both UMMC-F and HCMC have well utilized intraoperative MR units.
Teaching is designed to encourage the curiosity and innovative thinking of the trainee and the development of sound clinical judgment as well as to motivate a strong interest in clinical and basic research. Supervision in performance of invasive procedures is tailored to the needs and abilities of the fellow. The Neuroradiology division’s major didactic activity is a weekly clinical sciences conference with responsibility for topic presentation by both clinical staff and neuroradiology fellows. Together with the Neuroradiology faculty, the fellows also present the weekly Neuroradiology review conference for the residents in diagnostic radiology.
The fellow participates actively in all interdisciplinary conferences including a weekly conference with neurology and neurosurgery, daily working conferences with adult neurology, a monthly conference with pediatric neurology, a weekly brain tumor board with neurosurgery and oncology and a weekly head and neck oncology conference, all at FUMC, as well as a weekly neurology-neurosurgery-neuroradiology conference at HCMC.
Second Fellowship Year
There are several possible pathways for the individual electing a second year of fellowship training. These include dedicated emphasis in MR imaging research, pediatric neuroradiology, head and neck radiology and MR guided intervention.
Cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases are major areas of interest in the University of Minnesota’s Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurology. As well, neuro-oncology is a major focus of both Neurosurgery and Neuroradiology. Head and neck cancer is a significant program in the Department of Otolaryngology, with the Departments of Otolaryngology and Neurosurgery combining to form the Skull Base Center. University of Minnesota Medical Center-Fairview also houses a widely recognized bone marrow transplant center which has achieved worldwide recognition; the large number of patients with neoplastic, metabolic and genetic disorders provides a most interesting additional clinical and research imaging opportunity.
Advanced MR research studies, including functional MR imaging are performed on the whole body human 3.0T, 4.0T and 7.0T magnets at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), a unique and world renowned high field MR basic research center. In addition, the CMRR houses three animal-size dedicated research magnets at 4.7T, 5.0T and 9.4T, The CMRR is a component of the Department of Radiology with a large staff of research scientists, and collaborative research opportunities are available to second year Neuroradiology fellows.