Breast Imaging Fellowship

Columbia Radiology’s one-year dedicated Breast Imaging Fellowship provides advanced breast imaging training in our state-of-the-art Breast Imaging Center, including screening, diagnostic imaging, image-guided interventions, and image-guided localizations. The Breast Imaging Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) is part of a large tertiary referral center with a high-volume outpatient practice serving a mixed patient base, including a high-risk population. The annual volume of breast imaging studies includes over 30,000 mammograms and tomosynthesis exams, more than 5,000 ultrasounds, and more than 700 MRI exams. There are approximately 170 stereotactic core biopsies, 900 ultrasound-guided core biopsies, 120 MRI-guided core biopsies, and 500 pre-operative localization procedures performed each year. Learn more about the Division of Breast Imaging at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Clinical Experience

Fellows play an active role in interpreting diagnostic and screening mammography, tomosynthesis, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and outside film reviews and perform interventional procedures including MRI-guided breast biopsies. Fellows also play a central role in a weekly multidisciplinary case conference and participate in weekly teaching/interesting case conferences. Elective rotations are flexible and tailored to the fellow’s interest. There are opportunities to rotate through breast pathology, breast surgery, radiation oncology, and oncology, as well as exposure to NewYork-Presbyterian’s regional hospitals and Columbia’s outpatient center.

Schedule

There is no after-hours or overnight coverage for our breast imaging fellows. Fellows have a total of 23 vacation days and two personal days, which can be taken in any combination of days/weeks per fellow preference.

Facilities

Fellows train at our state-of-the-art Breast Imaging Center in northern Manhattan. The center features four mammography suites, four ultrasound machines, as well as prone and upright stereotactic biopsy capability. Reading rooms are located in the center, where fellows also read screening mammograms from the Avon Foundation Breast Imaging Center, a nearby outpatient facility which has three tomosynthesis mammography systems. Both facilities provide bilingual patient services for the Spanish speaking Washington Heights community. Breast MRI is performed at the newly renovated MRI Center, which features seven 3T MRI scanners and one research scanner.

Digital breast tomosynthesis suite at CUIMC's Breast Imaging Center.

Dr. Celin Chacko, left, teaches breast ultrasound using a gelatin mold.

Prone stereotactic breast biopsy system.

One of several reading rooms at CUIMC's Breast Imaging Center.

Front desk at CUIMC's newly renovated Breast Imaging Center.

MRI suite at CUIMC's state-of-the-art MRI Center, which features seven 3T MRI scanners and one 3T research scanner.

Research and Career Development

Fellows are scheduled for one day of Career Development time each week during which they may pursue individual interests. There are opportunities for projects in health disparities and global health as well as a robust research program that includes cutting-edge artificial intelligence research through the Computational Biomarkers Imaging Group (CBIG) and new multidisciplinary Center for Innovation in Imaging Biomarkers and Integrated Diagnostics (CIMBID).

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted starting November 1st and must be submitted by January 10th. U.S. applicants must be board-eligible or board-certified in radiology and have a license to practice medicine in New York state before the start of the fellowship.

To apply for the Breast Imaging Fellowship, please complete the online fellowship application and upload the requested materials.

Interview

Some applicants will be chosen for admission interviews, which are required before acceptance. Interviews will be offered virtually from late winter through the spring.

NRMP Match

Our program is participating in the NRMP match. The match is sponsored by the Society of Breast Imaging and is managed by the National Resident Matching Program (NMRP). In order to become a breast imaging fellow at Columbia, you must register with the radiology match.

Breast Imaging has implemented an all-in policy for the match. This means that programs participating in the match cannot extend any offers to candidates outside of the match. Applicants can withdraw from the match prior to the ranking deadline if they accept a position outside of the match.

Questions?

Please email questions to breastfellowship@cumc.columbia.edu.