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Loma Linda University Medical Center offers three accredited training pathways for those interested in interventional radiology.
All three training programs are designed to create outstanding interventional radiologists equipped to become pioneers and leaders within this exciting and rapidly evolving specialty.
1) Integrated IR/DR Residency
2) ESIR/DR Training Pathway
3) Independent IR Residency
The Integrated IR/DR Residency is a 5-year residency with emphasis on both diagnostic radiology (DR) and interventional radiology (IR), which is started after completing a preliminary year in surgery (preferred), medicine, or transitional year. The five-year residency curriculum focuses primarily on DR in the first three years with additional IR and clinical rotations, IR call and clinic exposure. In the final two years, focus shifts to predominantly IR to prepare graduates for jobs in both academic and private practice settings.
The program is designed to offer a combination of diagnostic and interventional radiology through a rich educational experience in image-based diagnosis, as well as image-guided procedural education, with a focus on peri-procedural patient management. Education in the integrated program fosters individual development and practice of technical skills, as well as clinical judgment. Selection to these “Advanced” positions (beginning in PGY-2 year, one full year after the match) occurs each March through the NRMP main match. We currently offer two positions per year.
While we do not have a linked internship in order to provide applicants with maximum flexibility, we have a strong working relationship with the Loma Linda University surgical residency leadership and many of our residents have completed a preliminary surgical internship at LLU.
Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR) is a training option for DR residents who decide they want to pursue a career in IR to expand their exposure to interventional radiology and the clinical management of IR patients. Diagnostic radiology residents who decide to seek training in IR must complete a two-year Independent IR Residency after graduation; however, completion of the ESIR pathway grants the trainee credit for 1 of the 2 required years.
ESIR training is completed within the 4-year diagnostic radiology residency. It requires a total of 11 interventional radiology or interventional radiology-related rotations (minimum of 44 weeks) and an ICU rotation of at least four continuous weeks. ESIR candidates must still complete the required year at an independent IR residency to finish their IR training and be eligible for the American Board of Radiology (ABR) IR/DR Certifying Exam.
Selection to the ESIR Pathway occurs at the end of the PGY-3 year. The program is approved for up to 3 ESIR positions per year, although availability may vary from year to year depending on current program complements.
The Loma Linda Radiology Program offers an ACGME-accredited independent IR residency program (sometimes referred to as a fellowship), for graduates of a DR program. This residency may be 1-2 years in length, depending on whether the trainee completed the ESIR pathway during their radiology residency.
The two years of the Independent IR Residency program are designed to closely mirror the PGY-5 and PGY-6 years of the Integrated IR/DR Residency. The number of Independent IR positions available each year will change depending on the current IR/DR residency and ESIR pathway complements.
Interventional radiology at LLUMC offers exposure to a wide variety of conditions and procedures. Trainees gain expertise in all of the major pillars of VIR, including peripheral arterial disease, complex venous pathology, interventional oncology, trauma intervention, biliary and transplant interventions, lymphatic disorders, etc. A strong, collegial relationship with vascular surgery, coupled with shared responsibilities for the PAD case load, offers our trainees a unique opportunity and excellent training in the treatment of patients with peripheral arterial disease, both clinically and procedurally.
In addition, we have a very active interventional oncology program that includes chemoembolization, radioembolization, cryoablation and RFA/MWA. We are also active in therapeutic procedures including uterine fibroid embolization, TIPS, IVC filter placement/retrieval, dialysis access interventions, DVT thrombolysis and thrombectomy, venous angioplasty, stenting, arterial embolization, endoleak embolization, and thoracic duct embolization. Nonvascular interventional procedures include, but are not limited to, biopsy and drainage throughout the body, hepatobiliary interventions including stone removal and biliary stenting, genitourinary interventions including access for PCNL, stone manipulation, stenting, stricturoplasty and management of leaks, and interventions of the GI tract including percutaneous gastrostomy, gastrojejunostomy, direct jejunostomy, cecostomy and tranesophageal feeding tubes.
Our division provides full interventional coverage for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, the only major pediatric hospital in the region. Our trainees gain unique experience in both routine and more rare, complex pediatric procedures like the embolization of vascular anomalies, lymphatic embolization and ablation of osteoid osteomas and other tumors. We staff a dedicated pediatric angiography lab two days a week, with additional pediatric interventions sprinkled throughout the daily schedule in our adult IR rooms.
Although the majority of time is spent at Loma Linda University Medical Center in an academic university hospital setting, our trainees are also exposed to the community-based radiology setting at nearby Redlands Community Hospital and an outpatient IR experience at Loma Linda University Surgical Hospital. Residents also gain valuable experience caring for military veterans during their time at the Loma Linda VA hospital. The high case volume and early, progressive trainee autonomy ensures a plethora of training opportunities and ultimately maximizes comfort with a large variety of techniques and patient management scenarios.
For DR residents, all IR call is taken during rotations on the IR service. For IR/DR and ESIR residents, the majority of IR call is taken during rotations on the IR service with additional sporadic calls when off service. Junior residents are typically paired with a senior IR resident to share call responsibilities. During the weekend, the team of residents are responsible for rounding on any IR admissions and consults with ongoing clinical needs and then discussing those patients with the call attending. Over the course of their training program, senior residents are given increasing decision-making autonomy with an attending physician always available. Procedures performed on call are generally limited to only the urgent or emergent, most commonly involving bleeding and sepsis from a variety of etiologies. As a level 1 trauma center, we play a critical role in the non-operative management of traumatic hemorrhage.
Loma Linda University Medical Center currently has 7 interventional suites for IR, neuro IR and pediatric interventions, equipped with high-quality ultrasound machines, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and intra-cardiac echo (ICE), 3D cone beam CT and roadmap capabilities. We possess a CT suite dedicated entirely to cross-sectional procedures such as biopsies, drains and ablations, with access to several more CT and MRI scanners throughout the campus for interventional use. Three additional ultrasound procedure rooms are utilized for procedures not requiring fluoroscopy or CT. Workstations are available in a common work area for reviewing studies and staffing consults. Attending physician offices are immediately adjacent to the procedural area and outpatient clinic space is just one floor below. Jeffrey L. Pettis Memorial Veterans’ Hospital and LLU Surgical Hospital are located within 3 miles of the main hospital with multiple rooms dedicated to IR procedures at each. Additional information about our facilities may be found here.
Applications to the Integrated IR/DR residency program will only be accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). A completed application requires 3 letters of recommendation. At least one letter of recommendation must be from a radiologist, preferably an interventional radiologist. Interview slots will be offered in October and will take place in December and January. All interviews will be conducted virtually.
Applications to the Independent IR residency (fellowship) program will also only be accepted through ERAS. Our program will consider both ESIR and non-ESIR applicants. A completed application requires 3 letters of recommendation including at least one from an interventional radiologist and one from your diagnostic radiology program director with information regarding ESIR pathway participation, if applicable. Interview slots will be offered in December or January and take place in February and March. All interviews will be conducted virtually.
Program Coordinator
Claudia de Dios Uribe
Program Director
Kyle Cooper, MD, IR/DR
Assistant Program Director
Mohammad Kassir, MD, IR/DR
Program Coordinator
M. Julie Whitaker
Program Director
Kyle Cooper, MD, RPVI