A body radiology trainee in the reading room at Mayo Clinic

Graduate medical education in radiology at Mayo Clinic

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Overview

The Abdominal/Body Radiology Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, covers all facets of abdominal and pelvic imaging, including MRI, CT, and ultrasound (US).

The robust curriculum includes special emphasis on diseases of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems as well as comprehensive exposures to MRI, CT, and US that cannot be mastered in radiology residency training. As a fellow, you will work closely with abdominal imaging experts to gain the multimodality correlative skills necessary for a successful career in private and academic radiology practice.

#1

hospital in Arizona for 12 consecutive years (U.S. News, 2024-25)

Program highlights include:

  • Balanced curriculum covering fundamentals as well as advanced imaging methods, with room for adjustments depending on individual needs for each fellow.
  • Access to state-of-the-art equipment at Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona.
  • The fellowship offers ample experience with 3.0T and 1.5T MRI scanners and PET/MRI integrated with a 3.0T MRI, dual-energy CT, and contrast-enhanced US.
  • US-guided procedures including fluid aspiration, fine needle aspiration, and solid organ biopsy.
  • Up to two blocks of elective rotations within or outside of abdominal imaging.
  • Opportunities to be involved in nationally acclaimed clinical research endeavors.  
Mayo Clinic Abdominal/Body Radiology fellows looking at results

Your training experience

As a fellow at Mayo Clinic, you'll have access to robust clinical, educational, and research resources. You'll find support both inside and outside of the campus to promote physical and mental wellness and ensure your work/life balance.

Akira Kawashima, M.D., Ph.D.

Director's welcome

Welcome to the Abdominal/Body Radiology Fellowship program in Arizona. Our one-year, non-ACGME accredited program provides high-quality education and clinical training for graduates of diagnostic radiology residency programs.

Accreditation

The Abdominal/Body Radiology Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, is a non-ACGME accredited program.

Certification

Our graduates have a 100% pass rate on their American Board of Radiology Certification Exam.

Program history

Mayo Clinic's first Advanced Radiology fellowship began in the Department of Radiology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona in 2000 and we have trained over 110 fellows since. The Advanced Radiology Fellowship transitioned to three individual programs including Abdominal/Body Radiology (formerly Abdominal and Body Radiology MRI), Musculoskeletal Radiology, and Breast Imaging fellowships in 2021. We currently accept two Abdominal/Body Radiology fellows each year. We also have a strong, expanding residency program with six residents per class starting 2023 and one integrated IR resident per class starting 2024, and are careful not to dilute fellow or resident training by accommodating too many learners on any given rotation.

Video: The Arizona Experience

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Video: The Arizona Experience

Frequently asked questions (and answers)

What is the patient population like?

The majority of patients come from Arizona, surrounding states, Texas, and the Midwest. Our patient population is an adult population with diverse pathology including oncology and complex non-malignant conditions (e.g., transplant, cirrhosis, cholangitis, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, perianal fistula, pelvic floor disorder, endometriosis, urolithiasis, polycystic kidney and liver disease, inflammatory/infectious disease, and vascular conditions). Often, patients are referred to Mayo Clinic for evaluation by renowned experts, bringing complex cases from outside institutions to higher levels of care. Mayo Clinic in Arizona is also one of the largest organ transplant programs (e.g., liver, kidney, pancreas, bone marrow) in the United States. This patient population with diverse pathology makes our fellows proficient at handling complex clinical decisions.

Ethnic diversity and underserved populations are encountered at Mayo Clinic facilities.

How much autonomy will I have?

The intent of our Abdominal/Body Radiology Fellowship is to produce proficient, competent, and independent radiologists. As a fellow, you are responsible for all aspects of abdominal MRI, abdominal CT, and US exams, including protocols, monitoring of exam, interpretation, dictation, reporting, and consulting as a subspecialist with referring services and recommending additional studies as appropriate. U.S.-guided procedures are supervised by a staff radiologist. The opportunity to learn and perform more advanced US-guided procedures is available.

You will have graduated responsibility and act under the direct supervision of abdominal imaging and ultrasound staff. As you progress to an expected level, increasing clinical responsibility will be assigned. Participation in multidisciplinary conferences is also a graduated responsibility starting with attendance at conferences at the start of the fellowship year and working in a stepwise fashion to present cases towards the latter half of the year. You will be able to attend and participate in a broad array of multidisciplinary conferences, with rotating responsibilities throughout the year to allow ample participation in all the available conferences. Because the fellowship is only one year, we work hard to develop your skills so that you can be confident as an independent abdominal radiologist. 

What is the work-life balance like?

Our fellowship is designed to provide you with a multimodality education in abdominal imaging that prepare you to thrive in both academic and private practice settings. Fortunately, these academic rigors still afford fellows and their families the opportunity to enjoy activities outside of the workplace within the large Phoenix metropolitan area.

Phoenix currently ranks among the nation’s top five most populated cities, with 5.1 million people in the Phoenix metro area in 2023. The city offers numerous entertainment and cultural opportunities, including access to professional sporting events, theater, arts, museums, zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, and various leisure activities such as shopping, golf, trail hiking, and fine dining. On average, we see about 300 sunny days per year in Phoenix.

Many of our fellows have spouses, significant others, or children, and the program provides enough flexibility to allow them to train while still enjoying their families. We are a growing, medium-sized radiology department. Fellows and residents often find themselves more than just colleagues—they are close friends, frequently interacting outside the work environment, and report overall satisfaction with the work-life balance.  

What is the dress code?

The dress and decorum policy at Mayo Clinic provides the standards to maintain and convey Mayo Clinic’s focus on professionalism, quality, excellence, and safety. Professional dress and decorum are among the most visible ways we demonstrate mutual respect and putting the needs of patients first. The policy allows for flexibility. Suits are not required, but “business attire” (i.e., a tie) is recommended. Fellows wear scrubs and a white coat on appropriate hospital inpatient and on-call services.

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