Interventional Radiology

Clinical Work

Interventional radiology at LLUMC offers exposure to a wide variety of conditions and procedures. Trainees gain expertise in all the major pillars of the field of VIR, including peripheral arterial disease, complex venous pathology, interventional oncology, trauma intervention, biliary and transplant interventions, lymphatic disorders, etc. The strength through collaboration with vascular surgery in sharing the PAD case load offers our trainees a unique opportunity and a great training in treating peripheral arterial disease, both clinically and technically. Our trainees are primary operators in such procedures with both the interventional radiologists and vascular surgeons. In addition, we have a very active interventional oncology program that includes chemoembolization, radioembolization, cryoablation and RFA. We are also active in therapeutic procedures including uterine fibroid embolization, TIPS, IVC filter placement/retrieval, dialysis access interventions, DVT thrombolysis, venous angioplasty, stenting, arterial embolization, endoleak embolization, and thoracic duct embolization. Nonvascular interventional procedures cover biopsy and drainage of all the major organ systems, liver and biliary tract, GU tract, portal system and GI tract, including percutaneous gastrostomies and jejunostomies). Finally, our division provides full interventional coverage for Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, the only major pediatric hospital in the region. Our trainees gain unique experience in routine and exotic, high-end pediatric procedures alike. Although a 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 the Heart and Surgical Hospital; residents also gain valuable experience during their time at the VA hospital. The high case volume and early, progressive trainee autonomy ensures a plethora of training opportunities and ultimately leads to trainees gaining comfort with a large variety of techniques.

Educational Conferences and Resources

Weekly conferences include liver tumor conference and a multidisciplinary vascular conference run by IR and vascular surgery. Morbidity and Mortality conferences occur monthly, and provide a unique opportunity to learn from past mistakes and to achieve better future outcomes in patient care. Journal Club takes places monthly at a nearby restaurant; residents take turns analyzing and presenting articles, gaining valuable insight on how to critically review the literature. Each morning, all planned procedures for the day are discussed with the residents and attendings on service, providing an opportunity to discuss clinical management, varying technical approaches, and evidence-based medicine.. All trainees are encouraged to participate in research with a mentor. All trainees are also given opportunity to attend one conference each year.

Facilities

We are currently equipped with two interventional suites at the main medical center with full 3D cone-beam CT technology, as well as one neuro IR suite and a full interventional suite at the Heart and Surgical Hospital. Ultrasound machines are available in all of the interventional suites. State-of-the-art CT and PET-CT scanners are available for non-vascular procedures such as biopsies and drainages. With the opening of the new hospital campus in 2021, IR procedure space is planned to increase, including a dedicated pediatric interventional room and a CT scanner dedicated to interventional procedures. Several additional procedure rooms are utilized throughout the system for procedures which do not require fluoroscopy or CT. Multiple digital workstations are available in the common work area for reviewing studies. All three hospitals are within a very short driving distance of one another (less than 3 miles). More general information about the facilities may be found here.

Applicant Information:

Applications to the radiology program for the March 2021 match will be accepted only through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The residency program requires 3 letters of recommendation. Though it is not required to have a letter from a radiologist, it is suggested. Initial interviews will take place October/November, with possible additional interview dates.