A message from our program director
The Nuclear Radiology Fellowship at Penn Medicine strives to produce superb nuclear medicine physicians. Our educational program and clinical rotations provide subspecialized exposure to each facet of nuclear medicine, including PET/CT, general nuclear medicine, cardiac nuclear medicine, radionuclide therapies, and research. The world-class faculty at Penn create an inclusive and fun learning environment. Our graduates have proved highly coveted in the job market, in both academic and private practice. I invite you to apply!
- Austin R. Pantel, MD, MSTR
Nuclear Radiology Fellowship Program Director
Assistant Professor of Radiology
Educational Mission Statement
To train clinically excellent academic nuclear medicine physicians that will further the discipline of nuclear medicine through scholarly pursuits, that are professional and demonstrate superb communication skills, that are reflective about their abilities, and that are able to successfully navigate through any healthcare system for the betterment of patient care.
The Nuclear Radiology Fellowship program’s principal objectives aim to:
- Teach the interpretive skills required to effectively diagnose patients using radiotracers
- Teach the technical skills required to effectively treat patients with radionuclide therapies
- Teach the safe handling and use of unsealed radioactive preparations for medical purposes
- Teach trainees a system of self-learning that will allow them to continuously adapt to an ever-changing field of medical science
- Prepare trainees for successful careers in academic medicine and clinical practice
Great Culture Among Faculty, Staff, and Trainees
Jennifer Anne Schroeder, MD
Assistant Professor, Radiology
Wake Forest School of Medicine
"I initially choose Penn Medicine for its reputation, large number of nuclear exams, and access to research opportunities. My goal as a trainee was to be as challenged as possible, knowing that when this one year was over and I was an attending, most calls would come down to me. My greatest goal in life has always been to be good to the people in my life, and that includes my patients. What I didn’t realize before starting my fellowship, was that one of the many reasons the nuclear medicine division at Penn Medicine is so successful is because the leadership is one of servant leadership, and the department is built on vulnerability and trust. As a result, the department fosters educational and personal relationships which has afforded so many opportunities to the trainees and staff, both inside and outside of the hospital. The department functions as a team during the day, and friends after hours. I started my year as a fellow, but ended the year as a part of the family. As a recent graduate, I also feel solace in knowing that when I have a tough case of my own, I can talk it over with my friends and family at Penn, and frequently do."
Scope of Training
Fellows receive instruction in theoretical and practical aspects of the field, as well as relevant basic sciences.
Each fellow receives comprehensive training in the following:
- General adult nuclear medicine
- Including perfusion SPECT/CT, hepatobiliary scintigraphy, single and multiphase bone scans, infection imaging, parathyroid imaging, thyroid scintigraphy, CSF shunt studies
- Pediatric nuclear medicine
- [18F]DOPA for hyperinsulimenia, FDG-PET/MR, [123I]MIBG, Meckel’s scan, renal studies (including with [99mTc]DMSA)
- Nuclear cardiology
- Including SPECT/CT and PET/CT perfusion studies (with pharmacologic and exercise stress), amyloid studies, sarcoid PET
- Positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT)
- [18F]FDG-PET for oncology and neurologic disease, [18F]Fluciclovine PET, [68Ga]DOTATATE/[64Cu]DOTATATE, [18F]FES-PET, [18F]NaF-PET
- Radionuclide Therapy
- [177Lu]DOTATATE, 223RaCl2, [131I]MIBG, radioactive iodine
- Medical nuclear physics
- Radiation biology and protection
- Instrumentation
- Radiopharmaceutical chemistry
- Medical statistics, image quantification, dosimetry, and kinetic analysis
Fellows will rotate through the following services/sites throughout the year:
- General Nuclear Medicine (Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania)
- PET (Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania)
- Cardiac Nuclear Medicine (Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania)
- Pediatric Nuclear Medicine (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
- PET/Cardiac/General Nuclear Medicine (Pennsylvania Hospital)
- Nuclear Medicine Therapy Clinic (Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania)
Train with World Experts in Clinical Nuclear Medicine and Research
Yin Jie Chen, MD, MRMD
Neuroradiology / Nuclear Medicine
Mecklenburg Radiology Associates
Charlotte, North Carolina
"Coming from a background of amyloid PET research in medical school, I was very fortunate to have pursued training at Penn Medicine, where I completed in residency the 16-month pathway for dual certification in both diagnostic radiology and nuclear radiology, followed by neuroradiology fellowship. The world experts at Penn truly understand the unique diagnostic and theranostic value of nuclear medicine in the rapidly advancing multi-modality approach to patient care. By training with these world experts both clinically and in research, one gains the unique physiologic approach to pathology that often can be missing from other areas of radiology. With the ongoing new nuclear medicine tracers and therapies approved clinically, this is a truly exciting time for a career involving nuclear medicine, and Penn Medicine provides the perfect foundation."
Clinical Experience
The Nuclear Medicine Imaging and Therapy Division prides itself on teaching first-hand in the clinic and at the workstation. Faculty review all studies with the fellows, maximizing each educational opportunity. Training responsibilities increase progressively over the year as the fellows gain experience.
The diverse patient population and clinical sites ensure comprehensive training in nuclear medicine. The fellows rotate through subspecialty rotations to hone specialized skills. Experience in the nuclear medicine clinic will equip the fellows with knowledge to treat patients with targeted radionuclides, a rapidly growing facet of the specialty. Fellows also complete a hands-on curriculum with the nuclear medicine technologists to gain practical experience in performing and trouble-shooting the diagnostic studies.
Fellows evenly split weekday evening call ending at 9:30pm. Fellows provide radiology coverage in accordance with radiology GME policies. There is no overnight or weekend nuclear medicine call.
Unparalleled Clinical Training
Philipose Mulugeta, MD
Modality Chief, Nuclear Medicine and Oncologic Imaging
Permanente Medicine
Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group
"I was a Nuclear Radiology fellow at Penn Medicine from 2016-17. I currently work at Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group where I serve as the Modality Chief of Nuclear Medicine and Oncologic Imaging. The unparalleled clinical training at Penn Radiology is the foundation of my clinical practice. For example, I have a therapy clinic half a day a week where I see thyroid, prostate, and neuroendocrine cancer patients. We have been able to keep our Xofigo and Lutathera practice within nuclear medicine because of the engagement and clinical services we provide to our referring physicians. On the diagnostic imaging side, the time spent reading cases, attending monthly QA meetings, and procedure manual reviews gives me confidence to run a highly volume NM/PET division spanning five outpatient centers."
Educational Curriculum
A weekly specialized lecture series for the fellows reviews topics relevant to the practice of modern nuclear medicine. Lectures cover clinical topics, instrumentation, radiochemistry/radiobiology, regulatory topics, and research. The majority of faculty in the division give lectures, including both research and clinical faculty. A weekly case conference series follows each lecture. Both faculty and fellows present interesting and educational cases for discussion. Regular journal clubs complete the weekly dedicated curriculum for fellows.
Fellows also attend resident nuclear medicine lectures and resident nuclear medicine physics lectures.
Fellows share responsibility for presenting imaging findings at several case conferences throughout the year, including neuroendocrine, melanoma, breast, thyroid, and lymphoma tumor board, and epilepsy case conference. Each tumor board or case conference has dedicated nuclear medicine faculty to support the presenting fellows.
In addition to presenting multiple case conferences and journal clubs to their co-fellows and nuclear medicine faculty, fellows will prepare and present a short resident-level case conference to the Penn Radiology Residents.
Fellows visit the local nuclear pharmacy and tour the on-site cyclotron and small animal imaging facility as well.
Develop Focus Inside The Big Picture
Mark Sellmyer, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Radiology
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Director, Molecular and Cellular Technologies Lab (MCTL)
Penn Medicine
"Fellowship in Nuclear Radiology at Penn Medicine was one of the best things I could have done for my career. I was trained by world leaders in nuclear medicine and therapy, and I had a great time learning while being immersed in this focused, rapidly developing area with the broader practice of radiology. The fellowship is a perfect combination of clinical skill development, with opportunities for growth in teaching and research. Would I do it again? Absolutely!"
Research and QA/QI Activities
Fellows are encouraged to participate in the research (basic science and clinical) and QA/QI activities of the division. Our highly academic division has numerous experts and ongoing research projects to which fellows can contribute.
Something For Every Trainee
Jagruti Shah, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Radiology
Stanford University
"One of the best Nuclear Radiology training programs in the country. I had the opportunity to train with some of the world experts in the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. The exposure to complex pathology and ample of bread-and-butter cases gave me lots of confidence for my first job out of training!
Strengths of the program: amazing faculty and staff who are dedicated to teaching, state-of-the-art equipment, a collaborative environment, strong nuclear physics and radiochemistry program for trainees interested in basic science and translation research programs."
Extraordinary Experience in Nuclear Radiology
The Nuclear Medicine Imaging and Therapy Division of Radiology at Penn Medicine is widely regarded as one of the best in the nation. The Nuclear Radiology program meets all training requirements recommended by the American Board of Nuclear Medicine (ABNM). Graduates are eligible to take the ABNM Certification Examination and the American Board of Radiology Nuclear Radiology Subspecialty Examination.
Learn More And Apply
Contact Us
Coordinator: Sandy Carney
Department of Radiology/Nuclear Medicine Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce Street/1 Silverstein
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Contact: sandra.carney@pennmedicine.upenn.edu | 215-662-3091