Cardiothoracic Imaging Fellowship
Our Cardiothoracic Imaging fellowship program provides advanced training in all aspects of cardiopulmonary imaging, enabling fellows to develop those specialized skills necessary for a successful and fulfilling career in either academic radiology or in a large subspecialty private practice. The fellowship offers a broad clinical experience, both in volume and variety of pathology. We offer state-of-the-art imaging with the latest techniques. We also foster interdisciplinary patient care and research through strong relationships with Critical Care and Pulmonary Medicine, Thoracic Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiology, and Hematology-Oncology. Our tertiary care and level 1 trauma center house the largest number of ICU beds and the largest bone marrow transplant (BMT) service in Virginia.
Annual Cardiothoracic Imaging Fellowship Positions Offered: 1-2 positions per academic year
Cardiothoracic Imaging Faculty
Mark S. Parker, M.D., FACR
Professor Co-Section Chief, Cardiothoracic Imaging
Mark S. Parker, M.D., FACR
Professor Co-Section Chief, Cardiothoracic Imaging
Radiology
Professor of Diagnostic Radiology and Internal Medicine
Co-Section Chief, Cardiothoracic Imaging
Director, Thoracic Imaging Fellowship
Director, Lung Cancer Screening Program
Phone: (804) 828-5064
Fax: (804) 628-1132
Email: mark.parker@vcuhealth.org
Address/Location:
West Hospital, West Wing
John D. Grizzard, M.D.
Associate Professor Co-Section Chief, Cardiothoracic Imaging
John D. Grizzard, M.D.
Associate Professor Co-Section Chief, Cardiothoracic Imaging
Radiology
Associate Professor
Co-Section Chief, Cardiothoracic Imaging
Director, Noninvasive Cardiovascular Imaging
Phone: (804) 828-8569
Fax: (804) 628-1132
Email: john.grizzard@vcuhealth.org
Address/Location:
West Hospital, West Wing
Franklin Dana, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Franklin Dana, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Radiology
Phone: (804) 828-3352
Fax: (804) 628-1132
Email: franklin.dana@vcuhealth.org
Address/Location:
West Hospital, West Wing
Shaimaa A Fadl, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Shaimaa A Fadl, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Radiology
Cardiothoracic Imaging / Emergency Radiology
Email: shaimaa.fadl@vcuhealth.org
Address/Location:
West Hospital, West Wing
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Leila Rezai Gharai, M.D.
Associate Professor
Leila Rezai Gharai, M.D.
Associate Professor
Radiology
Associate Professor, Cardiothoracic Imaging
Phone: (804) 828-0534
Fax: (804) 628-1132
Email: leila.rezaigharai@vcuhealth.org
Address/Location:
West Hospital, West Wing
Kendall L. Capecci, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
Kendall L. Capecci, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
Radiology
Phone: (804) 828-0552
Email: kendall.capecci@vcuhealth.org
Address/Location:
Main Hospital
Stephen Foxx, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
William Ritchie, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
Cardiothoracic Imaging Fellowship
- Fellows and staff participate in a monthly multidisciplinary interstitial lung disease conference, a weekly multidisciplinary tumor board, a weekly Critical Care and Pulmonary Medicine Conference, biweekly LungRADS 3 and 4 conferences, weekly Cardiac MR and Congenital Heart Disease conferences, board reviews, and a host of resident and medical student case conferences and lectures.
- There is a close working relationship with VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only NCI-designated center in the Richmond region and one of just two in Virginia that helps lead and shape America's cancer research efforts. The Section leads a strong Lung Cancer Screening Program, recognized by the ACR as a Lung Cancer Screening Center of Excellence, and an Interstitial Lung Disease Center of Excellence.
- The Cardiac MR Program was established by the Radiology Department’s John Grizzard, MD in 2006 and has expanded over the years, now averaging 7-15 cardiac MRs per day. The Cardiac portion of the Section also performs and interprets a large volume of cardiac CT and CTAs.
- Volume: The Section interprets approximately 90,000 chest radiographs, 18,000 chest computed tomography (CT) and CTA exams and 1,000 cardiac MR and MRA studies annually.
- Call is limited to the fellowship subspecialty pool or Plain Film call pool. It is no more frequent than once every fifth weekend.
- Centralized Readings: All imaging studies are transmitted to a centralized location avoiding the need for fellows to travel between the various outpatient imaging centers.
- Research and Meeting Time: Fellows are encouraged but not required to participate in clinical research projects. Fellows interested in research receive dedicated time and support for presentation of their research at major radiological society meetings.
- Elective Time: Up to 4-months of elective time is offered to our fellows. Elective time with pulmonary medicine, interventional pulmonology, thoracic surgery, cardiology, pathology, and cardiothoracic surgery can be arranged. Elective time in Interventional Radiology (lung and pleural-based procedures) is likewise encouraged for a comprehensive well-rounded cardiothoracic imaging training experience.
- Mentorship: Our cardiothoracic imaging faculty have committee memberships and/or leadership roles with numerous radiological societies including the ARRS, RSNA, ACR, Society of Thoracic Radiology (STR), North American Society for Cardiovascular Imaging (NASCI), American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER). Early introduction to these and our subspecialty societies may provide our fellows with potential exciting pathways for career and academic advancement if desired. Further, the Thoracic Imaging Section Chief and Cardiothoracic Imaging Fellowship Director, Mark S. Parker, M.D., FACR, received the American Roentgen Ray Society Clinical Educator of the Year Award in 2022.
Application Process
We follow the SCARD Fellowship Embargo Guidelines. Please follow this link for the guidelines at SCARD
Please follow this link for the VCU Department of Radiology fellowship application process.
Cardiothoracic Imaging Fellowship Contacts
Contact us with your questions or to submit application materials
Mark S. Parker, M.D., FACR
Professor
Section Chief Thoracic Imaging
Co-Section Chief Cardiothoracic Imaging
Director, Cardiothoracic Imaging Fellowship
mark.parker@vcuhealth.org
Betty Arkwright
Administrative Assistant and Cardiothoracic Fellowship Coordinator
Betty.Arkwright@vcuhealth.org