Fellowship Announcement
We currently have openings for Cardiothoracic Imaging and Cardiac Imaging Fellowship positions for the 2027 and 2028 fellowship years! We also offer a four-year ABR Alternate Pathway for internationally trained radiologists. Please see the application process below.
ApplyCardiothoracic 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
ABR Alternate Pathway for Internation Medical Graduates
The Division of Cardiothoracic Radiology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) offers a four-year ABR Alternate Pathway for internationally trained radiologists seeking American Board of Radiology certification. The program provides comprehensive training in thoracic and cardiovascular imaging, including chest CT, lung cancer screening, cardiac CT, coronary CTA, and cardiac MRI, within a high-volume academic practice. The pathway is primarily non-ACGME accredited, with flexibility to incorporate one year of ACGME-accredited fellowship training in another radiology subspecialty, subject to program availability and institutional approval. We currently have positions available for the 2026 and 2027 academic years.
For additional information or to apply, please contract Administrative Assistant and Cardiothoracic Fellowship Coordinator Theresa Morman theresa.morman@vcuhealth.org
Shaimaa A Fadl, M.D.
Associate Professor Cardiothoracic Imaging Section Chief
Shaimaa A Fadl, M.D.
Associate Professor Cardiothoracic Imaging Section Chief
Radiology
Cardiothoracic Imaging / Emergency Radiology
Email: shaimaa.fadl@vcuhealth.org
Address/Location:
West Hospital, West Wing
Mark S. Parker, M.D., FACR
Professor
Mark S. Parker, M.D., FACR
Professor
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
John D. Grizzard, M.D.
Associate Professor
Radiology
Associate Professor
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
Stephen Foxx, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
William Ritchie, M.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
Berthina Coleman, M.D.
Assistant 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
Shaimaa A. Fadl, M.D.
Associate Professor
Section Chief Cardiothoracic Imaging
Program Director, Cardiothoracic Imaging Fellowship
Shaimaa.Fadl@vcuhealth.org
Theresa Morman
Administrative Assistant and Cardiothoracic Fellowship Coordinator
theresa.morman@vcuhealth.org