Message from Department Chair

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Message from Department Chair

Dear Friends,

This Newsletter comes at a perfect time, as we are celebrating recent faculty promotions and renovation milestones. We are also welcoming new faculty and a class of eager residents to our family. With the mention of our new residents, let me talk about the value delivered by our radiology residency program.

As you are well aware, our residency program engages trainees in a well-rounded curriculum that includes quality and safety, research, and imaging informatics. Learning from our nationally and internationally-respected sub-specialists, residents develop skills to achieve excellence as fellows, and in private practice or academia.

A commitment to radiology residents, as caregivers, teachers, and life-long learners, is a commitment to the health of our patients and the well-being of our local and global communities. Our radiology residents will become highly specialized experts that create an environment of knowledge exchange and innovation. They do and will play integral roles in the fight against cancer, heart disease, and pandemics.

Be well,

~ Ann S. Fulcher, M.D., FACR, FSAR

Welcome the Class of 2021 Radiology Residents

Group of nine radiology residents in the class of 2021 outside the V C U Egyptian building

Front Row:
Joseph Lee, M.D. from VCU School of Medicine
Natalie Karr., M.D. from Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
Jay Pham, M.D. from VCU School of Medicine
Catherine Robbins, M.D. from VCU School of Medicine

Back Row:
Luis Montes Chinea, M.D. from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Caleb Hubbard, M.D. from Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
John Lozowski, D.O. from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Peter Shahid, M.D. from George Washington University School of Medicine
Trevor Nordin, M.D. from VCU School of Medicine

Visit our Current Residents and Fellows web page to learn more about all our trainees.

2021 Fellowship and Residency Graduates

Radiology fellowship and residency graduates move forward finding bright futures

Congratulations Graduates!

We are proud our graduating radiology fellows and residents are moving on to integrated interventional radiology residency programs, private practice and fellowships at top U.S. medical centers. 

Graduating radiology fellows:
Reza Amerinasab, M.D.
Paul Fang, M.D.
David Feldman, M.D.
Judson Frye, M.D.
Ahsan Khan, D.O.
Nita Kommula, M.D.
Lynn Ivey, M.D.

Residents entering our integrated interventional radiology residency program:
Adam Maxwell, M.D.      
Kunal Patel, M.D.

Residents graduating into fellowship programs across the U.S.:
Matthew Burr, M.D., Abdominal Imaging at UCLA
Nelya Ebadirad, M.D., Neuroradiology at Georgetown
Dow Emerson, IV, M.D., Neuroradiology at the University of Virginia
Shareh Hallaji, M.D., Breast Imaging at VCU Health
Erik Loken, M.D, Ph.D., Neuroradiology at Brigham and Women’s
Christopher Ovanez, M.D., Musculoskeletal at Johns Hopkins   
Michael Petrides, M.D., Nuclear Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Parth Shah, M.D., Abdominal Imaging at Massachusetts General

Residents graduating into private and academic medical practices:
Wali Danish, M.D., Diagnostic Radiology at VCU Health
Avinash Pillutla, M.D., Interventional Radiology, Commonwealth Radiology

New Faculty Hires

Welcome Our Newest Fellowship Trained Radiologists

Reza Amerinasab, M.D.

Reza Amerinasab, M.D.

Assistant Professor

Reza Amerinasab, M.D.

Reza Amerinasab, M.D.

Assistant Professor

Radiology

Email: reza.amerinasab1@vcuhealth.org

Address/Location:
Tappahannock Hospital

Read More

Judson Frye, M.D.

Judson Frye, M.D.

Assistant Professor

Judson Frye, M.D.

Judson Frye, M.D.

Assistant Professor

Radiology

Phone: (804) 237-6666

Email: judson.frye@vcuhealth.org

Read More

Yujie Qiao, M.D.

Yujie Qiao, M.D.

Assistant Professor

Yujie Qiao, M.D.

Yujie Qiao, M.D.

Assistant Professor

Radiology

Email: Yujie.Qiao@vcuhealth.org

Read More

Faculty Promotions

Malcolm K. Sydnor Jr., M.D. Promotion to Professor

Portrait of Malcolm K. Sydnor Jr., M.D.

Malcolm K. Sydnor Jr., M.D., Vice Chair of Quality and Safety for the Department of Radiology, Division-Chair of Vascular and Interventional Radiology Division, and Medical Director of the VCU Health Baird Vascular Institute, receives promotion to full Professor effective July 1, 2021 for his accomplishments as a clinician, teacher and mentor.

Dr. Sydnor is a graduate of the VCU School of Medicine where he also completed his radiology residency before completing his vascular and interventional radiology fellowship at the University of Virginia. Dr. Sydnor has subsequently worked at VCU for his entire career where he has specialized in minimally-invasive, image-guided procedures. In addition to his exceptional clinical work, Sydnor’s research encompasses saphenous vein ablation, trauma, and other topics. He has given numerous lectures on the regional and national stage, and his research and other academic endeavors have made a significant impact to the field of interventional radiology. He has also trained more than 100 Radiology residents and over 20 Vascular Interventional Radiology fellows.

“I could not be more proud of Dr. Sydnor's promotion to professor as this is an important recognition of his academic work. One of the greatest rewards of a department chair is to witness a resident become an outstanding radiologist, remarks Ann S. Fulcher, M.D., Chair of the Department of Radiology. “I appreciate his many contributions to our Department and University not only as an interventional radiologist but also as an educator and leader. His service as Division Chair of Interventional Radiology and as Vice Chair of Quality and Safety is invaluable!”

A major personal and professional milestone, Dr. Sydnor celebrates the opportunity to serve the VCU School of Medicine community and his profession as a full rank Professor.

Yang Tang, M.D., Ph.D. Promotion to Associate Professor

Emergency Radiology Director Yang Tang M.D., Ph.D.Yang Tang, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Emergency Radiology and Director of Quality Assurance for Diagnostic Radiology, is granted promotion to Associate Professor effective July 1, 2021. The promotion recognizes his substantive contributions to research and teaching, and his clinical expertise in the field of emergency radiology.

Dr. Tang earned a M.D. from the Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, China and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Cincinnati. He completed his radiology residency at the VCU School of Medicine and his neuroradiology fellowship at the University of Virginia. In addition to emergency and trauma radiology, Tang’s areas of interest include neuroradiology, quality and safety, and neurovascular disease. Well published, Tang has authored books including, Atlas of Emergency Neurovascular Imaging and Emergency Neurology – A Case Based Approach, as well as several peer-reviewed papers and articles.

“Dr. Tang is a self-motivated, talented, productive, and energetic radiologist who performs at an extremely high level in all facets of academic life – teaching, scholarship, and service, “ said Ann S. Fulcher, M.D., Chair of the Department of Radiology. “As soon as I worked with Dr. Tang during his first year of radiology residency, I was impressed by his work ethic and breadth of knowledge. I knew with certainty that he was a radiology star in the making,”

Dr. Tang looks forward to fulfilling the responsibilities and expectations of his new role as Associate Professor.

Renovation News

Main 3 Renovation Nears Completion

Reading room work station with four computer monitors, office chair and anatomical skeletonThe Department's expansion, improvement and renovation projects are progressing at an impressive pace. There are new reading rooms for several of our specialties on Main 3 of the VCU Health Medical Center. The new reading rooms are designed to provide ample space and are well integrated into our new clinical areas so we can effectively meet clinical care needs. Our residents, fellows, and faculty physicians are excited to have the new space in downtown Richmond, Virginia. To the right, is an image of the new musculoskeletal imaging and intervention (MSK) reading room located on Main 3.

Radiology Department Expansion News

Meeting the Medical Education and Patient Care Needs of Central Virginia

Breast Imaging and Lung Cancer Screening Accepting Patients at Tappahannock
Screening and diagnostic breast imaging services and the Early Detection Lung Cancer Screening Program are fully operational and accepting new patients at VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital.

Breast Imaging Goes 3D, Adds Physicians
Breast Imaging at Stony Point is now a fully-functional 3D mammography center. The new technology, installed in July, lets our radiologists look at the breast from different angles, which is important for women with dense breasts. The Breast Imaging Section also welcomed back Drs. Judson Frye and Shareh Hallaji, who is completing her breast imaging fellowship. Their expertise will bring considerable value to VCU Health, as we continue to expand breast imaging services.

Patient Education Video Considers New USPSTF Recommendations 
The Lung Cancer Screening Program continues to expand and now provides services at Gateway, Short Pump, New Kent, Stony Point, and Tappahannock. To help patients in these new communities, radiologists and staff from our Lung Cancer Screening Program are collaborating with the Department of Surgery, Massey Cancer Center, and Smoking Cessation to produce a comprehensive patient education video that covers everything from diagnosis and treatment to smoking cessation and support. Our multidisciplinary team walks through lung cancer facts, the patient experience at VCU Health, and the new United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) eligibility recommendations for the use of low-dose CT chest scans with the goal to improve patient knowledge about pulmonary health and lung cancer screening.