Education & Training

Breast Centers

The fellows gain comprehensive experience across the Greater Cleveland area with weekly rotations at our four major breast centers: UH Cleveland Medical Center (University Circle), UH Ahuja Medical Center on the east side (Beachwood), UH St. John Medical Center on the west side (Westlake), and UH TriPoint Medical Center (Lake County). The full spectrum of breast imaging is offered at each of these locations. Equipment and protocols are standardized throughout our system for ease and efficiency.

UH Cleveland Medical Center: Breen Breast Center is located at our main campus in University Circle. One breast radiologist staffs this location. Our radiology residents also rotate here.

UH Ahuja Medical Center: This is our newest and largest Breast Center which opened its doors in 2023. It is staffed with three breast radiologists.

UH St. John and UH TriPoint Medical Centers: Both sites offer a smaller community hospital experience, each staffed with one breast radiologist.

Facility and Imaging Highlights of the Breast Centers

Reading rooms:

• Adjustable standing workstations
• Sectra PACS
• M*modal Fluency dictation software
• Epic electronic health record

Modalities:

• Screening and diagnostic mammography with tomosynthesis (Hologic 3Dimensions)
• Contrast-enhanced mammography
• Hand-held screening and diagnostic breast ultrasound (SuperSonic)
• Full and abbreviated breast MRI

Interventional:

• Stereotactic biopsy (Hologic upright Affirm with Eviva Breast Biopsy System)
• Ultrasound biopsy (spring-loaded Marquee and vacuum-assisted Hologic ATEC)
• MRI-guided biopsies (Invivo Sentinelle)
• Contrast-enhanced Mammography biopsy
• Endomag Magseed breast localizations
• *Cryoablation (coming soon)

Team

• Our breast imagers are all fellowship trained with one-to-one on-site staffing at all sites providing personalized guidance and teaching
• We work in multidisciplinary fashion alongside breast surgery and oncology colleagues to provide integrated patient care
• Our ultrasound technologists are all breast certified (ARDMS)

Training and Conferences

The ultimate goal is for the breast imaging fellows to assume the role of the primary radiologist with the faculty person as a supervisor. The breast imaging division has a very strong interest in fellow and resident education. We provide a collegial supportive environment to allow the fellows to learn and gain independence in all the important skills of being a breast imager. Many of our previous fellows have remained as attendings in the Breast Section.

Fellows are actively involved in the interpretation of examinations, performance of procedures and consultation with referring physicians. There is one weekly multidisciplinary tumor board conference attended by the fellows and a faculty member. Other conferences include the monthly radiology-pathology conference, monthly journal club and bi-monthly resident conferences. We are also a member of the Breast Imaging Fellowship Consortium which provides a weekly live one hour Zoom lecture by breast imagers from around the United States.

As a breast imaging fellow, dedicated research time is negotiable. There is access to Case Center for Imaging Research (CCIR), which is a joint venture between Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and UH Cleveland Medical Center. Funding is available for educational meetings/conferences.

There  are no weekend responsibilities. If a fellow is interested in working weekends to keep up their general radiology skills, there are opportunities for which they will be financially compensated.