Interventional Radiology–Independent Fellowship

About the Program

Currently, the Interventional Radiology - Independent Program at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics offers one position per year. An ESIR trainee will enter in year two, and non-ESIR will complete the full two-year position. View the IR pathways to DR/IR ABR certification.  

This training program provides a strong emphasis on clinical care and procedural training at a leading academic institution that will prepare the trainee for practice in either private or academic settings. UI Hospitals & Clinics is a leading busy tertiary care hospital and level-1 trauma center, an American Cancer Society Center of Excellence, and a major transplantation center. Trainees will thus be exposed to broad spectrum of cases in interventional oncology, vascular disease, GI, GU, women’s health, and pediatric intervention. The trainee will be expected to perform over 1000 VIR procedures during the year.

Case mix includes:

  • TIPS
  • PTC
  • PCN
  • TACE
  • Radioembolization
  • Tumor ablation
  • Entire embolotherapy spectrum
  • Peripheral and visceral arteriography
  • Thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy
  • Balloon angioplasty
  • Stenting
  • Atherectomy

A unique feature of our program is the close rapport between IR and vascular surgery, allowing the fellow to be closely involved in many aspects of peripheral arterial disease diagnosis and management. The trainee will have a one-month rotation on vascular surgery, further enriching his/her experience in vascular care, including exposure to vascular interventions, carotid stenting, and endovascular aneurysm repair. The trainee will also be a part of the new state-of-the art University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital which opened in 2017.

ACGME Program Requirements for GME in Interventional Radiology

There are three pathways to DR/IR board certification:

  • IR Integrated
    • 1+5 (intern, 5 years combined DR and IR)
  • IR Independent
    • 1+4+2 (intern, 4 years DR, 2 years IR)
  • ESIP-IR Independent
    • 1+(3+1)+1 (intern, 3 years DR, 1 year ESIR, 1 year IR)
    • Sometimes runs as a 1 + 3:2 model

Resources

Benefits, Stipends and Contracts

Benefits offered by University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics are competitive with other top training programs in the country.  Benefits include:

Stipends are also comparable to other top training programs in the country and in keeping with the cost of living in Iowa.

Contracts are issued to house staff each year until training concludes, and promotion at the end of each year is granted based on demonstrated clinical competence and professional growth.  House staff members who do not meet standards for promotion to the next level of training may require remedial action, as deemed appropriate by the Program Director.

FAQs

Where is Iowa City?

Iowa City is 220 miles directly west of Chicago on Interstate 80. It's also within a 4-5 hour drive to Milwaukee, Madison, Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City and St. Louis. It has the cultural, educational, social and political opportunities of a bigger city with the values and ambiance of a Midwestern town. Its clean, safe, nothing is farther than a 15 minute car ride, it has a great city bus system (with bike racks!), wonderful parks, sports, schools and even sailing. Those who have lived here and left, frequently return because what they were looking for was in their own back yard. But we're not the only ones who think Iowa City is great:

  • No. 1 "Employment Destination for Young College Grads" - Small Metropolitan Cities (AIER.org, 2019)
  • No. 3 "Top 20 Best US Cities for College Grads" (Business Insider, 2019)
  • No. 4 "Top 100 Best Places to Live" (Livability.com, 2019)
  • UI Hospitals & Clinics ranked No. 15 in "America's Best Employers for Women" (Forbes, 2019) 
  • No. 9 out of "50 Best College Towns in America" (Bestcollegereviews.org, 2019)
  • No. 4 "Top 100 Best Places to Live" (Livability.com, 2018)
  • No. 1 "College Town in America" (Saturdaytradition.com, 2018)
  • Iowa No. 1 "Best States" (U.S. News & World Report, 2018)
  • University of Iowa No. 10 "Nation's 25 Safest Universities" (ADT, 2018)
  • No. 2 "Top 100 Places to Live" (Livability.com, 2017)
  • Iowa City No. 9 Best Places to Live in Iowa (Niche.com, 2017)
  • No. 2 "25 Best Cities for Entrepreneurs" (Entrepreneur.com, 2017)
  • No. 4 for "21 Super Cool US Cities, Ranked" (Expedia Viewfinder Travel Blog, 2017)
  • No. 5 for "20 Best College Towns in America" (Business Insider, 2017)
  • In top 50 of "Best Cities for Entrepreneurs" (Livability.com, 2016)
  • No. 5 "25 Healthiest Cities in America" (24/7 Wall St., 2016)
  • No. 9 "50 Best College Towns in America" (Best College Reviews, 2016)
  • Voted "Best in the Midwest" for "Best Places to Retire" (Time.com/money, 2016)
  • No. 9 "Top 100 Best Places to Live" (Livability.com, 2016)
  • No. 8 "Top 30 Small Cities" (Area Development Magazine, June 2015)
  • No. 6 "The 10 Smartest Cities in America" (MarketWatch.com, January 2015)
  • No. 1 "Best Employment Destination Index for Smallest Metro Areas" (AIER, 2015)
  • No. 10 "Top 100 Best Places to Live" (Livability.com, 2015)
  • No. 4 out of 20 "Top College Towns" (AIER, 2015)

How ethnically diverse are the patients?

Like a lot of university towns, we have a large international community. Growing cultural diversity is another reason Iowa City is an interesting place to live. Diversity is embraced and celebrated with city and university events, festivals, clubs and programs. We work hard to recruit and retain minorities with affirmative action policies. About 20% of Iowa Citians are non-white, which is reflected at about the same rate in our patients.

What’s the weather like in Iowa City?

It depends on what you like. For about two weeks every winter it's very cold and windy and for two weeks every summer it's really hot and humid. The rest of the time it's pretty nice. We have a lot of sunny days even in winter-166 per year. Our average snowfall is 28", average rainfall is 35", average temperature in the summer is 72.6 and in the winter, 23.7. We consider our weather character building.

What is there to do in Iowa City when you're not working?

There are 15 different festivals and art fairs, plus concerts and race events. There are many music venues, sports events and neighborhood street fairs and garden walks. We also have a really big mall and several smaller ones, 41 parks, 9 golf courses, 6 public tennis courts, 6 public pools, some lakes and a reservoir with trails, camping and boating. There are bike trails, some famous bookstores, a ton of galleries and excellent museums. There are half a dozen or more performing arts venues including Hancher Auditorium. There's always something going on. Find more information from the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

What's Iowa City like for kids and families?

There's ice skating, bowling, organized sports, 50 public parks, miniature golf, a great public library, a toy library, fun centers, swimming pools and 3 beaches, 9 museums including a children's museum, dance companies and public recreation centers that feature many activities for kids and families at little or no cost. We also have 20 movie screens and 50-licensed daycare providers. The Iowa City schools are perennially ranked among the top schools in the nation. Iowa City is unique in the facilities and services available for individuals with disabilities. Many families who have a family member with a disability are reluctant to leave Iowa City because they cannot duplicate those services in another location.

Are there any job opportunities for my spouse/significant other?

Yes, as of May 2019, Iowa City had an average of 2.1% unemployment. Also, check out University of Iowa's Dual Career Network.

Is there sufficient patient volume so that I can have multiple exposures to a variety of diseases and procedures?

Yes. As one of only a few tertiary care hospitals in the region, the Department of Radiology at UI Hospitals & Clinics offers unique imaging services to a broad range of patients from both within and outside the state of Iowa.

Procedures performed in FY2018
Total 331,040
Breast Imaging 14,030
CT 51,408
MRI 31,875
Nuclear Medicine 6,380
PET 4,958
US 24,322
X-ray 187,186

What is the call like?

Fellows will take call every four days.

Is there an opportunity to do research?

Yes. Post-call days can be used for academic/research time.

Do you sponsor visas?

Yes, we sponsor both J1 and H1 visas.

If you have additional questions please contact our program coordinator at courtney-bork@uiowa.edu.

Medical Licensure

Residents must apply for a license to practice in Iowa from the Iowa Board of Medicine at least three months (but no more than six months) prior to the start date of training.  Residents are prohibited from practicing in the State of Iowa without proper licensure.  For more information, please visit the GME's Medical Licensure website.

Quick Facts

Procedures Performed (2018)

Non-Invasive Vascular Imaging

  • 4460 CTA/MRA Abdomen/Pelvis
  • 616 CTA/MRA Extremities
  • 9823 CTA/MRA Chest
  • 0 Lower Extremity Arterial Segmental Evaluation

Angiography

  • 2669 Carotid/Cerebral Arteriography
  • 456 Extremity Arteriography
  • 1178 Mesenteric/Renal Arteriography
  • 271 Dialysis Graft/Fistula Evaluation

Arterial Vascular Intervention

  • 86 Arterial Angioplasty
  • 8 Arterial Stent Placement
  • 0 Lower Extremity Arterial Revascularization
  • 161 Peripheral Thrombolysis/Thrombectomy
  • 446 Embolization (Any) 
    • 48 TACE
    • 45 Radioembolization
    • 24 UFE
  • 2 Aortic Stent Graft
  • 292 Carotid Stent Placement
  • 537 Stroke Thrombolysis
  • Venous Vascular Interventions
  • 46 TIPS
  • 480 Port Placement
  • 859 Tunneled Catheter Placement
  • 200 IVC Filter Placement
  • 1 Venous Ablation
  • 72 Venous Thrombolysis
  • 496 Hemodialysis Intervention

Nonvascular Intervention

  • 1005 Biopsy
  • 805 Chest Tube Placement
  • 525 Nephrostomy/Nephroureteral Tube Placement
  • 32 Biliary Drainage Catheter Placement
  • 166 Percutaneous GI Tract Tube Placement
  • 143 Abscess Drainage
  • 91 Tumor Ablation
  • 19 Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).  All of our positions are offered through the NRMP Fellowship Match. 

Learn more about 

The following materials are required as part of your ERAS application to be considered a completed application:

  • completed ERAS application.
  • copy of ECFMG certificate, if applicable
  • copies of transcripts for USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3
  • curriculum vitae
  • personal statement: summary of your training background, areas of particular strength and interest, and a brief description of how you would hope to utilize and apply your fellowship training
  • three letters of recommendation - letters should come from persons familiar with your recent training and current professional activities. 
  • ESIR Applicant Diagnostic Radiology Program Director Standardized Letter of Recommendation (if applicable).

For additional information, please contact Courtney Bork at courtney-bork@uiowa.edu or call 1-319-384-8114.

After your application is complete, it will be reviewed and a decision made regarding an invitation to interview.

Criteria for Candidacy

Qualified applicants must have satisfactorily completed an ACGME- or Canadian-accredited radiology residency, be board certified or board eligible (passed the Core Exam) by the American Board of Radiology, passed USMLE Steps 1 and 2, and be able to obtain a medical license in the State of Iowa prior to the start of the fellowship.

Our People

Radiology faculty, fellow, and resident physicians

Our people are the heart of our program. At Iowa, you will be exposed to some of the best clinicians, researchers and teachers in our profession. Through formal mentoring programs as well as an open-door philosophy, we provide high-powered opportunities for you to learn career-long lessons from these dedicated professionals.  Our faculty and staff are committed to helping you achieve your training goals.

Program Director

Program Directors

Mohammad A. Amarneh, portrait

Mohammad A. Amarneh, MD, DABR
Clinical Assistant Professor
Associate Director, Interventional Radiology-Integrated Residency Program
mohammad-amarneh@uiowa.edu

Chad E. Davis. MD

Chad E. Davis, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiology-Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Associate Program Director, Interventional Radiology-Integrated Residency Program
chad-e-davis@uiowa.edu

Program Coordinator

Courtney Bork
Program Coordinator, Interventional Radiology-Independent Fellowship Program
courtney-bork@uiowa.edu