Pediatric Radiology Fellowship Program

About our Pediatric Radiology fellowships

FellowGroup 22-23. CHOP's Radiology fellows, 2023 The Department of Pediatric Radiology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offers an accredited ACGME-approved Pediatric Radiology Fellowship Training Program focused on the education of future leaders in pediatric imaging and intervention.

The goal of our program is to develop well-trained pediatric radiologists to deliver excellent clinical radiology care, perform clinical and/or basic research, and build confidence in teaching. Applicants will chose one or more of the five fellowship areas:

Visit the individual fellowship page to learn more about each program and how to apply.

If you have any additional questions, please contact Glennys Nunez, BA, Program Coordinator, at nunezg@chop.edu.

Fellows will have progressive teaching responsibilities involving residents and medical students. Elective and generous research time is provided. All fellows engage in research with topics ranging from prospective clinical studies to educational research.

Call responsibilities are designed to enhance the educational experience and work hours do not extend beyond 12 hours. All schedules are well within ACGME guidelines. 

Research curriculum and resources

In addition to assigning educational clinical rotations unique to each fellowship track, it is our mission to expose all fellows to the fundamentals of research from start to finish.

Each fellow is expected to work on at least one research project, which will be submitted as an abstract to a major radiology meeting and submitted for publication either during the fellowship or the year after program completion.

In order to successfully complete all aspects of our rigorous program, we guarantee protected academic time as well as travel funding to related national and international conferences.

Clinical Research Core and other research support

All fellows have access to our dedicated Clinical Research Core to support them in their research endeavors. The team provides research assistants to each subspecialty and also supports non-imaging research projects including quality improvement, educational and qualitative research.

In addition to the research core, fellows have access to a team of post-doctoral researchers, research sonographers, MR technologists, an MRI physicist, biostatisticians, a grant writing support team, and multimedia specialist.

Educational resources and training opportunities

Education innovation: Radiology’s Intelligent Adaptive Learning (RADIAL)

Fellows have access to the first-ever pediatric radiology learning management system to work-teach-learn (often simultaneously). RADIAL is a knowledge platform that contains all the tools and resources one needs to read cases at a subspecialty level and to teach and continue to learn in small aliquots during the workday.

The diagnostic toolbox provides resources, tables, charts, etc., to assist in interpreting certain cases, for example, CT for FAI and US for brachial plexus birth palsy. The courses are built around specific curricula designed by the education committee and consist of recorded lectures, several multiple choice questions and one or more reference articles available as PDFs with one click.

An academic portal has all one needs for onboarding, teaching resources and information for academic promotion. The new research portal houses information and tools to support our growing research activities at CHOP. All of this sits on a rich analytics engine that will support ongoing education research activities that will include augmented intelligence and student learning algorithms for customized adaptive learning.

Additional education programs

  • CHOP Pediatric Radiology Global Outreach & Education Program: This is a mission dedicated to international pediatric radiology fellowship outreach, founded by our current Radiologist-in-Chief and Departmental Chair Kassa Darge, MD, PhD, and currently led by Hansel Otero, MD.
  • Visiting Professorship Program: Speakers are invited to share his/her expertise and knowledge about various important topics in pediatric radiology and beyond.
  • Soroosh Mahboubi International Visiting Scholar Program: A program made possible by the Soroosh Mahboubi International Fund, which is awarded to international visiting radiologists to cover expenses during a period of observership in the Department of Radiology.  The objective of the program is to expose these visiting scholars to the state of the art imaging diagnosis performed here in Philadelphia.
  • CHAMP 3D Lab: Children’s Hospital Additive Manufacturing for Pediatrics (CHAMP 3D Lab) is an entity within the department that provides 3D/AM technology support to the entire hospital. The lab works on the physical side of 3D technologies, building models, devices, and solutions for CHOP clinicians and researchers to use to enhance care, e.g. printing patient-specific surgical planning models for training and education and purposes. 
  • Women in Radiology: Our faculty encourages membership of this forum for issues unique to women in the field, such as female mentorship and patient-doctor relationships in radiology.   
  • Observership Program: The Radiology Department welcomes observers from all across the world to have a chance to see the advanced imaging techniques used here at CHOP. From 2015-2019, the Department has had over 250 observers from 26 countries.

Application process and selection criteria

Candidates for clinical fellowships need to have completed all USMLE steps to be able to obtain a medical license in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and completed an accredited radiology residency. Prior research experience is helpful but not required. There are opportunities for international graduates to pursue an alternate pathway.

The Department of Radiology abides by the guidelines established by professional societies regarding the application process. Our goal is that fellows will look at all the pediatric radiology fellowship options available to them and will choose CHOP because they believe it is the best choice for their personal career growth.

The application process begins about a year and a half before the start of the fellowship. Applications will be accepted during the summer, with interviews taking place between December and March. 

For details on how to apply, please visit the individual fellowship program page:

If you have any additional questions, please contact Glennys Nunez, BA, Program Coordinator, at nunezg@chop.edu.

Other requirements

To carry out its mission, it is of critical importance for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to keep our patients, families and workforce safe and healthy and to support the health of our global community. In keeping with this, CHOP has mandated all workforce members (including trainees) on site at any CHOP location for any portion of their time be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

This mandate also applies to workforce members or trainees performing work for CHOP at non-CHOP locations. Additionally, all workforce members based in or regularly scheduled to work at any New Jersey location are mandated to be both vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, with booster timing consistent with applicable guidelines. The CHOP COVID-19 vaccine mandate is in alignment with applicable local, state and federal mandates. CHOP also requires all workforce members and trainees who work in patient care buildings or who provide patient care to receive an annual influenza vaccine. Employees may request exemption consideration for CHOP vaccine requirements for valid religious and medical reasons. Please note start dates may be delayed until candidates are fully immunized or valid exemption requests are reviewed. In addition, candidates other than those in positions with regularly scheduled hours in New Jersey, must attest to not using tobacco products.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected category. CHOP is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor seeking priority referrals for protected veterans.

CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.

We strongly encourage all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Salary and benefits

Fellows are offered a living stipend, which can be used for a variety of necessary expenses. In addition, fellows receive annul funds to go toward their CME budget. Salary is highly competitive and is evaluated and adjusted on a yearly basis.

Fellows have access to a variety of benefits offered by CHOP as well as Penn.

CHOP offers various wellness programs to help promote work-life balance of staff, including a commuter reimbursement program, employee breastfeeding support, expectant parent program, and many more. Fellows also have access to University of Penn’s libraries as well as their wellness programs and gym facilities.

About the department

The Department of Radiology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is comprised of more than 500 vibrant medical staff committed to the discipline of pediatric radiology. Our expansive team of pediatric radiologists perform clinical services according to division, including Interventional Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Neuroradiology, and Body Imaging (with subspecialty sections in musculoskeletal imaging, emergency radiology, genitourinary imaging, gastrointestinal and hepatic imaging, oncologic imaging, cardiovascular and lymphatic imaging, pulmonary imaging, neonatal imaging, and fetal MR imaging). Currently, our Diagnostic Radiology Department performs more than 250,000 cases per year.

Our department uses cutting-edge technology in all imaging modalities and undertakes research initiatives in both clinical and basic science. Exciting research possibilities include projects in Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS), 3T MR imaging, 64-detector CT scanning, PET/CT and PET/MR imaging, SPECT CT, and Magnetoencephalography. A state-of-the-art translational research building with animal research support for all radiology modalities is also available.

Department highlights:

  • Center for Pediatric Contrast Ultrasound (CPCU): Established in 2018, the CPCU is a dedicated entity within the department for the advancement of education, clinical service, and research in pediatric contrast ultrasound. Fellows have the opportunity to attend lectures, participate in scanning, and pursue pioneering research in this scanning technique.   
  • Image Gently and Step Lightly: Our department pledges full commitment to the Image Gently Alliance. Fellows learn the principles and methods for applying lowest possible dose solutions in all scans.
  • Child Life Services: A vital role in our clinical routine, child life specialists focus on working with hospitalized children and understand the unique stressors that can accompany a hospital stay and/or medical illness. Fellows will learn firsthand about the importance of this staff, who contribute significantly to patient comfort and departmental workflow.

Program leaders

Rebecca Dennis, DO, Associate Director Pediatric Radiology Fellowship Program 

Stephanie C. Cajigas-Loyola, MD, Associate Director Pediatric Radiology Fellowship Program

Mark Halverson, MD, FRCPC, Associate Director Neuroradiology Fellowship Program

Michael Acord, MD, Associate Director Interventional Radiology Fellowship Program

Glennys Nunez, BA, Program Coordinator, at nunezg@chop.edu.

Kassa Darge, MD, PhD, Chair, Department of Radiology, Radiologist-in-Chief and Van Alan Endowed Chair

Janet R. Reid MD, FRCPC, MSEd, Vice Chair, Radiology Education, Patricia Borns Endowed Chair in Radiology Education

Why choose CHOP?

The history, expertise and compassion that make Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia unique are also what makes it the best place for medical trainees.

Testimonials from former fellows:

Ami Gokli, MD Ami Gokli, MD “Being a fellow at CHOP was an opportunity I will never forget. I had never seen the breadth of pathology available to us, and this combined with the incredible teaching from our faculty was an invaluable experience that has undoubtedly impacted my skills and proficiency as a pediatric radiologist. Over the course of the year I went from a timid resident who had only read a handful of MRIs to a confident pediatric radiologist, ready to handle complicated studies and guide technologists. One of the best parts about CHOP is the incredible teaching and learning environment, which is bolstered by state-of-the art technology and our own learning management system. I would recommend this fellowship to anyone and would be happy to speak about it anytime!” — Dr. Ami Gokli, Pediatric Radiology Fellow, ‘17-‘18, Education Research Fellow, ‘18-‘20

Abhay S. Srinivasan, MD Abhay S. Srinivasan, MD “As with many other applicants, I interviewed at all the big fellowships and decided on CHOP because of the depth and breadth of training, the superior educational resources, and the amount of support trainees receive.  The curriculum allows flexibility so fellows may cultivate any or all of their interests in pediatric imaging. Fellows may also elect for further training in research, neuroradiology, or interventional radiology; or even participate in courses at the University of Pennsylvania. My experience at CHOP set the benchmark for my pediatric radiology practice after fellowship.  The focus of the CHOP fellowship on education is truly exceptional.” — Dr. Abhay Srinivasan, Pediatric Radiology Fellow, ’07-‘08


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