VMRCVM
Search VMRCVM
DSACS
arrow DSACS Home arrow Departments arrow VMRCVM

Radiology Resident Training Program

Introduction

Veterinary Radiology is a well-developed subspecialty in veterinary medicine and, as such, is recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Veterinary Radiologists have a high level of expertise in not only conventional radiography, but also special diagnostic procedures, nuclear medicine, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and ultrasound.

The Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine offers a combined Residency-Master's program in veterinary radiology. The purpose of the program is to train residents to become future teachers, investigators, and clinicians in Veterinary Radiological Sciences. The 4-year program is fully accredited by the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) and is designed to meet all eligibility requirements for Board certification. The program is also designed to meet all requirements for completion of a Master of Science degree. An individual successfully progressing through the program will be eligible to sit the written part of the qualifying examination of the ACVR during the third year of the program.

Individuals applying for admission to the program should have completed an internship program or at least one year of veterinary practice and be eligible for admission to the graduate school programs of the VMRCVM and Virginia Tech. Successful applicants must take and pass the campus radiation safety examination within 30 days of the start of the programs.

Objectives

  • To help the Resident learn the basics of radiobiology, radiation physics, radiation protection, radiation dosimetry, and radiation safety.
  • To help the Resident develop clinical skills in diagnostic radiology in both large and small animal patients, utilizing both conventional radiographic examinations and special procedures.
  • To help the Resident learn the basic principles of and clinical applications for ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear medicine.
  • To provide guidance in the design, data collection, data analysis, and publication of a research project.
  • To provide training that will serve as a basis for future research endeavors.
  • To provide experience in teaching radiological sciences to veterinary students and veterinary practitioners.
  • To reinforce professional and ethical behavioral characteristics, and appropriate work ethic standards.

Training

Forty-eight months of supervised post-doctoral training in Veterinary Radiology will be required. Continuation into the second, third and fourth years of the program will be dependent on the resident's performance evaluations.

Radiology

Direction and Supervision

Dr. Martha Larson is the Residency Program Director. Dr. Larson is an active Diplomate of the ACVR and will be actively involved in the training and instruction of residents.

Radiology Faculty

The faculty in the program and their assigned areas of instructional responsibility are as follows:

  • Martha Moon Larson, DVM, MS, DACVR - Diagnostic Radiology, Ultrasound, Computed Tomography. Responsible for the delivery of clinical training in these areas, the conduct of daily case rounds with the resident, and participation in classes in which recommended reading materials are reviewed.
  • A. Reid Tyson III, DVM, DACVR - Diagnostic Radiology, Ultrasound, Computed Tomography, Nuclear Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Responsible for delivery of clinical training in these areas, the conduct of daily case rounds with the resident, and participation in classes in which recommended reading materials are reviewed.
  • Greg B. Daniel, DVM, MS, DACVR - Diagnostic Radiology, Ultrasound, Computed Tomography, Nuclear Imaging. Responsible for delivery of clinical training in these areas, and participation in classes in which recommended reading materials are reviewed.
  • Radiology Resident - Ann Bettencourt, DVM
  • Radiology Resident - Diane Saulnier, DVM

Facilities

Small and Large Animal Diagnostic Facilities

  1. Small and Large Animal Radiographic Diagnostic Facilities
    1. Siemens Multix Pro/Top w/ AXIOM Multix M – Upgrade Digital Radiographic System; Flat Panel Detector 35 x 43 cm: Canon CXDI-50G; Transparent removable grid: Pb12/80; Polydoros SX 65 generator; 0.5 – 800 mAs; 40 - 150 kV. DICOM Interface with Eklin Rapidstore PACS and Kodak PacsLink Dryview Model 8700 Laser Imager;
    2. Shimadzu YSF – 120 Digital R/F System: 80 kW R/F High Frequency Invertor Generator; Radiographic kV 40 – 150 Continuous; Radiographic mA 10 – 1000; Fluoroscopic kV 50 – 125 Continuous; Fluoroscopic mA 0.2 – 4 mA; Platinum One DSA Premium High Throughput Digital R/F and DSA System; Infimed Innovision 1024 x 1024 x 12-bit digital CCD Camera System w/ grid. Eklin EDR6 Digital Radiographic System Upgrade. No radiographic grid. DICOM Interface with Eklin Rapidstore PACS and Kodak PacsLink Dryview Model 8700 Laser Imager.
    3. Large Animal Diagnostic Room - SMI EDEC 80 generator with 100 kW option. kV range 40-150; 1000 mA @100kV: 800mA @ 125 kV: 600mA @ 150 kV; 2 X-ray Tubes; Interfaces with Eklin EDR5 Digital Radiographic System Upgrade with Digital Upright bucky w/grid and Eklin EDR3 Digital Radiographic System. DICOM Interface with Eklin Rapidstore PACS and Kodak PacsLink Dryview Model 8700 Laser Imager;
  2. Portable Radiographic Units:
    1. MinXray HF 100/30: 100 kV; 30 mA Ultralight interfaces with Eklin EDR5 and EDR3 Digital radiographic systems.
    2. Siemens Mobilett XP Hybrid interfaces with Eklin EDR5 and EDR3 Digital radiographic systems.
    3. Siemens Siremobil Compact Imaging System (C-Arm): 9 inch Image Intensifier; High Frequency generator. Fluoroscopy 40 – 110 kV; 0.2 – 8.9 mA; Continuous or Pulsed. Digital Radiography 40 – 110 kV; 0.2 – 12.2 mA. Sony page printer.

Ultrasound

  • Acuson Sequoia 512: DICOM Interface with Eklin Rapidstore PACS and Kodak PacsLink Dryview Model 8700 Laser Imager
 

Computed Tomography

  • Toshiba Aquilion 16-slice CT scanner with Image Analysis Workstation
  • Medrad Stellant SX Contrast Injector System
  • Kodak PacsLink Dryview Model 8700 Laser Imager
  • DICOM Interface with Eklin Rapidstore PACS and Kodak PacsLink Dryview Model 8700 Laser Imager

CT scan

 

Nuclear Medicine

  • NuCam II Gamma Camera
  • Mirage Imaging Computer with Camera Interface: Static Imaging and Dynamic Imaging with motion correction. DICOM interface with Eklin RapidStore PACS.

Nuclear Medicine

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

  • On Site: Universal Medical Systems/Esaote VetMRI 0.2 Tesla
  • Off Site: GE Sigma 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Scanner Available at Montgomery Regional Hospital located 5 miles from the veterinary school.

Canine MRI

Radiation Therapy

  • No external radiation therapy facilities are currently available on site.
    Referral capabilities to North Carolina State University and the University of Tennessee.
  • Iodine 131 radiotherapy services.

AFP Mini-Med 90 Tabletop Darkroom Processor

Vidar PacsSCAN Film System w/ Document Scanner

Image Storage – PACS

  • Eklin RapidStore –SA; DICOM
  • Eklin Vault (E Vault Backup)
  • Eklin Remote Access

Workstations

  1. Rapid View 3 GS (gray scale) Diagnostic Review w/Monitor
  2. Rapid View 2 GS (gray scale) Diagnostic Review w/Monitor

Clinical Resources

Case material is available from animals referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and currently consists of the number of cases per year listed below:

  1. Small animal diagnostic radiology: 5000
  2. Small animal ultrasound: 1600
  3. Small animal computed tomography: 350
  4. Small animal magnetic resonance imaging: 140
  5. Large animal diagnostic radiology: 1000
  6. Large animal ultrasound: 40
  7. Small ruminant diagnostic radiology: 40
  8. Small ruminant ultrasound: 5
  9. Exotic/avian diagnostic radiology: <10

Training Content

Responsibilities of the resident will include:

  • participation in the operation of the clinical radiology section in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital
  • assisting in instruction of fourth year veterinary students,
  • attending lectures in didactic courses offered to first, second, and third year students

The resident will also participate in rounds and lectures given by the Radiology faculty which cover the basic physical and applied aspects of diagnostic radiology, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear scintigraphy, radiation safety, and radiation biology.

Residents will:

  • deliver assigned lecture and rounds instruction
  • progress in confidence until able to take charge of the radiology service with minimal supervision on a day to day basis
  • assist in the instruction of fourth year veterinary students and house officers in interpretation of routine and contrast radiographic examinations, CT and MRI evaluations, ultrasound examinations, and nuclear medicine procedures
  • be required to assist in presentation of seminars within both the radiology section and the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences

The bulk of the training will come through seminars, daily rounds with radiology faculty, chapter and article reviews and formal courses. The resident will be encouraged to participate in continuing education short courses and to give seminars at local, state, and national meetings during the period of residency. Presentation of at least one paper at an ACVR meeting is expected.

Research Environment

A grant proposal, completed research project, and oral presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Veterinary Radiology, and at least one major manuscript submitted to a refereed journal and completion of a Master's thesis will be required. Guidance in these endeavors will be provided by the resident advisor, major professor, and graduate committee. In addition, the resident will present a seminar each year to the faculty and house officers of the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences as part of the Department's Resident Seminar Program. A presentation at the College Annual Research Symposium will be encouraged.

Educational Environment

The resident will assist in instruction of fourth year veterinary students and participate in didactic courses offered to first, second, and third year veterinary students. This includes lecture and laboratory preparation and presentation of material in gross anatomy (radiographic anatomy) and in the diagnostic radiology courses. The resident will present 1 seminar each year as part of the resident seminar series of the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. The resident will attend Pathology rounds each week and be responsible for the presentation of related radiographic material.

Evaluation

Each resident will be reviewed semi-annually by the radiology faculty and will be provided with a written analysis of the resident's abilities and productivity. Input will be sought from staff, faculty, and house officers from other sections. The review will be discussed with the resident at a formal meeting with the resident advisor.

Teaching File

A teaching file of interesting cases is maintained in the radiology area, both hard copy and electronically. This file is coded and organized by organ system and diagnosis. A searchable database is available on a central hospital server. A student study file is also provided.

Conferences

The resident will participate in the daily clinical schedule in conjunction with one of the radiology faculty and will be expected to attend and participate in resident seminars and radiology resident rounds. Attendance by the resident at regional and national meetings will be encouraged. Extramural radiology training at other institutions will be encouraged.

List of Additional Program Faculty

In addition to the Diplomates from the American College of Veterinary Radiology, program faculty include:

  • Diplomates from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM):
    W. Kent Scarratt, Michael S. Leib, Gregory C. Troy, W. Edward Monroe, Karen R. Inzana, Michael J. Murray, Martin O. Furr, Virginia Buechner-Maxwell, David L. Panciera, David Grant, and John Rossmeisl
  • Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgery (ACVS):
    R. Scott Pleasant, Otto I. Lanz, Linda Dahlgren, and Julie McGhee Settlage
  • Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Pathology (ACVP):
    Bernard S. Jortner, Jeffrey K. Saunders, Kurt Zimmerman, Tanya LeRoith, and Nicole M. Weinstein

For more information contact:

Dr. Martha Larson
moonm@vt.edu
540-231-4815