Career Connect

Reasons to consider an Emergency Radiology fellowship at University of Washington

• Multi-site hospital setting that includes major trauma and referral centers with wide range of pathological cases
• State of the art trauma and emergency imaging, including dual energy CT and coronary CTA
• Immediate and tangible impact on acute clinical care
• New educational website designed specifically for Emergency Radiology fellows at UW
• Elective time in other radiology subspecialties is encouraged
• Incredibly nice faculty with collegial environment
• Extensive opportunity to work with faculty with diverse research interests
• Flexible clinical schedule that includes protected academic time for fellows
• Seattle is one of the most beautiful cities in the US with boating, hiking, biking, and great summers and mild winters, and is self-described as a sanctuary city with a diverse immigrant community
• 45 minutes to Snoqualmie Ski Resort (alpine and nordic skiing)
• Extremely supportive fellowship program director
• Emergency Radiology is a rapidly growing subspecialty within Radiology, with numerous job opportunities awaiting fellowship graduates
• Our recent graduates have found success as Emergency Radiologists at academic programs, at community-based teaching programs, and in private practices across the country and world

Goals

Provide practical, in-depth experience in the effective imaging of the acutely injured or ill patient. At the conclusion of the fellowship, trainees will have the requisite skills for either an entirely clinical practice setting or for academics.

Setting

UW Emergency Radiology has long been centered at Harborview Medical Center (HMC).  Harborview is the sole Level I trauma and burn center for children and adults serving the states of Washington, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska. In addition to providing primary trauma, stroke, and emergency care for the greater Seattle area, HMC receives major referrals from approximately 25% of the geographic area of the United States. Our Emergency Radiology section now has attending-level coverage 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Expanded to provide coverage of the other emergency departments throughout the greater University of Washington (UW) Medicine enterprise, including the UW Medicine-Northwest Campus, an acute care, community-based hospital, and the UW Medicine-Montlake Campus, a tertiary care hospital specializing in cancer care, transplant services, high risk obstetrics and neonatal care, and other complex medical and surgical emergencies.  Emergency Radiology thereby serves an extensive and varied population base, which combined with the clinical and research resources of the University of Washington, provide the fellow with unparalleled clinical and academic opportunities. All of the physician staff are faculty of the University of Washington.

The HMC Emergency Radiology department is located in the center of the HMC Emergency Department, adjacent to the Emergency Physician work area, trauma resuscitation rooms, and CT scanners. This facilitates rapid interactions with our clinical colleagues, especially during the management of critically injured patients.

Overview

• Emergency Radiologists at Harborview Medical Center provide first-line coverage for imaging of all patients in the emergency/trauma center. Fellows protocol and interpret all imaging done in the emergency department from the patient’s head to toes.
• Emergency Radiologists at Harborview Medical Center also provides remote or onsite first-line coverage for imaging of patients in the emergency department at UW Medicine – Northwest campus and UW Medicine – Montlake campus. Fellows may be involved in coverage of these hospitals either remotely or on-site.
• Under supervision of the faculty, fellows will learn interpretation of digital computed radiography, digital tomosynthesis, and cross-sectional imaging, primarily CT and ultrasound, as they relate to care of the acutely ill or injured patient.
• Fellows will be involved in coronary CTA and “triple rule out” CTA, including patient selection and preparation, exam acquisition, and image analysis.
• Select studies are also performed routinely using dual energy CT, providing unique clinical and research opportunities during fellowship.
• Fellows will also develop skills in the management of the busy and complex emergency radiology practice and will become experienced consultants for the other medical professionals in the emergency/trauma center.
• Fellows will also participate in the daily emergency radiology section teaching sessions, as well as weekly trauma surgery and orthopedic interdisciplinary conferences. In the later phases of the program, fellows will also take on more responsibility for the teaching of residents and presentations at conferences.
• Fellows have the opportunity to attend the annual UW Emergency Radiology course in Seattle, and are encouraged to attend the annual meeting of the American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER).
• Fellows receive formal and informal teaching from faculty throughout the year, including fellow book club and journal club. Fellows will also have the opportunity to attend many of the resident lectures throughout the year, and will have access to our excellent library and multimedia materials, including recorded conferences.

Elective Time

Elective time on other radiology subspecialties is encouraged. In recent years, fellows have spent periods in Neuroradiology, Chest Radiology, Musculoskeletal Radiology and Body Imaging within the University of Washington system.

Academic and research activities are a critical component of our department, and fellows are expected to participate fully in the ongoing academic activities of the section. With assistance from the Director and faculty, the fellow will complete at least one research project using appropriate research design and analytic methods, or an educational project. To enable fellows to gain practical skills in academic radiology, we will provide mentorship, academic instruction and dedicated academic time.

Faculty

• The Emergency Radiology section is under the direction of Professor Ken Linnau, MD, and consists of 15 faculty members and three fellows.
• The faculty have differing clinical and research interests, and thus complement each other. This assures a teaching faculty with a broad array of experience and expertise that serves to support a well-balanced educational program for the fellow in training.

Fellowship Director

Claire K Sandstrom, MD

Contact

Kevin Nguyen, Emergency Radiology Fellowship Coordinator
1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 357115 Seattle WA 98195
E-mail: nguyenk6@uw.edu

Application Form

Click here for a downloadable application form.

Current Status

We will be abiding by the SCARD embargo for Emergency Radiology fellowship applicants for fellowship year 2027-2026.  Please see the ASER.org website for important dates.  We are currently conducting all fellowship interviews via Zoom.

Applicants must have successfully completed a radiology residency by the start of their fellowship. They must also have passed their USMLE Step 3 exams prior to the start of their fellowship.