Kirti Kulkarni, MD
Associate Professor of Radiology
Kirti Kulkarni, MD
Fellowship Program Director
The Breast Imaging Fellowship at the University of Chicago is a one-year non-accredited clinical fellowship program. The fellowship offers extensive clinical experience in screening, diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and breast interventional procedures. This fellowship is closely supervised by fellowship-trained breast imaging faculty at University of Chicago and NorthShore University Health System. The program has a multidisciplinary approach with a focus on diagnostic evaluations, consultations, image-guided procedures, and appropriate recommendations. The breast imaging section recruits 2 fellows per year.
The fellowship is split between University of Chicago Medical Center and Endeavor Health, which provides a comprehensive learning experience. The ultimate goal of a fellowship program in breast imaging is for fellow graduates to be fully prepared to assume a leadership role in any breast imaging facility.
The ultimate goal of a fellowship program in breast imaging should be for fellow graduates to be fully prepared to assume the role of lead interpreting physician in any breast imaging facility, without the need for additional training. The fellow should acquire much deeper knowledge of all topics for which the resident should have familiarity and understanding (as listed below).
Demonstrate proficiency in performing all types of interventional breast imaging procedures.
Demonstrate proficiency in interacting with patients, including how to recommend biopsy, how to explain a cancer diagnosis, and how to develop sensitivity to patients' emotional needs.
- Experience interacting with surgeons, pathologists, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists in providing multidisciplinary patient care.
- Familiarity with radionuclide breast scanning
- Familiarity with performing a medical audit
- Teaching medical students and residents
- Encourage participation in research projects
- Familiarity with performing breast positioning and setting techniques for mammographic examination
- Familiarity with performing technologists' quality control tests for screen-film and digital mammography
- Knowledge of quality control tests performed by medical physicists
- Observation of pathology, breast surgery, and radiation therapy practice
Facilities: The Breast Imaging reading rooms are located on the first and second floors of the Duchosoiss Center for Advanced Medicine (DCAM). Screening mammograms and breast MRIs (including MRI-guided breast biopsies) are performed on the first floor of DCAM. Diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and related image-guided procedures are performed on the second floor, DCAM 2B.
Work Schedule: The work day varies depending on the daily schedule. If MRI-guided breast biopsies are scheduled, the work day may begin as early as 6:45 am, although routinely the day begins at 8:00 and goes until at least 5 pm, Monday through Friday. The fellow will be assigned to cover screening mammography, diagnostic mammography (including breast sonography), breast MRI, image-guided procedures, or interdisciplinary breast conference preparation. The breast imaging schedule is posted monthly.
Section meetings: Section meetings occur monthly and are posted on the monthly schedule.
Systems training: Systems training will occur with a member of the IT department.
Introduction to staff: The Breast Imaging section consists of Dr. Hiroyuki Abe, Dr. Kirti Kulkarni, Dr. Aiyah Jandali, Dr. Gregory Henkle and Dr. Angela Whittington. Introduction to the technologists will occur during the first two weeks of the fellowship.
Educational responsibilities: In addition to contributing to the section teaching file and teaching residents and medical students at the workstation, the fellow will be expected to participate in the following conferences:
- Radiologic-Pathology Correlation conference (Wednesday, 7:30am)
- Resident noon conference (Thursday, 12:45 pm)
- Interdisciplinary breast conference (Thursday, 8:00 am)
- Journal Club (third Tuesday of the month, 7:30)
QI activity: The fellow is expected to participate in the section’s Quality Improvement projects:
Expense reimbursement: An academic stipend of $1500 is provided for fellows.
Clinical imperatives: As the Department of Radiology strives to provide timely and accurate service to our clinical colleagues, all dictations must be proofread for accuracy and signed before leaving work.
Evaluation: Fellows are evaluated quarterly through MedHub, the online evaluation system.
Preliminary goals for the year: The fellow is expected to develop and complete at least one project (clinical, educational, or research) of benefit to the section with assistance as needed from the faculty. Potential projects should be formulated/initiated by the end of the first month of fellowship.
Breast Imaging Fellowship Update
Our program will not be accepting applications for the 2027–2028 academic year. We will also not be participating in the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) Match for this cycle, and SBI has been notified of this change.
We anticipate resuming the application process for the 2028–2029 fellowship year around the same time next year. Please check back on our website for updated timelines and application instructions.
We sincerely appreciate your interest in our program and wish all applicants the very best in their fellowship search and training journey.
Faculty
Hiroyuki Abe, MD
Professor of Radiology
Director of Breast Imaging Research
Gregory Henkle, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiology
Aiyah Jandali, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiology
Kirti Kulkarni, MD
Associate Professor of Radiology
Program Director, Breast Imaging Fellowship
Angela Whittington, MD
Assistant Professor of Radiology
Derek Franco, MD
Clinical Associate
Emily Sellers, MD
Clinical Associate