Neuroradiology

The Division of Neuroradiology has several prominent goals at its core. These encompass the breadth of the Division in terms of its clinical, research, and training objectives.

1. Optimize the quality of our clinical work in Neuroradiology and incorporate new techniques in our practice.

   We are proud of the high quality of our clinical work, which is made possible by the availability of State of Art imaging equipments and excellent supporting staffs. Our clinical colleagues are extremely happy with the quality of our work, which we constantly improve by incorporating new techniques when available.

2. Develop close working relationship with clinical services and be fully aware of their needs.

   Our neuroscience clinical services at Keck School of Medicine have a very strong tradition and superb reputation both nationally and internationally. We are proud to be a part of the neuroscience team, enjoy the close working relationship with our clinical colleagues. We constantly communicate with our clinical colleagues and give full support to their work, such as Gamma Knife, Stereotactic Guided Surgery or Biopsy, Movement Disorder Surgery, Epilepsy Surgery and Stroke Therapy. We are also involved in their clinical research projects, such as treatment of Multiple Sclerosis and Brain Tumors. We also work closely with highly reputable orthopedic and neurosurgical spine surgeons We perform a number of interventional spine procedures, such as myelography, discography, facet block, nerve block and epidural block.

3. Maintain and improve an outstanding Neuroradiology training program that satisfies ACGME requirements and continues to receive their accreditation and endorsement.

   The neuroradiology fellowship training program was created 23 years ago by Hervey D. Segall, M.D. and was one of the first Neuroradiology programs in the country accredited by ACGME. Since the beginning of the fellowship program, we have not only maintained but also significantly improved the training program. Our fellows rotate through LAC+USC Medical Center, USC University Hospital, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), and LAC+USC Imaging Science Center. We have a total of three State of Art Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) units, with two more units under construction. New imaging techniques, such as diffusion imaging, functional imaging, and spectroscopy are being employed. We have a total of five modern Computed Tomography (CT) units and two dedicated neuroangiographic suites. Our Positron Emission Tomography suite is located adjacent to the USC University Hospital. We have a total of six attending staffs in Neuroradiology including a pediatric neuroradiologist and an ENT radiologist. In addition, a full time pediatric neuroradiologist is located at CHLA where the equipment includes MRI, CT and Angiographic suite.

4. Maintain and improve the quality of teaching for residents and fellows, in radiology as well as related clinical services.

   We have an extensive teaching conference schedule for residents and fellows. In addition, we also participate in the teaching conferences for neurosurgery, neurology, and orthopedic departments. A detailed list of our conferences is available separately.

5. Encourage and mandate staff, fellows and residents participation in clinical research and other scholarly activities.

   We have a weekly journal club, a monthly research meeting to encourage the participation of clinical research in neuroradiology with subsequent presentation of the results at the scientific meetings and publication in scientific journals. Our attending staffs and fellows are involved at local as well as national level scientific meetings regularly. Our attending staffs are regular reviewers for neuroscience journals, such as AJNR, AJR, Radiology, Neurosurgery. Publication of books, chapters and review articles are also encouraged.

6. Maintain and improve an extensive teaching file and create a digitized teaching file in Neuroradiology.

   Due to our clinical exposure to a great variety of disease processes involving the central nervous system, we are able to compile an extensive teaching file. We endeavor to refine our teaching file by improving the organization and adding references to the teaching file. Our ultimate goal is to have a digitized teaching file that can be accessed on the Web.