Breast Imaging Fellowship

Overview

Program director Julie Ritner, MD explains the unique aspects of the breast imaging fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. She discusses being part of world class care at Cleveland Clinic and living and working in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Breast Imaging Fellowship is a 12-month dedicated fellowship that is 1 year in length beginning July 1 and ending June 30. There are 4 fellowship positions each academic year. The fellow receives comprehensive training in breast imaging, fully participating in all aspects of our clinical and educational work under the supervision of our 20 full and part-time staff.

The Cleveland Clinic Breast practice is a high-volume clinical service, interpreting over 170,000 screening studies, 35,000 diagnostic studies, 7,500 breast MRI exams. Additionally, over 5,000 image guided biopsies and localizations, including 2 MRI-guided biopsies are performed every day. We are a state-of-the-art department equipped with Siemens digital breast tomosynthesis and digital mammography, dedicated Philips ultrasound units, Hologic Affirm prone and upright stereotactic biopsy units, and eight 1.5T Siemens MRI magnets with dedicated breast time slots.

Fellows are staffed at the CCF main campus breast center, Taussig Cancer Center, and at several satellite facilities with dedicated breast centers. This allows the fellow to gain a broad experience in academic and community settings and to foster “supervised independence.”The fellow will always be directly working with a breast imaging staff at all sites. A typical workday is 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

To complement the rich clinical experience, fellows also prepare and present at multiple conferences, including a weekly multi-disciplinary breast conference, two resident didactic or case conferences, a monthly radiology–pathology correlation conference, and a quarterly journal club. We are part of the Midwest Breast Imaging Fellowship Consortium, and the fellows have protected time to attend the weekly didactic lectures provided by this collaboration.

Research opportunities are also supported based on the fellow’s level of interest, however there is no formal research requirement. For projects where the fellow is listed as first author on the poster or presentation and is the “presenter,” the office of Graduate Medical Education provides appropriate funds for attendance pending approval by the fellowship director.

**All applicants must have completed a United States residency training program in diagnostic radiology, and must be board certified or eligible by the American Board of Radiology prior to commencing the fellowship. Foreign applicants must also be board eligible in their country of origin, ECFMG certified, and be USMLE certified with passing scores on Steps one, two, and three.

• Living in Cleveland

Curriculum

• Interpretation of all breast imaging studies including mammography (screening, diagnostic, tomosynthesis), ultrasound, MRI.
• Extensive hands-on experience scanning breast ultrasound.
• Ample exposure to all breast-specific procedures including a high volume of biopsies (ultrasound, stereotactic, MRI guided); preoperative localizations with both traditional wire and SaviScout localizer devices; aspirations.
• Opportunity to directly participate in patient care by counseling patients about breast procedures and delivering biopsy results.
• Exposure to multidisciplinary aspects of breast imaging including participation in second opinion consultations with surgery, oncology, and medical breast colleagues.
• Protected time to participate in a weekly fellow-level lecture provided through instruction of residents and medical students.
• Participation in didactic and clinical conferences including multidisciplinary Tumor Board (weekly), Radiology–Pathology Correlation conference (monthly), Breast Imaging Fellows Conference (monthly), Journal Club (quarterly), and additional departmental conferences including Grand Rounds and the residency Interesting Case Conference.
• No evening or weekend call responsibilities.

Benefits

Salary as of June 1, 2024

* Clinical Fellow will receive additional salary for 1 clinical day each week.
* Reflect 2024 salary and is subject to change.

• More information about benefits.

Academic funding

• Up to 5 days for meetings per year.
• Up to $4,000 for oral presentations.
• Up to $1,000 for attendance-only meetings.

Vacation and time away

• 15 vacation days per year.
• 5 personal days per year.

Additional benefits

• Cleveland Clinic iPhone for the year.
• Comprehensive medical/dental/vision insurance.
• Maternity leave (8 weeks paid) + Parental leave (4 weeks paid).
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Employee Wellness Program including free gym membership.

Faculty

Laura Shepardson, MD Section Head, Breast Imaging	Undergraduate: Cornell University; Ithaca, NY Medical Education: Case Western Reserve University; Cleveland, OH Internship: MetroHealth Medical Center; Cleveland, OH Residency: Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland, OH Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland, OH
Julie Ritner, MD Program Director	Undergraduate: Bucknell University; Lewisburg, PA Medical Education: Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University; Philadelphia, PA Internship: Naval Medical Center; San Diego, CA Residency: Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI Fellowship: Brigham & Women’s Hospital; Boston, MA
Fouzeyah Ali, MD	Medical Education: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and Health Services; Shiraz, Iran Residency: Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital; Kuwait, Kuwait Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland, OH
Serine Baydoun, MD Associate Program Director	Undergraduate: American University of Beirut; Beirut, Lebanon Medical Education: American University of Beirut; Beirut, Lebanon Internship: Loyola University Medical Center; Maywood, IL Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; Iowa City, IA Fellowship: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX
Melanie Chellman, MD	Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, MD Medical Education: Penn State University; University Park, PA Residency: MetroHealth Medical Center; Cleveland, OH Fellowship: UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital; Pittsburgh, PA
Alicia Ferguson, DO	Undergraduate: Kent State University, Kent, OH Medical Education: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA Internship: Firelands Regional Medical Center, Sandusky, OH Residency: Aultman Hospital, Canton, OH Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Anthony Hamame, MD	Undergraduate: Wayne State University, Detroit, MI Medical Education: Ross University School of Medicine, Miramar, FL Internship: St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac, MI Residency: Michigan State University Affiliated Hospital of Flint, Grand Blanc, MI Fellowship: William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI; Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX
Cheryl Hubbard, MD	Undergraduate: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Blacksburg, VA Medical Education: Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College; Richmond, VA Fellowship: Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN
Caitlin Ilkanich, MD	Undergraduate: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI Medical Education: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing MI Internship: Summa Health, Akron, OH Residency: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Yasmin Mekhail, MD	Undergraduate: The George Washington University; Washington, D.C. Medical Education: George Washington University School of Medicine; Washington, D.C. Residency: University of South Florida; Tampa, FL Fellowship: George Washington University Medical Center; Washington, D.C.
Kathleen Meyer, MD	Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN Medical Education: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH Internship: Mayo Clinic of Medicine Jacksonville Program, Jacksonville, FL Residency: Mayo Clinic of Medicine Jacksonville Program, Jacksonville, FL Fellowship: Lynn Sage Breast Center, Chicago, IL
Lauren Miller, MD	Undergraduate: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH Medical Education: Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH Internship: Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, OH Residency: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC Fellowship: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Kimberly Monteith, MD	Undergraduate: Walsh University; North Canton, OH Medical Education: Northeast Ohio Medical University; Rootstown, OH Internship: Aultman Hospital; Canton, OH Residency: Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland, OH Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland, OH
Lindy Paradise, MD	Undergraduate: Miami University; Oxford, OH Medical Education: University of Toledo College of Medicine; Toledo, OH Internship/Residency: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX Fellowship: University of Colorado Hospital; Denver, CO
Camila Purysko, MD	Medical Education: Faculdade de Medicina de Pouso Alegre; Minas Gerais, Brazil Internship: Hospital das Clinicas Samuel Libanio; Minas Gerais, Brazil Residency: Hospital Beneficencia Portuguesa de Sao Paulo; Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland, OH
Alice Rim, MD Chair, Department of Radiology	Undergraduate: Northwestern University; Evanston, IL Medical Education: Medical College of Ohio at Toledo; Toledo, OH Internship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Pittsburgh, PA Residency: University of Cincinnati Medical Center; Cincinnati, OH Fellowship: University of Cincinnati Medical Center; Cincinnati, OH
Tina Ruchalski, MD	Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University; Cleveland, OH Medical Education: Medical College of Ohio at Toledo; Toledo, OH Internship: Akron City Hospital; Akron, OH Residency: Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland, OH Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland, OH
Rosalinn Santacruz, MD	Medical Education: Cayetano Heredia University School of Medicine, Lima, Peru Internship: Conemaugh Memorial Meical Center, Johnstown, PA Residency: Aultman Hospital, Canton, OH Fellowship: Aultman Hospital, Canton, OH
Anjali Singh, DO	Undergraduate: Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA Medical Education: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA Internship: St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, Youngstown, OH Residency: Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA Fellowship: Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
Paulette Turk, MD	Undergraduate: Knox College; Galesburg, IL Medical Education: Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine; Chicago, IL Internship: Transitional Year, Resurrection Medical Center; Chicago, IL Residency: The Western Pennsylvania Hospital/Allegheny General Hospital; Pittsburgh, PA Fellowship: University of California San Francisco Medical Center; San Francisco, CA
Brian Xavier, MD	Medical Education: Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA Internship: Northside Gwinnett Hospital, Lawrenceville, GA Residency: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL; Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in the Breast Imaging Fellowship Program at Cleveland Clinic. We participate in National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) sponsored by the Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) and will be accepting the common application form provided on the SBI website. We adhere to the All-In Policy for the match as implemented by the SBI and will be following the NRMP timeline for interviewing and ranking.

All applicants need to be enrolled in or have completed, an ACGME-accredited U.S. residency program or an RCPSC-accredited program or a CFPC-accredited Canadian residency program. We require ACFMG certification and USMLE steps 1, 2, and 3 for all foreign medical graduates and will sponsor applicants with J1 visas.

Application timeline

We will start accepting applications November 1 for the current interview season.

• Imaging Fellowship Application.
• Application period starts Nov 1, 2025.
• Interview period: mid-January through mid-February.

Application requirements

• SBI Common Application (including photo).
• Curriculum vitae.
• Personal statement.
• Medical school transcript.
• Medical school diploma.
• USMLE/COMLEX transcripts.
• 3 letters of recommendation (1 must be from current program director).
• ECGMG certificate, if applicable.

We look forward to reviewing your application.

Please take a moment to review a listing of all the requirements that must be met to train at Cleveland Clinic as well as the non-smoking policy.

Contact us

Julie Ritner, MD
Fellowship Program Director
Section of Breast Imaging
Cleveland Clinic Imaging Institute
9500 Euclid Ave. - A10
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
216.445.5076
ritnerj@ccf.org

Zachary Muetzel
Fellowship Coordinator
9500 Euclid Ave., L10
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
216.445.4900
muetzez@ccf.org