Program: Fellowship in Neuro and Vascular Interventional Radiology (FNVIR)

Number of Available Seats: Two seats (originally one seat; increased to two starting from the academic year 2023)

Hospital and Location: N.M Virani Wockhardt Hospital, Rajkot, Gujarat

Duration: 18 months(It was initially one year, but has been extended to 18 months from the academic year 2023)

Eligibility: Applicants must hold an MD/DNB degree in Radiology.

Diagnostic Exposure: During the fellowship, residents are dedicated to interventional tasks only without any separate diagnostic duties. However, they are involved in imaging procedures when admitting and assessing patients who visit the OPD. Diagnostic findings of the IR resident are later reviewed by both interventional and diagnostic consultants, ensuring comprehensive patient care and intervention planning. This collaborative approach substantially enhances residents’ learning.

Intervention spectrum: Fellows get  exposure to a a comprehensive range of interventions, covering Neuro interventions, Peripheral Vascular Interventions, Body interventions, Gastro-interventions, Hepatobiliary interventions, Onco-interventions and non-Vascular interventions.

Academic activities and multi-disciplinary meets: Due to busy and hectic schedule with limited IR consultants and residents, there was no official academic activities per say during my fellowship. However, every time there was a case posted, the IR resident is asked to read up important journals and there used to be a discussion the next day before the case was started. During free hours, the consultant also discusses various topics from his own PPT’s and also various complex cases scenarios and how to tackle and prevent complications.

Duty hours and emergencies/on call duties: Routine working time is from 9am to 8pm, followed by emergencies if any. As a single IR resident, I was on duty 24*7 throughout the fellowship (this may improve given that there are two fellowships now). For most of the acute emergencies, the consultant is also present alongside the fellow handling the emergency and making everything simpler and easier.

Fees: No tuition fee is required.

Salary: A monthly stipend of INR One lakh is provided.

Leaves: Residents can avail leaves for genuine reasons with proper permission.

Accommodation: Accommodation within the campus was provided during my residency. However, to avail the same facilities for upcoming residents is under discussion with management.

Conferences: Residents have the opportunity to attend various conferences alongside the consultant. They can also present cases if interested, although participation is not mandatory. The emphasis is on learning from experts at the conference and benefitting from the hands-on workshop facilities.

Tips on how to secure the fellowship: Candidates need to apply for fellowship by submitting their CVs on email. Only Candidates with previous IR experience will be shortlisted and asked to attend the interview. The interview will have various IR spotters, followed by viva (everything related to IR) and candidates will purely be selected based on their performance in the interview (through complete holistic approach and no bias).

Your personal experience at the fellowship: I consider myself fortunate to have been here. Getting an exposure to all spectrums of endovascular interventions under a single consultant and under a single roof is a dream opportunity. Not many institutes across the country offer head to toe interventional training at a single set-up. The work environment is extremely peaceful and there is no paperwork at all (all the paperwork is managed by a medical officer working in the IR department). Both the nursing and technical staff are highly experienced and work closely with IR consultant which also benefits the resident directly as they are always ready to help and guide the resident while performing procedures.

IR is a separate department here with its own OPD’s. All the patients undergoing interventions are admitted under the IR consultant and are also medically managed completely by IR, which is the major highlight for the resident as s/he will pass out as a complete clinician learning both interventional and medical management. As a trainee, you also get good hands-on exposure with independent opportunities in cerebral DSA, peripheral angiography, varicose veins thermal ablation, sclerotherapy, embolizations, peripheral angioplasties, biliary stenting and other non-vascular interventions (like PTBD, percutaneous drainage, biopsies etc.).

I was also fortunate to have got the opportunity to also deploy a few coils in the brain and perform a few carotid stentings by the end of my residency under the consultant’s guidance and monitoring. However, that depends on the consultant’s confidence on you. By the end of your fellowship, you will definitely pass out as a confident interventional radiologist considering peaceful learning environment and a passionate consultant who wants you to learn. If you ensure patient safety as your first priority at the time of your learning and residency, there is no limit to the amount of hands-on you might get based on the consultant’s confidence on you.   

Any additional comments: If you are passionate about IR and wish to do all interventions head to toe, this is the best platform for you. IR department has its own OPD and patients are admitted and medically managed completely by interventional radiologist which is the major bonus of this fellowship. The DrNB program is expected to be started in coming years and I am pretty sure this is going to be one of the premiere institutes for IR training in India.

Pro’s: No tuition fees, good stipend, complete IR spectrum in a single centre with good hands on, calm and peaceful learning environment, no paper work, a great mentor and extremely professional consultant who wants you to learn.

Con’s: Aortic and onco-interventions are relatively low in number, but good enough for any resident to understand how they are performed. However, externship program is expected to be started for the upcoming candidates.

Dr Gowrish Kumar P

MBBS, MD Radiology, FNVIR (Fellowship in Neuro and vascular Interventional Radiology)

Ph no: +91-8310665836

Email: gowrish008.gk34@gmail.com