ESGAR: ESOR - ESGAR Exchange Programme

General Information

The trend toward increasing subspecialisation led the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR), supported by the European Society of Radiology (ESR) and the European School of Radiology (ESOR), to take the initiative in establishing an exchange programme for fellowships or subspecialisation training in abdominal imaging.

Aim

The application of new technologies to abdominal and gastrointestinal radiology has resulted in amazing breakthroughs, with rapid development and refinement of sophisticated diagnostic imaging tests. These technologic advances over the past decade have affected the requirements for the practice of abdominal imaging.

The Exchange Programme for Abdominal Imaging Fellowship offers an opportunity to complement subspecialisation training in abdominal imaging or an existing structured fellowship programme, through exchange, in this field of radiology. The three months exchange programme will provide an intense modular training in all areas of abdominal imaging, including conventional radiology and fluoroscopy, sonography, CT, MRI, and image-guided biopsies and therapeutic interventions.

The exchange programme is organised through ESOR and will expose trainees to all aspects of abdominal imaging under the supervision of an assigned mentor who is fellow member of ESGAR, in a pre-selected European reference training centre.

Number of available places

There are several places offered and organised through ESOR and the successful applicant will receive a grant jointly provided from ESR/ESOR and ESGAR.

Eligibility

This exchange programme applies to radiologists within the first three years after certification, who desire to become subspecialist radiologists.
The applicant must have knowledge of current clinical practice in radiology with regard to cross-sectional imaging. Competence in producing a radiological report, in communication with clinicians and patients, and knowledge of the principles of administration and management applied to a clinical department with multi-disciplinary staff and high-cost equipment are essential. Understanding the medicolegal implications of uncertainty and errors in diagnostic radiology is necessary.A clinical background in other disciplines which was achieved through clinical experience and training prior to entering the fellowship is important, whereas, clinical experience in gastroenterology, oncology or visceral surgery would be a benefit.
Applicants must be proficient in English.
ESR and ESGAR membership fees for the respective year must be settled.

Application

No application is possible at the moment.

Successful applicants 2024

Dr. Angela Ammirabile (Milan/IT) → Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy/FR

Dr. Stefan Milosevic (Belgrade/RS) → Medical University of Vienna, Vienna/AT

Dr. Katarzyna Biernacka-Racicot (Lodz/PL) → Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon/PT

Dr. Maria Alejandra Rueda (Bogota/CO) → Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia/ES

Dr. Katarina Stošić (Belgrade/RS) → General Hospital Treviso Italy, Treviso/IT

Dr. Jurgis Petkevicius (Launas/LT) → Università degli Studi di Palermo, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Policlinico "Paolo Giaccone", Palermo/IT

Dr. Mohammad Yunus Limbada (London/UK) → Hôpital Saint-Joseph, Paris/FR

Dr. Samuele Ceglar (Kreuzlingen/CH) → Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, IT

Feedback from previous years

I am very grateful to ESOR and ESGAR for giving me the opportunity to spend three months at the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon for the Abdominal Radiology research program. It has been an unforgettable life and learning experience, that I absolutely suggest to all my colleagues. A special thanks to my tutor, Prof. Celso Matos, and his fantastic team who warmly welcomed me since the beginning, involved me in the department life and shared their up-to-date knowledge. During this period, I had the opportunity to attend the weekly multidisciplinary meetings and reporting activity, in this way I deepened my knowledge about hepato-biliary-pancreatic diseases and colon-rectal cancer in a very stimulating environment.

Martina Caruso, Naples, Italy
Training Centre: Champalimaud Foundation, Lisbon/PT

As a firm believer in the necessity of exchange of knowledge and expertise for the sake of continuous improvement, I was thrilled to be chosen to participate in the ESOR/ESGAR exchange program fellowship for the year 2019. I cannot begin to describe how fruitful those three months of practice at University College London Hospital were in terms of pursuing my goal to specialize in abdominal imaging. Through the remarkable support of my dear tutors Prof. Steve Halligan and Dr. Andrew Plumb, I was exposed to various cases of different imaging modalities that altered my understanding of colorectal cancer staging, inflammatory bowel diseases, perianal diseases as well as pelvic floor dysfunctions. In addition to the comprehensive analysis of CT Colonography with Dr. Plumb and the numerous MDT meetings I have attended which truly advanced my clinical and radiological proficiency. It was a tremendous experience and I am forever grateful to ESOR, ESR and ESGAR as well as the abdominal radiology consultants at UCLH for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Mohamed Adel Abdelatty Elsayed, Cairo, Egypt
Training Centre: University College London Hospital - Centre for Medical Imaging, London/UK

I am very honoured to get this unique opportunity to learn and work in this respectable hospital for three months. I’m thankful to ESOR for the chance to improve my experience in different oncological areas, in the field of research as well as in clinics. It was certainly one of the most precious experiences in my professional life. I would like to express my gratitude to Professor Regina Beets-Tan and all her team made of experienced and brilliant radiologists, with profound thanks to my mentors Dr. Doenja Lambregts and Dr. Annemarie Bruining for their time and knowledge they have unselfishly shared with me. I would also like to mention the great PhD team, with the individuals always ready to help, with special thanks to Lisa Anna Min for the huge support in different everyday situations. At the end, I have to say that Amsterdam is an extraordinary place and one of the most beautiful cities with the great energy, and from now on, it will have a special place in my heart.

Aleksandra Jankovic, Belgrade, Serbia
Training Centre: Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, Amsterdam/NL

I am grateful for this amazing opportunity to be chosen in the ESGAR/ESOR abdominal imaging fellowship. During these three months, I had the chance to deepen my knowledge in liver and pancreatic pathology and also in pre- and post-liver transplant imaging. Participating in daily courses, multidisciplinary meetings, and reporting sessions, allowed me to study a vast spectrum of rare and interesting cases. I would like to thank Professor Valérie Vilgrain and my tutor, Professor Maxime Ronot, two people with excellent expertise in abdominal imaging, for all the support and guidance during this period. I think that this fellowship is an important pillar in the development of my future work and career.

Dr. Diana Florian, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Training Centre: Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy/FR

I am immensely grateful to ESOR and ESGAR for the invaluable opportunity to participate in the three-month Abdominal Radiology fellowship at Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris. It has been an unforgettable life and learning experience. A special thanks to the department head Prof. Olivier Lucidarme, my mentor Prof. Mathilde Wagner and the exceptional radiology team for their warm reception, guidance, and knowledge sharing. Engaging in weekly reporting activities, learning sessions, multidisciplinary meetings, and tumor boards significantly enriched my expertise in interpreting complex abdominal imaging, particularly within the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary systems. I have also expanded my knowledge in the field of prostate MRI and women's imaging. Additionally, I actively participated in research initiatives that hold the potential for international publications. This fellowship stands as a pivotal milestone, equipping me with advanced skills, comprehensive knowledge, and a global perspective in abdominal radiology. Beyond professional growth, the cultural immersion in Paris was an invaluable life experience.

Dr. Natália Henz Concatto, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Training Centre: La Pité-Salpêtrière Hospital, Sorbonne Université, Paris/FR

The exchange fellowship programme in the Azienda Osepedaliera – Università di Padova was a wonderful opportunity to expand my knowledge in abdominal imaging. The training exposed me to a multitude of cases, ranging from simple to complex and rare ones, some of which were my first time to encounter. I was also able to observe contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) procedures, a technique which is still not available in my home country. I would like to express my utmost gratitude to the European School of Radiology (ESOR) and the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) for awarding me this scholarship. A sincere thank you to Prof. Emilio Quaia, Prof. Federica Vernuccio, Dr. Crimì, Dr. Cabrelle, Dr. Pepe and the rest of the institute, for the warm welcome and for sharing their knowledge and expertise. I will use the invaluable knowledge and experience gained during this fellowship to better serve my future patients and community. I would surely recommend this exchange fellowship programme to anyone who wants to follow a path to specializing in abdominal imaging. Not only was it academically enriching, but I also had the best time meeting colleagues, learning a new language and immersing myself in another country and its culture.

Dr. Danielle Santos, Taguig, Philippines
Training Centre: University of Padova, Padova/IT