Did you know some of the world’s top radiologists trained at UCalgary?

The portfolio of Dr. Johanna Ospel brims with accomplishment. She has thrived academically in Canada, Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands — now calling Calgary home.

But, for Ospel, one resumé item — the most recent, in fact — stands out.

It's her participation in the EFW Radiology Fellowship program at the University of Calgary — July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025 — because it was a remarkable, difference-making experience.

“Now I feel well-equipped to practise neuroradiology,” says Ospel, MD, PhD. “Before I came here, I was interested in neuroradiology, but, obviously, I didn’t have the in-depth knowledge of fellowship-trained neuroradiologists. The EFW neuroradiology fellowship program really gives fellows, including me, a solid foundation.”

Currently a clinical associate professor at UCalgary’s Department of Radiology in the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) and now an EFW staff member, Ospel is only one of the success stories.

Educating the next generation of radiology leaders

The initiative, celebrating its 10th anniversary, is a partnership between EFW Radiology — a private practice that has supported the fellowship for the last decade and recently contributed $1,965,000 to the program — and the CSM.

Providing an environment for training and teaching at the Foothills Medical Centre, plus offering financial support in some cases, the fellowships are open to post-residency radiologists eager to explore diagnostic imaging subspecialties such as diagnostic neuroradiology, neurointerventional imaging, cardiothoracic/cardiac MR imaging, interventional radiology, musculoskeletal imaging, and body imaging.

“It is very impactful and it’s very important,” says Dr. James Scott, BSc’87, MSc’90, MD, program director of the EFW Fellowship's neuroradiology branch and a clinical professor in the Department of Radiology. “Medicine, not just radiology, is a lot of training. The fellowships play a large part in the future of our physicians and radiologists. 

"The program pays it forward as, each year, a number of graduating fellows choose to remain in Calgary.”

Benefit to southern Alberta patients 

Fellows boost local radiologist capacity by directly contributing to the workload and care delivery, particularly during evenings, nights and weekends. As a flexible workforce, they increase the overall output of diagnostic imaging interpretation at a hospital that provides advanced health care to a population of more than two million people.

This year’s cohort features 16 fellows from Canada and around the world.

“We’re extremely proud of this partnership, which has become a well-established program deserving of its stellar reputation,” says Dr. Todd Anderson, MD’85, dean of the CSM. “By providing hands-on experience and access to some of the top experts in the field, our next generation of radiologists is able to advance their knowledge in whatever subspecialty they choose.

“We take great pride that international fellows come here because of what we have to offer, then (they) go back to their own countries and make a positive impact. And, sometimes, the fellows stay and help to take care of Albertans.”

For the fellows, the opportunity for subspecialization serves to deepen their knowledge base, which ultimately improves radiology research and benefits practices and patient outcomes, says Dr. Kathleen Jacobs, MD, the EFW Fellowship’s program director.

“Once you’re focusing on a smaller area of radiology you can really be better,” says Jacobs, herself a product of the EFW Fellowship program from 2019-21, and a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Radiology. “Some fellows are from parts of the world where this kind of subspecialization is just not available.”

Steep learning curve

Ospel is a member of the CSM’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute, the Libin Cardiovascular Institute and the O’Brien Institute for Public Health. During her fellowship, she focused on two subspecialties — diagnostic neuroradiology during her first year, then neurointerventional imaging.

“It’s a very supportive and friendly environment,” says Ospel, who learned to treat patients with diseases of the blood vessels of the brain, such as stroke, and now performs minimally invasive surgical procedures of the brain and spine. “The value of the fellowship program I chose lies in the multidisciplinary approach. 

"The radiology fellows work very, very closely with the neurosurgeons and the neurologists, so we get insight from other specialties. Also, the case load is quite high, so there’s a very steep learning curve, which is what you want.”

Productive one-on-one teaching sessions further enhance the experience. “Despite the busy schedule, all the staff take the time to patiently explain things,” says Ospel, who, as an EFW radiologist, is now helping guide the current crop of fellows. In hindsight, she appreciates the program’s commitment to mentorship more than ever. 

And, once the trainees move on, the impact of EFW’s program is on full display, says Jacobs.

“I can see a huge difference in our fellows from when they arrive to the day they leave, not just in knowledge and experience, but also in their confidence,” she says. “At their future practice — wherever they go — they will be the person who has had the most exposure to the level of imaging we practise at. They will go on to make huge contributions to their practices.”