Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention Fellowship

Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI of Shoulder Joint

Site(s): Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), UBC Hospital (UBCH), and BC Women’s Hospital (BCWH)

Overview

Our Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention Fellowship is a busy program currently accepting six to seven fellows per year. Fellows are an integral part of the musculoskeletal services at VGH, UBCH, and BCWH, which perform a wide variety of examinations, including radiography, Ultrasound, Dual Energy CT, 1.5 and 3 tesla MRI, Accelerated AI Assisted MRI protocols, MR Neurography, bone mineral density, and a full complement of MSK interventional procedures.

Oncology and Interventional procedures

Main Track: Basic interventional procedure training for all MSK fellows includes imaging-guided soft tissue and bone biopsy, image-guided pain management, joint aspiration, and injection including arthrography, spinal injection, and Radiofrequency Neuromodulation.

Advanced Procedure Tract: For fellows with a particular interest in MSK intervention as a career path, additional training in advanced procedures, including cryoablation, vertebroplasty, and cementoplasty is available. Candidates interested in advanced procedures should indicate their interest at the time of application and are expected to have already achieved an appropriate standard of basic procedural skills. For these trainees, our aim is to ensure independent advanced MSK IR practice capability by the end of the year. Due to training requirements and complexity, we can train a maximum of 3-4 fellows per year in this part of the program.

As the Vancouver General Hospital is the primary site for the management of musculoskeletal oncology, we have a strong relationship with the sarcoma program at the British Columbia Cancer Agency and participate in the program each week. Most patients are biopsied at the Vancouver General Hospital, and most staging imaging is also done at VGH. Also, a close working relationship exists with the division of palliative care at the BC Cancer Agency with a program for image-guided palliative care procedures performed at VGH.

Sports Imaging and Orthopedics

The musculoskeletal radiology service has a close relationship with orthopedics, and fellows are encouraged to attend orthopedics grand rounds. An extensive reconstructive joint program is based at Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Hospital, providing an opportunity for the evaluation of prostheses as well as aspiration and injection of joints. Vancouver General Hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Centre with a large volume of orthopedic trauma and sports injury-related imaging. The MSK division also has a close relationship with Sports Medicine at UBCH, with significant volumes of sport-related injury MR imaging, DECT, and US. MSK Fellows lead our Sport Medicine rounds at the Allen McGavin Center and are exposed to Professional Athlete imaging through our practice.

Rheumatology and Metabolic Bone Disease

A strong relationship also exists between Musculoskeletal Radiology and Rheumatology. Our practice has a sizeable rheumatological case volume with exposure to all imaging modalities, including DECT, for patients with Gout. Imaging all rheumatological disorders, including peripheral inflammatory arthritides and spondyloarthropathies, as well as MR imaging of degenerative disc disease of the spine, is standard. We interpret a large volume of spine imaging across all our sites. We also are involved in imaging metabolic bone disorders such as Gaucher’s disease. MSK Fellows are an integral part of the rheumatology rounds with the clinical team.

Research and Teaching

MSK Fellows are expected to lead a Capstone Research Project in view of publication. Fellows are encouraged to write reviews and case reports and are expected to participate in the MSK Journal Club. Some of the strongest areas of research and development at VGH and UBCH are in Sports Imaging, MSK intervention, and MSK applications of Dual Energy CT. CT-Like MRI sequences, MSK applications of AI such as accelerated MRI protocols and 3D Printing are also of interest. Fellows are encouraged to present at UBC Research Day and national and international meetings such as CAR, ISS, RSNA, and ARRS. Fellows are also expected to contribute to teaching the rotating residents and medical students as well as delivering one lecture at the MSK Lecture Series (Vancouver Bone Squad) in the 2nd half of their fellowship. Our Zoom MSK Lecture Series is viewed by hundreds of subscribers around the world from 76 countries.

Clinical and Teaching Rounds

  • Allen McGavin Center Sports Medicine-Radiology Rounds (Fellow led)
  • MSK Lecture Series (Vancouver Bone Squad: Local Staff, Alumni, and International Speakers)
  • MSTCF: Multidisciplinary Sarcoma Rounds (Fellow led)
  • MSTCF (R): Orthopedics Oncology-Radiology Rounds (Fellow led)
  • MIPPC: Palliative Rounds for Cryoablation and Cementoplasty (Fellow-led)
  • MSK Radiology Journal Club (Fellow led)
  • MSK Peer Learning Rounds including two Audits (Fellow led)
  • Rheumatology-Radiology Rounds (Fellow-led)
  • MSK Radiology Interesting Cases Rounds (Fellow led)
  • Vancouver Hip Institute Arthroscopy-Radiology Correlation Rounds (Fellow-led)
  • Radiology Grand Rounds
  • Orthopedics Grand Rounds

MSK Fellow Call

MSK fellows call includes afterhours coverage for joint aspirations, MSK MRI protocol and MSK US questions. MSK fellows participate in the weekend emergency daytime shift pool and also in sporadic weekend pain injection clinics including spine injections.

MSK Radiology Staff

  • Dr. Gordon Andrews: Vancouver Imaging Chief Operating Officer
  • Dr. Bruce Forster: MSK Radiologist (ISS Member)
  • Dr. Luck Louis: Director of MSK Ultrasound
  • Dr. Paul Mallinson: Director of MSK Education (ISS Member)
  • Dr. Peter Munk: MSK Intervention Pioneer (ISS Member)
  • Dr. Nicolas Murray: Director of MSK CT/DECT
  • Dr. Savvas Nicolaou: Vancouver Imaging Chief Executive Officer
  • Dr. Hugue Ouellette: Head of MSK Division (ISS Member)
  • Dr. Adnan Sheikh: Director of MSK MRI and Research (ISS Member)

Application Information

Please see the Step by Step Application Guide to fill the application.
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
All documents should be in PDF format only.

Go to the Fellowship Application Form

Please ensure your Referees email the letters of reference directly to ubcrad.fellowship@ubc.ca before the application deadline.

Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellowship – VGHDirector/Contact Information
5 fully-funded positions 
Up to 2 Sponsored or Self-Funded positions   

Applications for 2026-2027 are now closed. We are reviewing applications. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Accepting applications for 2027-2028
Application Deadline: August 31, 2025		Dr. Hugue Ouellette, Director  
UBC Radiology
Gordon and Leslie Diamond
Health Care Centre, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 1M9
ubcrad.fellowship@ubc.ca

Click here to view the current progress of Fellowship applications.

Additional Information

Vancouver Bone Squad (Alumni Association)  

Our graduating MSK fellows are welcome to become full members of Vancouver Bone Squad, our Alumni Association. Advantages of membership include networking with other members worldwide and access to our weekly CME accredited MSK lecture series through Zoom. Members are also invited to our social events at major meetings such as at the ISS. (http://bonesquad.ca)

Promotional video

Social media

@BoneVancouver (Twitter, Instagram and YouTube)

MSK Team Recent Research Output

Papers

  1. Jones CE, Cibere J, Qian H, Zhang H, Guo Y, Russell D, Forster BB, Wong H, Esdaile JM, Wilson DR; IMPAKT-HiP study team. T1Gd is reduced in bone marrow lesions overlying cartilage in the hip. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2023 Oct;31(10):1405-1414. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2023.06.008. Epub 2023 Jun 28. PMID: 37385537.
  2. Aljefri AM, Brien CO, Tan TJ, Sheikh AM, Ouellette H, Bauones S. Clinical Applications of PRP: Musculoskeletal Applications, Current Practices and Update. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2023 Oct 2. doi: 10.1007/s00270-023-03567-y. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37783774.
  3. Lee J, Forster BB. Non-Enhancing Tissue on Diabetic Foot Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Relation to Osteomyelitis Investigation: Magnetic Resonance Imaging Performance, Pitfalls and Clinical Considerations. Can Assoc Radiol J. 2023 May 21:8465371231179461. doi: 10.1177/08465371231179461. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37211654.
  4. Onishi K, Engebresten L, Budgett R, Soligard T, Forster BB. The International Olympic Committee Venue Ultrasound Program: A Pilot Study From Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2023 May 1;102(5):449-453. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002192. Epub 2023 Jan 19. PMID: 36722849.
  5. Hamel C, Avard B, Gorelik N, Heroux M, Mai D, Sheikh A, Vo A, Watson ML, Rakhra K. Canadian Association of Radiologists Musculoskeletal System Diagnostic Imaging Referral Guideline. Can Assoc Radiol J. 2023 Sep 27:8465371231190807. doi: 10.1177/08465371231190807. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37635274
  6. Saffarzadeh M, Haydar SMA, Shojania K, Ouellette H, Nicolaou S, Murray N. Assessing tophaceous spinal gout treatment response using dual-energy CT as a point-of-care imaging modality: case report. Skeletal Radiol. 2023 Aug;52(8):1599-1604. doi: 10.1007/s00256-022-04260-w. Epub 2022 Dec 23. PMID: 36562821.
  7. Saththianathan M, Mallinson PI, Munk PL, Heran MKS. Percutaneous spine biopsy: reaching those hard-to-reach places. Skeletal Radiol. 2023 Oct;52(10):1803-1814. doi: 10.1007/s00256-022-04120-7. Epub 2022 Jul 15. PMID: 35840815.
  8. Liu T, Melkus G, Ramsay T, Sheikh A, Laneuville O, Trudel G. Bone marrow adiposity modulation after long duration spaceflight in astronauts. Nat Commun. 2023 Aug 9;14(1):4799. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40572-8. PMID: 37558686; PMCID: PMC10412640.
  9. Meer E, Patel M, Chan D, Sheikh AM, Nicolaou S. Dual-Energy Computed Tomography and Beyond: Musculoskeletal System. Radiol Clin North Am. 2023 Nov;61(6):1097-1110. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2023.05.008. Epub 2023 Jun 30. PMID: 37758359.
  10. Arribas EM, Kelil T, Santiago L, Ali A, Chadalavada SC, Chepelev L, Ghodadra A, Ionita CN, Lee J, Ravi P, Ryan JR, Sheikh AM, Rybicki FJ, Ballard DH; RSNA Special Interest 3D Printing Breast Conditions Voting Group. Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 3D Printing Special Interest Group (SIG) clinical situations for which 3D printing is considered an appropriate representation or extension of data contained in a medical imaging examination: breast conditions. 3D Print Med. 2023 Mar 23;9(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s41205-023-00171-1. PMID: 36952139; PMCID: PMC10037829.
  11. Odedra D, Narayanasamy S, Sabongui S, Priya S, Krishna S, Sheikh A. Dual Energy CT Physics-A Primer for the Emergency Radiologist. Front Radiol. 2022 Feb 24;2:820430. doi: 10.3389/fradi.2022.820430. PMID: 37492677; PMCID: PMC10364985.
  12. Yao J, Chepelev L, Nisha Y, Sathiadoss P, Rybicki FJ, Sheikh AM. Evaluation of a deep learning method for the automated detection of supraspinatus tears on MRI. Skeletal Radiol. 2022 Sep;51(9):1765-1775. doi: 10.1007/s00256-022-04008-6. Epub 2022 Feb 22. PMID: 35190850.
  13. Ouellette HA, Munk PL. Winter Sports Issue. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2022 Feb;26(1):1-2. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1740994. Epub 2022 Feb 9. PMID: 35139554.
  14. Masood S, Mallinson PI, Sheikh A, Ouellette H, Munk PL. Percutaneous bone biopsy. Tech Vasc Interv Radiol. 2022 Mar;25(1):100800. doi: 10.1016/j.tvir.2022.100800. Epub 2022 Jan 16. PMID: 35248324.
  15. Yan YY, Holmes RD, Mallinson PI, Andrews GT, Munk PL, Ouellette HA. Imaging Review of Hockey-Related Upper Extremity Injuries. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2022 Feb;26(1):3-12. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1731422. Epub 2022 Feb 9. PMID: 35139555.
  16. Andrews GT, Munk PL, Ouellette HA. Imaging Review of Hockey-related Lower Extremity Injuries. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2022 Feb;26(1):13-27. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1731795. Epub 2022 Feb 9. PMID: 35139556.
  17. Saththianathan M, Mallinson PI, Munk PL, Heran MKS. Percutaneous spine biopsy: reaching those hard-to-reach places. Skeletal Radiol. 2022 Jul 15. doi: 10.1007/s00256-022-04120-7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35840815.
  18. Nasir MU, Alsugair F, Sheikh A, Ouellette H, Munk P, Mallinson P. A Comprehensive Radiologic Review of Shoulder Girdle Trauma. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2022 Oct;26(5):527-534. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1755431. Epub 2022 Dec 19. PMID: 36535588.
  19. Holmes RD, Walsh JP, Yan YY, Mallinson PI, Andrews GT, Munk PL, Ouellette HA. Imaging of Hockey-related Injuries of the Head, Neck, and Body. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2022 Feb;26(1):28-40. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1731420. Epub 2022 Feb 9. PMID: 35139557.
  20. Katagiri H, Forster BB, Engebretsen L, An JS, Adachi T, Saida Y, Onishi K, Koga H. Epidemiology of MRI-detected muscle injury in athletes participating in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Br J Sports Med. 2022 Dec 5;57(4):218–24. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-105827. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36588405; PMCID: PMC9933160.
  21. Jones CE, Cibere J, Qian H, Zhang H, Guo Y, Russell D, Forster BB, Wong H, Esdaile JM, Wilson DR. Delayed Gadolinium-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cartilage Values in Hips With Bone Marrow Lesions. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2022 Dec;74(12):1997-2004. doi: 10.1002/acr.24733. Epub 2022 Aug 8. PMID: 34137188.
  22. Marcuzzi A, Forster BB. Does Immobilization Post Injection Reduce Contrast Extravasation in MR Arthrography of the Shoulder? Can Assoc Radiol J. 2022 Feb;73(1):25-26. doi: 10.1177/08465371211023889. Epub 2021 Jun 11. PMID: 34114915.
  23. The Role of a Virtual Noncalcium Dual-Energy CT Application in the Detection of Bone Marrow Edema in Peripheral Osteomyelitis. Yan YY, Ouellette H, Saththianathan M, Munk PL, Mallinson PI, Sheikh A. Can Assoc Radiol J. 2022 Jan 10.
  24. Gouty Arthropathy: Review of Clinical Manifestations and Treatment, with Emphasis on Imaging. Jennifer S. Weaver, Ernest R. Vina, Peter L. Munk, Andrea S. Klauser , Jamie M. Elifritz, Mihra S. Taljanovic J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11(1), 166.
  25. The diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fractures redux. Lentle BC, Hammond I, Leslie WD, Brown JP, Probyn L, Munk PL, Prior JC, Goltzman D. Clin Radiol. 2022 Jan;77(1):75-77. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2021.09.021. Epub 2021 Oct 31.
  26. Localized plantar amyloidosis: case report and review of the literature. Dhatt R, Walstra F, Munk P, Ng T, Mallinson P. Skeletal Radiol. 2021 Jul;50(7):1467-1472. doi: 10.1007/s00256-020-03696-2. Epub 2021 Jan 15.
  27. A Single-Center 10-Year Retrospective Analysis of Cryoablation for the Management of Desmoid Tumors.Yan YY, Walsh JP, Munk PL, Mallinson PI, Simmons C, Clarkson PW, Jayaram PR, Heran MKS, Ouellette HA.J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2021 Sep;32(9):1277-1287. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2021.05.025. Epub 2021 Jun 3.PMID: 34089889.
  28. Impact of 24/7/365 Attending Radiologist Coverage on the Turnaround Time of Trauma-Related Imaging Studies Being Finalized Within 48 Hours in an Emergency Radiology Department, Offering a Perspective from a Tertiary Care Hospital. Jalal S, Ante Z, Ouellette H, Peters S, Munk P, Nicolaou S. Can Assoc Radiol J. 2021 Nov;72(4):862-870. doi: 10.1177/0846537120902046. Epub 2020 Mar 11.
  29. Does Immobilization Post Injection Reduce Contrast Extravasation in MR Arthrography of the Shoulder?. Marcuzzi A, Forster BB. Can Assoc Radiol J. Epub 2021 Jun 11:8465371211023889.
  30. The Evolving Roles of MRI and Ultrasound in First-Line Imaging of Rotator Cuff Injuries. Zoga AC, Kamel SI, Hynes JP, Kavanagh EC, O’Connor PJ, Forster BB. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2021: 217 (6): 1390-1400
  31. Sheikh A, Forster BB.“Holding It in Your Hand”: Musculoskeletal Applications of 3D Printing.Can Assoc Radiol J. 2020 Feb 6.
  32. Kandiah JW, Chan VWY, Luo J, Dong F, Nugent JP, Forster BB. Reducing the Volume of Low-Value Outpatient MRI Joint Examinations in Patients ≥55 Years of Age. Can Assoc Radiol J. 2020 Jan 22 [Epub ahead of print)
  33. Delayed Gadolinium Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cartilage (dGEMRIC) Values are Lower in Hips with Bone Marrow Lesions. Jones CE, Cibere J, Qian H, Zhang H, Guo Y, Russell D, Forster BB, Wong H, Esdaile JM, Wilson DR. Epub 2021 Jun 16.
  34. Cryotherapy in extra-abdominal desmoid tumors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Vora BMK, Munk PL, Somasundaram N, Ouellette HA, Mallinson PI, Sheikh A, Abdul Kadir H, Tan TJ, Yan YY. PLoS One. 2021 Dec 23;16(12):e0261657. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261657. eCollection 2021.PMID: 34941915.
  35. Periarticular calcifications.Yan YY, Dous YNB, Ouellette HA, Munk PL, Murray N, Mallinson PI, Sheikh MA. Skeletal Radiol. 2021 Jun 21. doi: 10.1007/s00256-021-03842-4. PMID:34155550.
  36. Quantitative analysis of repaired rabbit supraspinatus tendons (± channeling) using magnetic resonance imaging at 7 Tesla.Trudel G, Duchesne-Bélanger S, Thomas J, Melkus G, Cron GO, Larson PEZ, Schweitzer M,Sheikh A, Louati H, Laneuville O. Quant Imaging Med Surg. 2021 Aug;11(8):3460-3471. doi: 10.21037/qims-20-1343.PMID: 34341723
  37. Preoperative bone marrow stimulation does not improve functional outcomes in arthroscopic cuff repair: a prospective randomized controlled trial.Lapner P, Pollock JW, Laneuville O, Uhthoff HK, Zhang T, Sheikh A, McIlquham K, Trudel G. Bone Joint J. 2021 Jan;103-B(1):123-130. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.103B1.BJJ-2020-0011.R2.PMID: 33380195
  38. Improved Appropriateness of Advanced Diagnostic Imaging After Implementation of Clinical Decision Support Mechanism.Chepelev LL, Wang X, Gold B, Bonzel CL, Rybicki F Jr, Uyeda JW, Sheikh A, Anderson D, Lindaman J, Mogel G, Mitsouras D, Mahoney MC, Cai T, Rybicki FJ. J Digit Imaging. 2021 Feb 25. doi: 10.1007/s10278-021-00433-6. Online ahead of print.PMID: 33634414
  39. Repetitive trauma-induced extra-nuchal-type fibroma. Jayaram PR, Walsh J, Lari H, Mohammad N, Mallinson PI, Ouellette HA. Skeletal Radiol. 2021 Sep 23:1-5. doi: 10.1007/s00256-021-03912-7. Online ahead of print.
  40. Implications of Cone Beam CT Peripheral Edge Blurring and Signal Attenuation for Interventional Procedures. Holmes RD, Thakur Y, Mallinson P.Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2022 Jan;45(1):137-141. doi: 10.1007/s00270-021-02971-6. Epub 2021 Sep 29.PMID: 34590161 No abstract available.
  41. Urate Crystals; Behond Joints. Ahmad MI, Massood S, Furlanetto, Nicolaou S.Front Med. 2021 Jun 4;8:649505
  42. Spectral Computed Tomography: Fundamental Principles and Recent Developments. So A, Nicolaou S. Korean J Radiol. 2021 Jan;22(1):86-96.
  43. Clinical Applications of Dual-Energy CT. Hamid S., Nasir MU, So A, Andrews G, Nicolaou S. Qamar SR. Korean J Radiol 2021 Jun;22(6):970-982.
  44. A Whole-Joint, unidimensional, irreversible, and fine-grained MRI knee osteoarthritis severity score, based on cartilage, osteophytes and meniscus (OA-COM). Sayre EC, Guermazi A, Nicolaou S, Esdaile JM, Kopec JA, Singer J, Wong H, Thorne A, Cibere J. PLoS One. 2021 Oct 14;16(10).

Books and book chapters:

  1. Interventional Radiology in Palliative Care
    Editors: Peter L. Munk and Suresh B Babu
    Springer March 2021, SBN: 978-3-030-65463-4
  2. Jayaram PB, Yan YY, Mallinson PI, Ouellette HA, Munk PL Interventional Radiologic Techniques in the Management of Bone Tumors. In Bone Cancer Bone Sarcomas and Bone Metastases – From Bench to Bedside 3rd Edition – 2021
  3. Beall DP, Munk PL, DePalma MJ, Davis T, Amirdelfan, Hunter CW. Intrathecal Pump Drug Delivery. January 2022. Springer. ISBN 978-7-030-86243-5

Grants:

  1. Quantitative analysis of 3D-MRI and 3D-CT imaging of femoroacetabular impingement. 2023 Ortho Seed Grant. Department of Orthopedics. University of British Columbia. Co-PI – Adnan Sheikh, Parth Lodhia. Co- Investigator – Hugue Ouellette. $25000
  2. READY (REd blood cell Active DYnamics in space). PI Guy Trudel. Co-I: Marjorie Brand, Mark Campbell, Tim Ramsay, Adnan Sheikh, Odette Laneuville, Hakim Louati. Collaborators: Damien Carragher, Nibras Shahin. Canadian Space Agency GatewayUtilization Concept Studies. Contract 9F055-220024. $249 879.
  3. 2021 Integrating AI and IGT for Spinal Pain Managements. Cooper P, Liu D, Sheikh MA, Alexander INOVAIT grant. $125 000.
  4. 2021- 2025 The SPIN Study (The Canadian SPace hemolysIs and aNemia Study). Trudel G, Campbell M, Laneuville O, Sebastiani P, Stintzi A, Shiekh, M A. $ 200 000. Project sponsored by Canadian Space Agency.