Alumni Spotlights

Amanda Smolock, MD, PHD

Amanda Smolock, MD, PhD is a former resident (2013-2017). After her residency, she completed a fellowship in interventional radiology at Penn Medicine. She then worked as an interventional radiologist at Jefferson University Hospital for a short time before taking her current job at the Medical College of Wisconsin where she is in a research focused faculty position in the Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology with 40% dedicated time for research.

Q: What are your areas of interest? A: My main interest is interventional oncology and specifically tumor ablation. I currently have a seed grant through the RSNA R&E Foundation to study the novel ablation modality histotripsy in veins. I led the preclinical studies of a commercial histotripsy device for liver ablation at UW that laid the basis for the first in human studies completed in Spain and the current clinical trial underway in the US for FDA approval of this device for liver tumor ablation. Q: In reflection, how would you say your training at UW-Madison helped you in your career? A: Among the many faculty who trained and mentored me throughout residency, I had the good fortune to have Dr. Fred Lee as my primary mentor. This relationship grew my interest in tumor ablation and allowed me to develop my clinical and research experience in this field. The impact his mentorship has had on my career trajectory cannot be overstated. In addition to being an amazing physician, researcher, and inventor, he is a wonderful human being who I can proudly call my friend. Just like Dr. Lee, there are so many wonderful faculty in the radiology department at UW who are both some of the most intelligent and nicest people you will ever meet. I am grateful I had the opportunity to train at UW.

Q: What advice would you share with prospective and current trainees at UW-Madison? A: UW Radiology is filled with amazing faculty who are recognized national and international experts. Soak up the opportunity to learn from them.

Brian Chan, MD

Brian Chan, MD is a former fellow in the Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention section (2017-18). After his fellowship, he moved to

Salt Lake City, UT and is now in his fourth year as a member of the MSK section within the University of Utah Department of Radiology.

Q: What are your areas of interest? A: My primary interest is in resident education. I was recognized as the radiology department’s Teacher of the Year for 2020-2021, despite feeling like I still have a lot of room for improvement as an educator. I recently matriculated at the University of Utah in the Master of Education in Health Professions program to better understand how adults assimilate unfamiliar knowledge and how I can tailor my teaching methods to meet residents’ learning goals. My clinical interests are in MRI quality, MSK ultrasound, CT-guided procedures, and sarcoma, which have unexpectedly intersected in the form of an industry grant from Samsung on comparing MRI and US for post-treatment surveillance of low-grade extremity sarcomas (on which another former UW alum, Hailey Allen, is the principal investigator). Q: In reflection, how would you say your training at UW-Madison helped you in your career? A: As an incredibly indecisive person (which many UW fellowship directors can confirm), I feel very fortunate that I received such great training across all specialties. Throughout both residency and fellowship, I was given the tools to succeed in any subspecialty and any practice setting. I also learned the importance of mentorship in helping me achieve my goals, and even now as an attending I continue to receive career advice from my former colleagues at UW. I try to provide the same level of support to my trainees that was and still is so beneficial for my professional and personal development.

Q: What advice would you share with prospective and current trainees at UW-Madison? A: Four years of radiology residency seems like a lot of time. It’s not. Study every day, read as many exams as you can, and take advantage of every opportunity to learn something from your attendings. When you’re stumped in practice, you’ll wish you showed up for those anxiety-inducing case conferences and paid more attention during marathon post-call staff outs.