"Comments like this 'Oh, I didn't think you would continue in IR after having your baby,' don't help, because you're already going through a lot." -- Esha Kothekar, MD 

As part of the Kinked Wire podcast, medical student and SIR member Marie Hamel speaks with Esha Kothekar, MD, and Lei Yu, MD, the Women in Interventional Radiology Section vice chair, about the challenges that come with pregnancy as an interventional radiologist.

SIR thanks Medtronic for its generous support of the Kinked Wire.

Contact us with your ideas and questions, or read more about interventional radiology in IR Quarterly magazine or SIR's Patient Center.

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This recording features audio versions of the January 2025 Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR) abstracts:

Articles

• Cryoablation Protocols for Primary and Metastatic Lung Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Evaluating Effectiveness and Safety of Percutaneous Cryoablation of Pulmonary Tumors (Read)
• Outcomes of Percutaneous Cystic Duct Stent Placement for Acute Cholecystitis (Read)
• Transarterial Microembolization Therapy for Chronic First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Pain: A New Minimally Invasive Approach (Read)
• Tumor-Absorbed Dose, Metabolic Response, and Survival after Yttrium-90 Radioembolization in Patients with Breast Cancer Liver Metastases (Read)
• Modeling Clinical Relevance and Risk in Yttrium-90 Radioembolization of the Liver: Lung Shunt Fraction Variability According to Imaging Modality, Cancer Type, and Tumor Size (Read)

JVIR and SIR thank all those who helped record this episode. To sign up to help with future episodes, please contact our outreach coordinator at [email protected].

Host

• Sonya Choe, University of California Riverside School of Medicine

Audio Editor

• Sonya Choe, University of California Riverside School of Medicine

Outreach Coordinator

• Millennie Chen, University of California Riverside School of Medicine

Abstract Readers:

• Char Rai, Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Morgan Smeltzer, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine
• Emily Jagenberg,  Oakland University. William Beaumont School of Medicine 
• Ahmed Alzubaidi, Wayne State University School of Medicine
• Tiffany Nakla, Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nevada

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“Always assume that everyone knows more than you do, and go into places with a lot of modesty.” – Brittany Brookner, MD

In this episode of the Kinked Wire, Virginia Tech Carilion medical student Aysha Alani hosts a discussion between PGY-2 Brittany Brookner, MD, and PGY-6 Chief Resident Neil Jain, MD, about their experiences, advice and absolute don'ts for away rotations. 

SIR thanks Medtronic for its generous support of the Kinked Wire.

Contact us with your ideas and questions, or read more about interventional radiology in IR Quarterly magazine or SIR's Patient Center.

Support the show

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“I started off simply by volunteering to do things and being interested, but I didn’t have a mentor, per say.” – Brian Funaki, MD, FSIR

In this episode of the Kinked Wire, host Thomas Tullius, Jr., MD, speaks with his former attending Brian Funaki, MD, FSIR, on his career progression, from trainee to incoming JVIR co-editor in chief.

SIR thanks BD for its generous support of the Kinked Wire.

Contact us with your ideas and questions, or read more about interventional radiology in IR Quarterly magazine or SIR's Patient Center.

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This recording features audio versions of the December 2025 Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR) abstracts:

Articles

• Association between Age of Kidney Transplant and Hemorrhagic Adverse Events Following Transplant Kidney Biopsy (Read)
• A Prospective Single-Arm Trial of Genicular Artery Embolization for Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: Clinical and Biomarker Outcomes (Read)
• Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Colonic Diverticular Bleeding: Outcomes and Risk Factors for Rebleeding (Read)
• Simultaneous Portal and Hepatic Vein Embolization versus Portal Vein Embolization Only in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Review of Safety and Effectiveness (Read)
• Pulmonary Toxicity of Ethiodized Oil in the Venous Circulation in Mice: Radiological Findings and Pathological Correlation (Read)

JVIR and SIR thank all those who helped record this episode. To sign up to help with future episodes, please contact our outreach coordinator at [email protected].

Host

• Sonya Choe, University of California Riverside School of Medicine

Audio Editor

• Daniel Roh, Loma Linda University School of Medicine

Outreach Coordinator

• Millennie Chen, University of California Riverside School of Medicine

Abstract Readers:

• Shobhit Chamoli, Armed Forces Medical College
• Emily Jagenberg,  Oakland University. William Beaumont School of Medicine 
• Morgan Smeltzer, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine
• Thanmayi Parasu, University of Texas Medical Branch
• Tiffany Nakla, Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nevada

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Mark H. Knelson, MD, thought his IR career had come to an early end—until he discovered locum tenens work.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Knelson heard that one of the radiology groups in his town was short on IRs. Because it was so close to his home—approximately 13 minutes—he offered to help, including taking call as needed.

In  the audio version of "The unexpected locum" (Fall 2025 IR Quarterly), senior editorial manager Hope Racine describes the career of Mark H. Knelson, MD, who shared his unplanned path to locums work. 

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“I think the landscape of healthcare is changing, and rural healthcare understands the value of IR—in some senses more than the urban setting does.” - Elizabeth A. Ignacio, MD, FSIR

On this episode of the Kinked Wire, host Mark L. Lessne, MD, FSIR, speaks with Elizabeth A. Ignacio, MD, FSIR, on how she handles working in a small and rural practice in Hawaii, lessons she learned while paving her own path and how she created an IR LLC.

Related resources:

• Read more about the SIR Small and Rural Practice Committee.

SIR thanks BD for its generous support of the Kinked Wire.

Contact us with your ideas and questions, or read more about about interventional radiology in IR Quarterly magazine or SIR's Patient Center.

Support the show

This recording features audio versions of the November 2025 Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR) abstracts:

Articles

• Prospective Multicenter Observational Study of Silent Brain Infarction following Transradial Hepatic Intervention (The MOSAIC Study)
• First-in-Human Evaluation of a New Resorbable Microspherical Embolic Agent for Genicular Artery Embolization to Treat Pain Secondary to Knee Osteroarthritis
• Improved Outcomes from Prolonged Percutaneous Biliary Drainage in Pediatric Patients with Biliary Stenosis after Liver Transplantation
• Comparison of Cone-Beam CT Angiography and Contrast-Enhanced CT Guidance Using Electromagnetic Navigation for Percutaneous Liver Microwave Ablation: A Retrospective Nonrandomized Observational Study
• Removal of Chest Ports for Infection: Risk in Patients with a History of Prior Port Removal for Infection

JVIR and SIR thank all those who helped record this episode. To sign up to help with future episodes, please contact our outreach coordinator at [email protected].

Host

• Sonya Choe, University of California Riverside School of Medicine

Audio Editor

• Daniel Roh, Loma Linda University School of Medicine

 Outreach Coordinator

• Millennie Chen, University of California Riverside School of Medicine

 Abstract Readers:

• Shobhit Chamoli, Armed Forces Medical College
• Emily Jagenberg, Oakland University. William Beaumont School of Medicine 
• Ahmed Alzubaidi, Wayne State University School of Medicine
• Ipek Midillioglu, Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Tiffany Nakla, Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nevada

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“Kindergarten skills, right? If you’re a pain to be around, you can be the best clinically, but no one wants to hang out with you at 2 a.m. when that bleed comes in.”- Viknesh Kasthuri, MD

In this episode, host Marie Hamel and guest Viknesh Kasthuri, MD, a resident at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, discuss all your burning questions about the match process, including how to prepare and how to cope with the stress of the match process. 

Related resources:

• Read more about the IR Integrated Residency.
• Learn more about upcoming Meet and Greet opportunities.

SIR thanks BD for its generous support of the Kinked Wire.

Contact us with your ideas and questions, or read more about about interventional radiology in IR Quarterly magazine or SIR's Patient Center.

(c) Society of Interventional Radiology.

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This recording features audio versions of the October 2025 Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR) abstracts:

Articles

• Effectiveness of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt Creation for the Treatment of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Read
• Adverse Events of Tunneled Central Venous Catheters versus Totally Implantable Venous Access Devices in Pediatric Oncology: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Read
• Genicular Artery Embolization Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Study Read
• The Impact of Common-to-External Iliac Arterial Diameter Ratio on Mid- to Long-term Patency of Kissing Aortoiliac Stents Read
• Prediction of Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Following Radiation Segmentectomy with Resin Microspheres Based on Underdosed Tumor Volume on Yttrium-90 Positron Emission Tomography/CT Dosimetry Read
• Undertreated Volume and Tumor Morphology as Predictors of Outcome Following Thermal Ablation of 3–7-cm Hepatocellular Carcinoma Read
• Radiofrequency Ablation in the Management of Extensive Multinodular Goiter: A Midterm Single-Center Experience Read

JVIR and SIR thank all those who helped record this episode. To sign up to help with future episodes, please contact our outreach coordinator at [email protected].

 Host

• Sonya Choe, University of California Riverside School of Medicine

Audio Editor

• Sonya Choe, University of California Riverside School of Medicine

 Outreach Coordinator

• Millennie Chen, University of California Riverside School of Medicine

 Abstract Readers:

• Tiffany Nakla, Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nevada
• Emily Jagenberg, Oakland University. William Beaumont School of Medicine 
• Ahmed Alzubaidi, Wayne State University School of Medicine
• Clare Necas, Western University of Health Sciences
• Meghna Kolli, University of California Riverside School of Medicine
• Selena Yao, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
• Shobhit Chamoli, Armed Forces Medical College

Read more about interventional radiology in IR Quarterly magazine or SIR's Patient Center.

Support the show