CIRSE Fellowship report: Dr. Nagendra Vadlamudi

By Dr. Nagendra Vadlamudi

I am Dr. Nagendra Vadlamudi, MD, Fellow in Interventional Radiology, and I am currently pursuing Doctor of Medicine in interventional radiology at NIMS University in Jaipur, India. I am truly grateful to have received the CIRSE Fellowship Grant, which provided me the opportunity to train under Dr. Prof. Christoph Binkert and his exceptional team at the Medizinisch Radiologisches Institut (MRI) in Zurich. Dr. Binkert is an inspiring and passionate teacher with immense experience. His guidance has significantly shaped my clinical approach, especially in understanding case nuances and refining the finer technical skills required in IR. I am deeply thankful to him for accepting me into his unit and making my three-month stay in Switzerland smooth and comfortable—no small feat in a new country.

A light moment with the whole team on the last of my work

Work Experience at MRI

It was a privilege to work at one of the leading IR day-care institutes. The center has state-of-the-art infrastructure, highly efficient staff, and a very convenient location right next to the train station. It operates entirely as an outpatient clinic—a model I was keen to observe and hope to someday introduce in India. I strongly believe that, like other specialties, interventional radiology should adopt standalone outpatient clinics to enhance accessibility and establish IR as an independent specialty. The entire workflow—from teleconsultation to procedure, recovery, discharge, and follow-up—is remarkably streamlined, almost comparable to the experience of staying in a well-managed hotel.

A special mention goes to Dr. Martin Takes, who played a pivotal role in helping me understand the intricacies of managing complex genicular artery embolization cases. The whole team was welcoming, supportive, and warm throughout my stay, and we shared many memorable moments that I will cherish forever.

A random candid on a beautiful Swiss morning at the clinic entrance

Zurich lake at night – just look at the beauty!

Educational Objectives Achieved

• Advanced understanding of MSK embolization, particularly genicular artery embolization, including the use of Nexsphere particles with imipenem for selective embolization.
• Exposure to prostate artery embolization and the important role of CBCT in guidance and planning.
• Learning the significance and applications of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) in peripheral arterial disease.
• Hands-on understanding of Angiojet and Rotarex devices.
• Comprehensive insight into outpatient clinic workflows, postoperative care, and same-day discharge protocols.

Me with Dr. Christoph Binkert gearing up for the procedure

Assisting Dr. Martin Takes on a genicular artery embolization

CIRSE 2025

I was fortunate to attend CIRSE 2025 in Barcelona. Travel from Switzerland was seamless, and the conference was an outstanding experience. I was honored to present both a paper and a poster at the largest IR meeting in the world. It was a pleasure to reconnect with colleagues from India and meet many leaders and pioneers in the field. Barcelona offered perfect weather, making post-conference evenings truly enjoyable.

Catching up with Dr. Binkert at CIRSE

Conclusion

I am sincerely thankful to CIRSE and Dr. Christoph Binkert for offering me this invaluable exposure to a European IR outpatient setup. I would also like to thank NIMS University—Dr. Balvir Singh Tomar, Dr. Sanjiv Sharma, and Dr. Manish Shaw—for their constant encouragement and support. A special thanks to Dr. Pankaj Banode for motivating me to apply for this fellowship.

CIRSE has done an exceptional job in creating this opportunity for young interventional radiologists worldwide to learn, grow, and experience the best practices in IR.

Thank you, CIRSE.