Cincinnati Children’s proudly celebrated the graduation of the 76th class of its Pediatric Radiology Fellowship Program, recognizing an exceptional group of physicians whose dedication, expertise, and compassion have enriched the department and the patients they serve.
The evening brought together fellows, faculty, mentors, family members, and colleagues to honor the accomplishments of the graduating class and reflect on another successful year of training and collaboration.
The 2026 graduating fellows include:
The graduation ceremony was led by Dr. Eric Crotty, Pediatric Radiology Fellowship Program director, who served as master of ceremonies. In his remarks, Dr. Crotty reflected on the collective effort that makes the fellowship program successful.
While acknowledging the importance of lectures, research, and clinical education, he paid special tribute to the faculty and staff whose dedication supports fellows every day. He thanked Dr. Yinan Lee, associate program director; Dr. Bernadette Koch, whose careful scheduling helps fellows balance their demanding responsibilities; Dr. Andrew Trout, for his leadership of the Clinical Research Program; Tosha, for her unwavering support of both fellows and faculty; and former fellowship chief Dr. Brian Coley for his lasting contributions to the program.
“As program director, it’s fantastic,” Dr. Crotty said. “The fellows who come here will always have their support.”
As chief fellow, Dr. Paula Chen exemplified leadership and excellence throughout the year. Her journey began with a bachelor of science in microbiology at the University of Michigan, followed by research experience, service as a science teacher, and international mission work in Honduras and Zambia. She earned her medical degree from Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and completed her radiology residency at Indiana University, where she served as chief resident. Known for her meticulous attention to detail, composure under pressure, and collaborative spirit, Dr. Chen earned glowing recommendations throughout her training. Cincinnati Children’s is fortunate that Dr. Chen will remain with the department as a faculty member, where she is expected to make significant contributions in clinical care and education.
Dr. Elizabeth England began her academic path at Creighton University, earning a degree in psychology before completing medical school at the Creighton University School of Medicine-Phoenix campus. She then completed her radiology residency at Vanderbilt University. Faculty praised her positivity, professionalism, diligence, and ability to connect with patients and families. Following graduation, Dr. England will join Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, as a faculty radiologist.
Dr. Shiran Levy completed her medical education and radiology training at Hadassah Hebrew University in Israel. After earning degrees in medical sciences and medicine, she served as a physician in the Israeli military before returning to complete her diagnostic radiology residency. A former chief resident and recognized researcher, Dr. Levy has distinguished herself as a talented clinician, educator, and leader. She will remain at Cincinnati Children’s for an additional year, focusing on neuroradiology and body imaging before returning to Israel.
A graduate of the University of Kentucky and the University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Kevin Mason completed his radiology residency at the University of Cincinnati. Throughout his training, he demonstrated exceptional clinical skills, compassion, and dedication to teaching. His academic achievements included recognition at the ARS Annual Meeting for work on pediatric intussusception. Dr. Mason will continue his training at Cincinnati Children’s with an additional year focused primarily on neuroradiology.
Dr. Karthik Padmanabhan brought a unique blend of scientific rigor and diverse interests to the fellowship. After earning a physics degree from Michigan State University, where he conducted research in nuclear astrophysics, he completed medical school at Central Michigan University and residency training at McLaren Healthcare. Known for his intellectual curiosity, teamwork, and commitment to excellence, Dr. Padmanabhan will remain at Cincinnati Children’s for six additional months of musculoskeletal imaging training.
Dr. David Schmitz earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame before attending Indiana University School of Medicine and completing residency at The Ohio State University. Faculty consistently described him as thoughtful, dependable, compassionate, and highly respected among peers. His enthusiasm for learning and patient-centered care left a lasting impression throughout the fellowship year. Following graduation, Dr. Schmitz will join Riley Children’s Health in Indianapolis as a faculty radiologist.
Dr. Usha Nagaraj recognized graduating neuroradiology fellow Dr. Tracie Kong, describing her as an outstanding clinician, educator, academician, and colleague: “Tracy embodies all 12 of the qualities of great people to work with,” Dr. Nagaraj said. “She has been such a fantastic asset to the pediatric neuroradiology section.” Known for her dependability, mentorship, and ability to build relationships across multidisciplinary teams, Dr. Kong will join the faculty at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Interventional Radiology Section Chief Dr. John Racadio honored Dr. Jesus Beltran-Perez for successfully completing his Pediatric Interventional Radiology Fellowship. Bringing extensive pediatric and adult interventional radiology experience from San Antonio, Dr. Beltran-Perez quickly became a valued member of the Cincinnati Children’s team. “He’s been an amazing fellow, amazing friend, and we’ll certainly miss him,” Dr. Racadio said. Dr. Beltran-Perez will continue his career in Little Rock, Arkansas, practicing both pediatric and adult interventional radiology.
Radiologist-in-Chief Dr. Andrew Trout also recognized Dr. Miska Hoo Kim, the department’s Radiology research fellow. Originally from Jamaica, Dr. Hoo Kim earned her medical degree from the University of the West Indies and worked at Bustamante Hospital for Children before joining Cincinnati Children’s in 2025. Although not graduating this year, she was recognized for her impressive research accomplishments, national and international presentations, and meaningful contributions to the department. She will continue her fellowship for another year while preparing for a future career in radiology.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of faculty awards selected by the fellows themselves.
Fellows recognized Dr. Myers for his dedication to teaching, mentorship, and creating a positive learning environment. They noted that every reading room session with him became an opportunity to learn something valuable and clinically meaningful.
Dr. Guillerman was honored for his extraordinary clinical expertise, commitment to patient care, and unwavering dedication to fellow education. Fellows praised his encyclopedic radiology knowledge and his habit of sharing evidence-based resources to enrich every learning experience.
Presented to a faculty member who makes exceptional contributions to department morale, the Dr. Janet Strife Award recognized Dr. Nagaraj’s positivity, mentorship, and steadfast support of fellows throughout their training.
As the ceremony concluded, Dr. Crotty offered heartfelt words to the graduating fellows.
“We thought you were extremely good. You went through all this work to get you to where you are. So you are good. Just take that forward,” he said. “You’ve had great training, and we as faculty are looking forward to hearing of your progress from here on.”
Congratulations to the 76th graduating class of the Cincinnati Children’s Pediatric Radiology Fellowship Program. The future of pediatric imaging is bright because of your dedication, leadership, and commitment to excellence.
Glenn Miñano is a media specialist in the Department of Radiology, providing graphic design, photography, printing, video services, and administration of the department’s online properties. His works have been published in several medical articles, such as the American Journal of Radiology and the American Institute of Ultrasound. He has been providing these services to the Radiology Department since 1996.
Editor: Meredith Towbin
