One of the central imaging programs at Mt. Zion is Mammography. In association with the UCSF Breast Care Center and under the leadership of Dr. Ed Sickles, the residents learn to interpret mammographic procedures and perform core biopsy and needle localization procedures. The Breast Imaging section interprets all mammography screening examinations performed at the Mt. Zion campus. This amounts to more than 15,000 examinations per year. In addition, the section conducts and interprets over 5,000 problem-solving mammography examinations and breast ultrasound examinations per year.
Teaching is an integral part of the breast imaging section.
Since 1975, the section has been at the forefront of technical and procedural advances in breast imaging, having pioneered the development of magnification mammography, low-cost mammographic screening, and medical outcomes auditing. Our current research activities further these efforts and also concentrate on several applications of digital mammography. San Francisco General provides extensive ambulatory care services treating approximately 1,000 patients daily. The Emergency Department is the designated trauma center for San Francisco, treating approximately 280 patients daily. SFGH also serves the Department of Public Health's neighborhood clinics and Laguna Honda Hospital patients.