Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program

Program Director: Joan Maley, MD

Program Coordinator: Glena Clarke

Salary / Benefits / Other Services
Living in Iowa City / Coralville
Link to UI General Medical Education Page
Appointment Contract / Duty Hours Policy
Application Process
Contact
Learn about Iowa City





OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM

The Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) is a program that offers all of its positions through the National Residency Matching Program.  All positions are listed as advanced (S) in the NRMP Directory. We currently have 33 residents in training.  For the 2010 Match, our program is offering 8 advanced positions. Further information about our application process is located here.

Financial support is provided by the UI Hospitals and Clinics and the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center (VAMC).  Resident education and supervision is the responsibility of the UI Hospitals and Clinics; additional resident teaching is gained through rotations through the VAMC. Residents at The University of Iowa do NOT rotate through any outside agencies, clinics, or hospitals other than the UIHC and VAMC. 

The primary objectives of the radiology residency program at the UIHC are to:

·        Expose residents to all aspects of diagnostic imaging and interventional techniques by means of focused subspecialty training and extensive hands-on experiences.

·        Provide formal instruction in radiation biology, radiologic physics, and nuclear medicine physics.

·        Provide sufficient research opportunities that will enable residents to develop and complete a research project of their own design.

The residency program is structured so that residents assume progressive responsibilities throughout their training.  For the successful completion of their residency, residents must exhibit competence in image interpretation and performance of basic radiologic procedures.  It is expected that all residents will become board-certified at the completion of their training. 

The organization of resident education is structured in three major components. The Department of Diagnostic Radiology offers a comprehensive, well-rounded curriculum covering material that historically has produced well-trained, board-certified radiologists. Resident training is accomplished through both formal and informal methods. First, residents receive a significant amount of informal training that takes place daily during the staffing of radiologic studies. The on-line reading structure of radiologic examinations has created an excellent informal teaching environment for all residents. Because of the need for timely staffing, faculty members are required to be physically present within the reading room with the residents during the work day. This arrangement offers continual resident-faculty interaction and has resulted in a significant increase in the amount of informal teaching that takes place daily. Furthermore, the abundant clinical conferences that occur create another excellent informal teaching opportunity.

The Department of Radiology consists of 33 faculty members in Diagnostic Radiology and five faculty members in Nuclear Medicine. The Department employs 75 radiographers and has 40 radiologic technology students. The departmental complement of house staff totals 33 residents in diagnostic radiology.


HANDS-ON TRAINING

The amount of hands-on training has always been a strong attribute of the UIHC radiology residency program. Resident participation in performing interventional procedures has long been a standard operating procedure in our program. We take pride in knowing that all of our residents, even from the beginning of their training, actively participate in the performance of radiologic procedures. The Division believes strongly that residents learn best by doing rather than by observing. All residents, even the most junior, are expected to assume an active role in patient care and performing all types of interventional procedures, increasing in complexity commensurate with their level of training and confidence. Upon completion of their training, our residents will have been exposed to all types of radiologic procedures and will be expected to demonstrate competence in performing percutaneous biopsies, drainages, and basic vascular and nonvascular procedures. Limiting the number of fellows within our program will help assure active resident participation in performing such procedures. Additionally, the VAMC provides an excellent arena for residents to broaden their interventional experience.

CONFERENCES

·        Noon Conference

Formal resident teaching occurs daily at Noon conferences, which provides instruction in radiologic imaging and principles in a structured, organized manner. As the premier departmental conferences for residents, the daily Noon conference provides comprehensive coverage of topics germane to diagnostic imaging. These conferences are subspecialty-based and given by faculty members. The Noon conferences are based on a two-year curriculum, to ensure that all residents have an opportunity to be exposed to information critical to their training twice during their residency. Attended by both residents and faculty members, this conference is critically evaluated by our residents for both content and quality. The Noon conference is supplemented with frequent guest lecturers, which provides residents and faculty with the opportunity to hear nationally and internationally recognized radiologists. The Department typically has one visiting guest lecturer per month.

The Noon Conference schedule begins in July and August with the "Introduction to Radiology" series of lectures, generally geared toward the first year residents, but attended by all residents as a general overview of the various sections within radiology.

·        Morning Conference

Formal teaching is also accomplished through daily sectional conferences in all subspecialty areas, Morning Conference. Morning conference is a case-based conference to allow all the residents to see the interesting cases throughout the department. Although more informal than the Noon conference, sectional conferences provide an additional means to assure that residents cover specific topics relevant to the subspecialty areas through which they rotate. The purpose of these sectional conferences is to provide additional assurance that residents are taught material that is thought to be so fundamentally important to warrant repeated individual attention.

Morning Conference Schedule:

Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:

Ultrasound / Interventional or Mammography
Body Imaging
Neuroradiology
Chest / Nuclear Medicine
Musculoskeletal / Pediatric Radiology

Click here to view our current weekly conference schedule

·        Brant & Helms Review Course

First year residents participate in a review course (using the Brant & Helms textbook "Fundamentals of Diagnostic Radiology"). Faculty from each section are assigned to a session and they present a formal review of assigned chapters. This provides the first year residents with a general overview of the fundamentals prior to taking call.

·        Physics Review Course

In preparation for the written board examination, all residents are expected to attend formal conferences in physics applied to diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiation biology. These conferences are primarily structured in a classroom environment and are taught by our departmental physicists and radiation biologists. As part of the preparation for the written board examination, senior residents take the Radiology Physics Examination (RAPHEX).

·        Mock Boards

To help prepare residents for the oral American Board of Radiology (ABR) examination, and as a means to assess resident progress, the Department also offers an annual mock oral board examination. This examination is given to all residents and tests resident knowledge in six major subspecialty areas.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Resident research involvement has been part of the residency program for over 15 years and continues to be a unique aspect of the program. All residents are expected during their residency to participate in and complete a research project. During their 2nd, 3rd and 4th years, residents are provided 4 months of set-aside unstructured research time to aid in completion of this requirement. During this time, the resident is expected to identify an area of research of personal interests, and working with a faculty mentor, the resident is expected to develop, carry out, and complete a research project. The research experience culminates in a informal presentation at R3 Research Night, typically held in April of each year. This symposium, attended by all faculty, residents and many alumni, provides the resident-in-training the opportunity to present and discuss their research project in a collegial manner. The department awards a prize to the best research project of the year. And many residents take advantage of departmental support to present their research projects at numerous national meetings.

·        Research Seminar Series

Twice monthly the residents are exposed to ongoing research projects in the department. Many of the clinical and basic science researchers give overviews of their research topics and outcomes. This allows the residents to gain more exposure to the current and future research in the department that they otherwise might be unaware of.

·        Journal Club

All residents participate in a monthly journal club to discuss relevant radiology journal articles. Working with a representative staff member from each section in the department, two journal articles are presented per meeting, one by a 3rd year resident and one by a 4th year resident. The fourth year resident will select an article on their own to present, and the third year resident will present and article selected by the sectional faculty. The goal of our Journal Club is not necessarily to learn content of the articles but to improve the residents' ability to critically evaluate the literature.

Please visit the Research area of our web page for further information: http://radiology.uiowa.edu/Research/index.html

CURRICULUM AND CLINICAL ROTATIONS

The residents' rotation schedule is predicated upon the eleven subspecialty areas tested on the oral ABR examination. As such, all residents rotate through all subspecialty areas several times by the time they have completed their residency. The structure of the training program assures that all residents spend months in dedicated rotations in ultrasound, CT, MRI and interventional radiology. These rotations are structured so that resident experiences and responsibilities are focused specifically on these imaging modalities. Additional CT and MRI experience is gained through neuroradiology, head and neck imaging, chest, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, body MR, noninvasive neuroangiography and pediatric rotations. At least five months of nuclear medicine and PET imaging is also obtained to complete their training. Cardiovascular imaging is predominately taught on the body MR and chest months where advanced MR and CT imaging of the heart and peripheral vasculature is performed. Additionally, a noninvasive neuroangiography rotation has been established to supplement the experience on neurointerventional radiology. This allows the residents a chance to focus on the anatomy and imaging techniques required to obtain noninvasive angiography as more and more radiologic imaging moves into the noninvasive realm.

During the four-year training period, residents assume greater responsibility in monitoring, performing, and interpreting radiologic examinations of increasing complexity, commensurate with their confidence level and experience. 

Radiology Residency Program Rotation Requirements
Chest 3 months
Pediatric Radiology 3 months
Nuclear Medicine 4 months
PET 1 month
Body CT 3 months
Body MR 1 month
Fluoroscopy 2 months
Mammography * 3 months
Ultrasound 2 months
OB Ultrasound 1 month
Musculoskeletal 3 months
Musculoskeletal CT/MR 1 month
Head & Neck 1 month
Neuro MR 3 months
Neuro CT 2 months
Neurointerventional/NIR 3 months
Vascular Interventional 2 months
AFIP 1.5 months
Research 4 months
VA Hospital 4.5 months
______________________ ___________________________
Total 48 months


Rotation Schedule for '08-'09


·        Dedicated Training in Nuclear Medicine

Beginning with the graduating class of 2006, all residents are required to complete 4 months of dedicated nuclear medicine training in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the ABR. Additionally, residents receive three months of dedicated mammography training to comply with the recommendations set forth the American College of Radiology.

·        Radiology Pathology

Radiologic-pathologic correlation is provided through the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) a six week course in Washington DC, which is required of all of our residents. The department pays the tuition ($1500.00) plus provides each resident with a stipend of $1500.00 used to defray the costs of expenses incurred at the course.

·        VAMC Rotation

The resident experience at the VAMC is largely related to general radiology, and traditionally provides our residents with an excellent source of pathologic conditions. Junior resident responsibilities relate primarily to fluoroscopic procedures and plain film interpretation. Senior residents are responsible for more complex imaging modalities and interventional cases. Resident rotating through the VAMC are supervised by three full-time staff radiologists. Additional faculty support is provided by the UIHC Department of Radiology from the subspecialty areas of musculoskeletal, pulmonary, neuroradiology, angiography, and body imaging (CT and ultrasound). The VAMC Department of Radiology assumes some resident teaching responsibilities primarily through scheduled weekly conferences. All radiologic examinations and procedures performed by our residents at the VAMC are under the direct supervision and guidance of faculty members.

·        Obstetric Sonography

Residents are exposed to obstetric sonography during their ultrasound rotations. Radiology residents participate in the interpretation of routine and complex obstetric sonographic studies twice a week. An additional month of obstetric ultrasound experience is obtained with direct resident involvement through the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

SUPERVISION AND WORK HOURS

Resident supervision is required on all procedures performed within the Department of Radiology. Procedures during the day are supervised by the attending on that particular clinical service and procedures at night are supervised by either the staff radiologist on general call or the subspecialty radiologist on call depending on the complexity of the procedure. Resident supervision by faculty is in accordance with the compliance standards required by the Health Care Finance Administration.

·        In-House Call

Call obligations are relatively infrequent owing to the larger number of residents in training. The resident call pool is broken down into two groups: junior residents (long call) and senior residents (short call). We currently use a night float call system for long call. Long call responsibilities are consolidated into two-week rotations, divided into two 5-day work weeks. Junior residents (R2s) perform night float rotations (7 weeks total) during their second year of residency. Friday and Saturday short and long call responsibilities are covered by additional residents outside of the call float schedule.

The junior residents' responsibilities are primarily that of interpretation of plain film radiographs and head and spine CTs and emergency room films. Senior (R3s and R4s) residents take in-house call until 1:00 am, at which time they are allowed to go home and serve as backup for the junior resident. The senior residents' responsibilities include the more complex imaging modalities such as ultrasound, abdominal CTs, MRI and performing (non-angiographic) interventional procedures (drainages/lumbar punctures). In addition to the two residents on-call each night, there is are additional interventional and neurointerventional residents on-call who are responsible for performing on-call angiographic studies and interventional procedures.

For more in-depth information about our residency program, please click here.

SALARY / BENEFITS / OTHER SERVICES

Please visit the UIHC Graduate Medical Education web site for information regarding stipends, insurance, and benefits for our residents.

http://www.uihealthcare.com/depts/graduatemedicaleducation/benefits/statement.html

Top of page

LIVING IN IOWA CITY / CORALVILLE

"Small Town Atmosphere - Big City Choices"

Few places combine the ease of small-city living with the wealth of large-city services and entertainment that you'll find in the Iowa City/Coralville area. We invite you to discover the features that make our community a great place to call home.

Please visit our GME web site for more information.

http://www.uihealthcare.com/depts/graduatemedicaleducation/living.html

Top of page

APPOINTMENT CONTRACT / DUTY HOURS POLICY

Click here to view The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Graduate Medical Education Appointment Contract. To view a copy of our Policy on Duty Hours for Radiology House Staff, please click here.

Top of page

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

The University of Iowa Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program utilizes the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) from the Association of American Medical Colleges (paper applications are not accepted).  For more information, please contact your Dean’s office or ERAS or, if a foreign medical school graduate, contact the ECFMG. Our residency program does NOT support trainees on H visas.  Our residency program offers only advanced (s) positions in the NRMP Match.

 Materials required as part of your ERAS application include:

·       Completed ERAS application, including personal statement and photo
·       Medical school transcript
·       3 letters of recommendation
·       Dean’s letter from medical school [available on November 1, applications will be considered complete pending the Dean’s Letter].
·       USMLE transcript
·       If a foreign medical school graduate, your VQE or ECFMG transcript

Individual applications are reviewed once they are complete. 

CONTACT INFORMATION


 If you have additional questions about our residency program, please contact Glena Clarke, Residency Coordinator.

Correspondence should be directed to:
Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program
Joan E. Maley, MD, Director
c/o Glena Clarke, Residency Coordinator
Department of Radiology
The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA  52242
(319) 356-3396 glena-clarke@uiowa.edu

 UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY LINKS OF INTEREST

The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Iowacity.com
Iowa City and Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau
Press Citizen - the Iowa City newspaper
Iowa City and Coralville directory of businesses and more
Iowa City information from A to Z
Official page of the City of Iowa City
Iowa City at-a-Glance
Map of Iowa City

                             

          The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics complex near Kinnick Stadium.