Training Highlights

The residency program emphasizes the development of clinical skills, knowledge and professional competencies through a broad, active clinical experience and a comprehensive conference and didactic program. Physician faculty members closely monitor clinical activities although as skills develop there is increasing resident responsibility and autonomy while maintaining appropriate levels of supervision.

Clinical Curriculum

During the first year, all residents rotate through the same core rotations: Thoracic Radiology, Gastrointestinal/Genitourinary Radiology, Musculoskelatal Radiology, Emergency Radiology, Body CT/MRI, Ultrasound, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine. A practical oral examination is given at the end of the first year to confirm expected competencies. During the second year residents gain additional experience in Interventional Radiology, Neuroradiology procedures, Pediatric Radiology and Breast Imaging. A second practical oral examination is given covering the remainder of the core subjects.

During the third and fourth years of training, residents receive further experience in all areas, with progressive assumption of greater responsibility. Sufficient elective time is available to ensure that all residents can obtain additional experience in areas of special interest including research.

Training is organized by subspecialty and the curriculum conforms to the American Board of Radiology and Residency Review Committee for Radiology guidelines. Training also takes place at several different institutions. For institution-specific procedures, please visit the Clinical Resources page. Rotations are four weeks in length with thirteen rotations each year.

Introductory Seminars

During the initial two months of training, the new Diagnostic Radiology resident is presented with a series of seminars to accelerate the acquisition of basic skills and concepts in Diagnostic Radiology. These provide the resident with important information of early use in their clinical radiology training.

Teaching Conferences

The 45-60 minute teaching conferences are provided by the academic faculty daily at each practice site. These conferences are generally case based and focus on a specific radiology topic.

Working Conferences

Working conferences occur daily at all sites and involve radiology residents presenting and discussing cases of interest to hospital clinical teams.

Categorical Courses

The University of Washington Residency Program is unique in providing a weekly Categorical course for Diagnostic Radiology residents. Thursday afternoon, residents receive two hours of lectures in a subspecialty area by section faculty. Each subspecialty section is responsible for one month of lectures each year. The Neuroradiology and Body Imaging sections provide their comprehensive curriculum each year through a weekly lecture series Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

The Thursday afternoon Categorical course is followed by a clinical case conference from over 50 clinical faculty members, or a grand rounds program. The current monthly lecture schedule is available online.

Physics Course

A comprehensive course in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Physics is provided through a year long, weekly lecture series.

American Board of Radiology Preparation

Senior residents are provided a comprehensive boards review program four to five months prior to the oral boards. These focused boards review sessions occur several times weekly and are given by subspecialty faculty. A mock board examination also helps prepare senior residents for success.

Radiology-Pathology Training

Instruction in Radiology-Pathology correlation is primarily through the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology six-week course which most residents attend. Alternatively, residents can elect to complete their Radiology-Pathology training through a dedicated four week course through the University of Washington.

Fellowships

Fellowships are available following residency training in all clinical and research specialties including Abdominal Imaging, Breast Imaging, Musculoskeletal Radiology, Chest Radiology and Emergency Radiology. Fellowships in Neuroradiology, Angiography/Interventional Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Pediatric Radiology are approved by the Residency Review Committee for Radiology and finishing fellows are eligible for certification by the American Board of Radiology.