Residency Program - Curriculum

Curriculum

July Year 1 - February Year 3	Clinical Rotations
March Year 3 - February Year 4	Focused Year
March Year 4 - June Year 4	Clinical Rotations

Clinical Rotations

Residents are typically assigned in four week blocks to one of the subspecialty areas of radiology. From the beginning, residents are expected to read assigned material, to be involved in the performance and interpretation of patient examinations, and to participate in discussions concerning diagnostic problems. Basic principles of radiology are stressed as the physical and procedural foundations of diagnostic imaging are laid. Residents are encouraged to work towards increasing levels of responsibility, particularly in the Emergency Radiology rotation, usually completed between the middle of 2nd year and the beginning of 3rd year.

In general, the subspecialty sections are organized by body system, each encompassing a variety of appropriate modalities to allow residents to become familiar with pathology and pathophysiology and to promote critical selection of appropriate tests. Our radiologists serve as valuable member of the patient care team.

Residents electing to pursue a focused year return to a brief round of clinical rotations beginning in March of the 4th year as a review and "refresher" before sitting for the American Board of Radiology examination in June.

Clinical Rotations:

• Thoracic Radiology, including CT and MR
  
• Thoracic Procedures
  
• GI Fluoroscopy
  
• Gastrointestinal / Genitourinary CT, MR, US
  
• Ultrasound, including Obstetric Ultrasound
  
• Neuroradiology, including CT and MR
  
• Musculoskeletal Radiology, including CT and MR
  
• Musculoskeletal Procedures
• Nuclear Medicine, including Cardiac, PET, PET-CT
• Breast Imaging, including Mammography, MR, and Procedures
• Head and Neck Imaging (at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary)
  
• Vascular Radiology and Intervention, including CT and MR
• Abdominal and Nonvascular Intervention
• Emergency Radiology
  
• Pediatric Radiology
  
• Cardiac Radiology
  

A resident may elect to spend a maximum of three months of rotations at the Brigham and Women's Hospital with approval of both program directors.

Focused Year

The focused year represents an important and valuable opportunity to pursue a year of subspecialty training beginning in March of the 3rd year. Residents can select from a 2 year fellowship program offered by one of the subspecialty areas of the department or create a program in conjunction with the program director. During this time, the resident is given experience comparable to a clinical fellow in the subspecialty, with equal exposure to the variety of modalities and procedures. During the focused year, residents are excused from the call responsibilities of the residency in order to fulfill the call responsibilities of the fellowship. The Focused Year can be applied as one year towards a multiyear MGH fellowship program, such as Neuroradiology or Abdominal Imaging / Intervention. However, at least one year of training must be completed after the four year residency for a candidate to qualify for the CAQ (Certificate of Additional Qualification) offered in these subspeciality areas by the American Board of Radiology.