Morning Case Conference
(Daily, 7:30am - 8:15am): This 45 minute case conference trains residents to identify pertinent findings, correlate images with the clinical presentation, and construct a concise but complete differential diagnosis. Most importantly, the comfortable and congenial atmosphere of the residency pervades this conference, creating an excellent learning opportunity for learning. The variety of cases is drawn from the huge breadth of pathology encountered every day at the MGH. These conferences are conducted by faculty members with particular interest and expertise in teaching.
Teaching Conference
(Daily, 12:15 - 1:15pm): Daily didactic sessions constitute the fundamental core of the teaching program. These lectures are organized into numerous subspecialty "Minicourses," each of which is coordinated by a senior staff member who is responsible for developing a curriculum for the block that covers the fundamental topics of each subspecialty. This organized approach ensures that the resident is given a broad exposure to each area.
Radiology Pathology Correlation
Tuesday conferences are devoted to Radiology Pathology correlation. Each resident is assigned one conference per semester, in which cases with pathologic correlation are presented as unknowns to be discussed by a fellow resident. Attendings from each subspecialty are present as additional discussants to discuss the radiologic approach to differential diagnosis, and a member of the Pathology department is present to discuss the pathologic evaluation.
Radiology Grand Rounds
On Wednesdays during the academic year, prominent radiologists from around the country are invited to the MGH. The topics of these sessions typically focus on the latest information and concepts in radiology and are presented in conjunction with the ongoing Minicourse.
Summer Teaching Conferences
The summer daily didactic sessions are directed at the incoming First Year residents, providing a basic core curriculum that serves as an introduction to Radiology. Special focus is given to Radiologic Physics and MR Physics.
Beyond Interpretation
Several weeks during the year are devoted to the non-interpretive skills required of the radiologist. These sessions stress the skills and concepts that are highlighted by the American Board of Radiology.
Section Conference
Each subspecialty area convenes conferences that provide additional educational opportunities for the resident. Residents working within a particular subspecialty are expected to attend, and all residents are welcome. These conferences take on a variety of forms, including a review of interesting cases, "hot seat" case conferences, and didactic sessions with attendings. The current schedule includes:
| Abdominal Imaging: |
Daily at 4pm |
| Neuroradiology: |
Daily at 4pm |
| Thoracic Radiology: |
Friday at 8am |
| Musculoskeletal Radiology: |
Daily at 4pm |
| Vascular Radiology: |
Thursday at 7:30am |
| Nuclear Medicine: |
Biweekly at 8:30am |
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) Course in Radiologic Pathology
The department provides tuition and releases the resident from clinical duties in order to attend the 4 week course in Washington DC. (
Benefits)
New England Roentgen Ray Society
All residents are provided membership in the NERRS, which sponsors a course in the physics of radiology on a citywide basis as well as monthly meetings focusing on each subspecialty. Residents are excused from clinical responsibilities to attend the monthly meetings.
Library
The Holmes Library is located centrally within the Department and includes a collection of historical resources, current journals, and a large library of textbooks for exclusive use of residents. These materials can be checked out for use during each subspecialty rotation. A complete library of CD-based computer resources, including the ACR Teaching Files, is also available for use by the residents.
Multidisciplinary Conferences
The Department of Radiology participates in a number of conferences that involve a number of specialties at the Massachusetts General Hospital. The most notable of these is the Clinical Pathologic Conference, which is regularly published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Residents find many of these meetings to be of considerable educational value, allowing residents to correlate imaging findings within the latest information in treatment and management.
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