Curriculum

The Department of Radiology offers a four year, preceptor-type program.

PGY-2

The first year of the radiologic subspecialties (pediatrics, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, chest, musculoskeletal, interventional/angiography, neuroradiology, ultrasound, body CT, and MRI). Residents attend a comprehensive didactic course in the physics of diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine taught by physicists in the Department of Radiology. Residents participate in evening and weekend assignments with direct faculty supervision.

PGY-3

The second year is primarily spent at the University of Rochester Medical Center/Strong Memorial Hospital; residents rotate through most of the radiologic subspecialties. Residents begin overnight work with a night-float system.

PGY-4

During the third year, residents again spend most of their training at the University of Rochester Medical Center, however select rotations are offered at University Medical Imaging, our primary outpatient facility. PGY-3 to PGY-5 cover the majority of in-house overnight work in a night float system. They have increased autonomy to match their growing skills.

PGY-5

Beginning in 2013, the senior-year schedule allows for advanced focused training in up to 3 subspecialty fields of Radiology to enhance the residents’ clinical skills for practice as well as providing the resources needed to succeed on the American Board of Radiology certifying exam. During their senior year, residents can choose three 2-3 month rotations (“selectives”) in any of the subspecialty fields in Radiology for which they have an interest. Single month rotations during this year also include Interventional Radiology, Women's Imaging/Mammography, and an elective.

Changes in the American Board of Radiology Certification Examination

The American Board of Radiology significantly restructured the Diagnostic Radiology Boards in 2013. This eliminated the separate physics examination (usually taken in PGY-2), significantly changed the timing and content of the initial certifying “written” examination (taken in PGY-4), eliminated the traditional oral examination taken at the end of PGY-5, and created a post-graduation specialty examination. These changes have affected all aspects of board preparation, including the timing of rotations in the third and fourth year. The University of Rochester program has adjusted to account for these changes while meeting our clinical and educational missions.

Evaluation

Resident performance is regularly reviewed to ensure satisfactory progress. Informal feedback from attendings with respect to medical knowledge, reports, diagnostic and therapeutic imaging plans is given. Formal written evaluations are completed by attendings, fellows, and all residents at the completion of each rotation.

Each resident meets with the program director at least semiannually to review performance.

Participation in the annual American College of Radiology In-Service Examination is required during the first three years of residency. This test provides an external benchmark to guide the Resident in their study.

Schedules

Our Department has provided 24/7 Radiology Attending ED services to oversee and report on imaging examinations performed at the University of Rochester Medical Center and affiliated sites since 2012. The Residency work schedule was organized to coordinate with the Faculty schedule.

There are 3 Radiology Resident work shifts as follows:

1. The main daytime work shift for Residents is from 8 am to 5 pm with a break from 12:00-1:30 for conferences.
2. Four weeks per year, each Resident will cover the pm shift which is from 4:00-10:00 pm. There are 3 Residents on the pm shift who are assigned with Subspecialty Faculty to report on examinations during this period.
3. Four weeks per year, each Resident will be assigned to the overnight shift (“night float”) which is from 10 pm to 8 am with direct attending supervision. There are 2 Residents on this shift at a time.