About us

Geisinger’s Department of Radiology offers a dual certificate IR/DR integrated residency.

We offer three interventional radiology residency tracks — a five-year integrated interventional and diagnostic radiology residency, a one-year independent IR residency and a two-year independent IR residency.

Our programs provide a diverse and professionally fulfilling foundation from which to launch an interventional radiology career. Residents have a unique opportunity to develop the knowledge and clinical skills necessary to be leaders in their field. Residents find themselves in cases, clinics and conferences alongside IR faculty from diverse training backgrounds, giving trainees well-rounded experience and practice heterogeneity. The program provides ample research opportunities. 

As a resident, the majority of your time will be spent at Geisinger Medical Center, an academic university hospital with a transplant program and Level 1 trauma center with a wide array of pathology. You’ll be exposed to a community radiology setting at Geisinger Wyoming Valley and Geisinger Community Medical Center.

Integrated Interventional/Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program

Integrated residents train alongside their diagnostic radiology resident colleagues during the R1 – R3 years, when you’ll spend two blocks a year in interventional radiology. R4 and R5 years are devoted to interventional radiology. During the R4 year, you’ll spend one block in the ICU, six blocks in the IR department and multiple blocks in IR-related areas, including research and clinical electives. The R5 year is dedicated to IR training with the majority of blocks spent in the IR suite. 

At the end of the five years, you will have completed about 24 dedicated IR rotations and satisfy all requirements for completion of a diagnostic radiology residency. Therefore, you’ll be board-eligible for both Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology.

Independent Interventional Radiology Residency Program

Geisinger offers one- and two-year independent radiology residency tracks. The one-year program is designed for trainees who’ve satisfied ESIR requirements during their diagnostic radiology residency and mimics the R5 year of the Integrated IR/DR residency program. The two-year program is for trainees who haven’t satisfied the ESIR requirements.

Both programs prepare you to sit for the DR/IR combined certificate examination.

Clinical work

Our programs offer exposure to a wide variety of patient care experiences. You’ll gain extensive experience and expertise in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in areas including:

• Arterial disease: Endoleak embolization, arterial thrombolysis, pulmonary artery embolism interventions
• Gender-specific health: Uterine artery embolization, pelvic congestion syndrome treatment, fallopian tube recanalization, prostate artery embolization, varicocele embolization
• GI tract: Gastric and jejunal feeding tubes, gastrointestinal hemorrhage
• GU tract: Nephrostomy, ureteral stent placement/removal, complex access for nephrolithiasis
• Liver and biliary tract: Transjugular liver biopsy, TIPS, BRTO, portal vein recanalization, percutaneous biliary drainage, biliary stone management
• Oncology: Percutaneous ablative therapies, chemoembolization, radioembolization, portal vein embolization, percutaneous biopsies
• Non-oncologic embolotherapy: Pulmonary AVM, trauma and gastrointestinal bleeding
• Pain management: Percutaneous sympathectomy, kyphoplasty/vertebroplasty
• Venous disease: Acute DVT thrombolysis and chronic DVT recanalization, IVC filter placement, complex IVC filter removal, superficial venous ablation, dialysis access creation and interventions, sclerotherapy

Research, educational resources and conferences

The residency programs consist of daily morning rounds/case reviews. Conferences include weekly didactic lectures in interventional radiology and liver tumor conference. There are monthly morbidity and mortality and research conferences and bimonthly journal clubs.

All residents can participate in research with a mentor. This often leads to residents presenting papers at local or national meetings. You’ll have one academic day every two weeks for research, presentation and case log upkeep. Elective time may be available, depending on your goals and availability. Ten meeting days are provided, along with $2,500 per year in educational funds for things like books, journals and dues.

Leadership

Tariq Rahman, MD
Program Director, Integrated and Independent IR Residency
trahman@geisinger.edu 

Chijindu Nworgu, MD
Associate Program Director, Integrated and Independent IR Residency
cnworgu@geisinger.edu

Kayleigh Taylor, MD
Program Director, Diagnostic Radiology Residency
ktaylor4@geisinger.edu

Melissa Rea
Program Administrator, IR and DR Residency
marea@geisinger.edu