Diagnostic Radiology Residency

Learn the skills you need in your radiology residency program to become a well-rounded, skilled, compassionate radiologist who makes a difference in patients’ lives.

As a first-year resident, you’ll be assigned to foundational rotations during the first half of your R1 year: chest, body CT, ultrasound, neuroradiology, musculoskeletal imaging and fluoroscopy. 

On each of these rotations, you’ll be paired with a senior resident for support, in addition to your assigned attending(s) for the day. This strategy will help prepare you for call and senior-level responsibilities.

The remainder of your R1 year radiology curriculum is comprised of pediatrics, body and neuro ER, nuclear medicine, interventional radiology, breast and additional rotations in ultrasound and neuroradiology.

As an R1–R2 resident, you’ll participate in an emergency neuroradiology conference curriculum dedicated to call preparedness (January of R1 year to November of R2 year).

As an R3 resident, you’ll have a 1-month away/virtual rotation at the American Institute for Radiologic Pathology (AIRP) in Silver Spring, MD, to learn the nuances of radiology-pathology correlation. When the course is held in person, housing is paid for using continuing medical education funds. 

As an R4 resident, you have 26 weeks of elective time, which can be used as a head start toward fellowship or to broaden interpretive skills. Example electives include ultrasound scanning, MRI tech and surgical subspecialty rotations, among others. Dedicated research months are available if you’d like to conduct hypothesis-driven research.

Neuroradiology

R1, R2, R3, R4

You’ll work with fellowship-trained attendings to learn the art of interpreting imaging studies of the brain, head/neck and spine. The complexity and variety of studies evolve throughout your residency, starting with outpatient and ED CTs and progressing to advanced imaging (e.g., MRI, functional imaging). Multidisciplinary conferences with neurology and pediatric neurology offer excellent educational opportunities for you to learn the spectrum of neuroradiology pathology.

Resident-led Neuroradiology Grand Rounds will expose you to both classic and rare pathologies, as well as provide you with an opportunity to hone your case presentation skills. This rotation also includes a procedural component, where you’ll perform image-guided procedures, including lumbar punctures and myelography.

Thoracoabdominal radiology (chest/cardiac and body CT)

R1, R2, R3

Here, your initial focus will be on developing the mastery of plain film and CT examinations of the chest, abdomen and pelvis from both outpatient and acute-care settings. You can tailor subsequent rotations to develop skills in interpreting higher-end modalities such as cardiac CT and MRI.

You’ll also have the opportunity to have an uninterrupted 2-week block in your third year to complete a virtual course on cardiac imaging.

Monthly attending-led multidisciplinary conferences with pulmonology are instrumental in reinforcing concepts you learn on the rotation. You can also attend weekly pulmonology clinical conferences and multidisciplinary tumor boards.

Body MRI

R2, R3

Under the guidance of our fellowship-trained abdominal imaging faculty, Geisinger offers you a unique opportunity to develop proficiency in reading inpatient and outpatient MR examinations. As there are no fellows competing for the most interesting cases, you’ll have ample access to advanced imaging, such as prostate MR, rectal cancer staging, MR elastography and pelvic floor imaging.

Fluoroscopy

R1, R2, R3

Here you’ll delve into the ins and outs of adult gastrointestinal and genitourinary fluoroscopic imaging. You’ll encounter routine evaluation of disorders of the GI tract, pre-and post-surgical evaluation, and hysterosalpingography.

Ultrasound

R1, R2, R3, R4

The ultrasound rotation is known for its fast pace, exposing you to a high volume of routine thyroid, abdominal, urologic and gynecologic exams. In accordance with the aims of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, you’ll gain proficiency in scanning under the guidance of experienced sonographers and attendings. A unique quality of Geisinger’s ultrasound rotation is giving you ample exposure to obstetric ultrasounds in all 3 trimesters, which is uncommon in radiology residency education.

Nuclear medicine

R1, R2, R3, R4

Exposure to a wide breadth and depth of studies will help you develop skills and comfort in interpreting emergent and routine exams. Daily sign-outs with cardiology house staff will provide you with a multidisciplinary approach to understanding cardiac nuclear imaging. A high volume of PET/CT imaging throughout the Geisinger system will guarantee that you will be confident in interpreting cancer imaging. We also offer the 16-month pathway to dual certification in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine.

Mammography

R1, R2, R3, R4

With the opening of our collaborative Women’s Imaging Center at Geisinger Healthplex Woodbine (5 minutes away from our main hospital), the mammography rotation offers you an excellent learning environment with a high volume of screening and diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound and breast MRI, as well as image-guided biopsy and localization procedures. Participation in weekly multidisciplinary tumor boards is encouraged.

Pediatrics

R1, R2, R3

With Geisinger Janet Weis Children’s Hospital, neonatal ICU and pediatric ICUs on our main campus and connections to an extensive network of outpatient pediatric facilities, the pediatric radiology rotation provides you with exposure to common and complex cases in all modalities. Developing confidence with pediatric fluoroscopy is an added benefit for you.

Musculoskeletal imaging

R1, R2, R3, R4

Also located at nearby Geisinger Healthplex Woodbine, the MSK section is designed to help you master plain film interpretation followed by cross-sectional CT and MR examinations of musculoskeletal pathology. Multidisciplinary conferences with rheumatology and tumor boards with orthopaedic surgery provide you with additional context to improve your understanding of these disease processes. In addition, a procedural component of the rotation will help you become proficient in performing imaging-guided arthrograms and provide you with exposure to neoplastic interventions and biopsy.

ED body/ED neuro/Night float

R1, R2, R3, R4
Geisinger Medical Center is a Level I Trauma Center and a comprehensive stroke center with a large catchment area. This means your ED neuroradiology and body imaging rotations will offer a high volume and diverse case mix. Over your 4 years here, you will steadily build the rapid interpretive skills required in the emergency setting under the tutelage of ER-subspecialty trained radiologists. During dedicated night float rotations in your R2–4 years, your interpretive skills will be put to good use as you read a variety of plain film, ultrasound, CT and MRI exams autonomously. You’re never truly alone in this program with 24/7 attending coverage for backup on particularly complex cases.

You’ll likely find this rotation a favorite because you get the opportunity to practice autonomously and build your speed while receiving support from the nighthawk attendings when needed.

Select trauma cases are discussed monthly at trauma surgery and systemwide morbidity and mortality conferences. As an R2–R4 resident, you’ll present imaging findings for these cases.

Interventional radiology

R1, R2, R3, ESIR

In this program, you’ll participate in various cases, ranging from routine line insertion, paracentesis and thoracentesis to more complex vascular, oncologic and spine interventions. In addition to developing technical skills, you’ll learn to evaluate patients, understand indications and contraindications to image-guided interventions, and assess post-procedural outcomes. It’s smart to engage in multidisciplinary efforts with gastrointestinal and vascular surgery teams to learn how to provide more comprehensive patient care.

R2-4

• Evening shift (~3 weeks Monday – Friday/year): 5 p.m. – 2 a.m.
• Night float (~3 weeks Monday – Friday/year): 9 p.m. – 7 a.m.
• Weekend shifts (Saturday – Sunday):
  • Early: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Middle: 2 p.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Night: 9 p.m. – 7 a.m., with post call day the following Monday

R1

• Rookie short call (~3 to four shifts per month Sept. – June): 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Rookie weekend shifts (Saturday or Sunday): 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• No overnight shifts or holiday call

ED attendings are readily available during all shifts to answer your questions and discuss cases with you.

Overnight IR call is covered as home call by residents on the IR rotation as well as integrated and independent IR residents. Average frequency is 1 weekday/week and 1 weekend per 4-week rotation.

Your conferences take place Monday through Friday at 7:30 a.m. and noon. The resident education conference room has large, high-resolution monitors to better demonstrate and help you see even the subtlest finding. Conferences are predominantly led by subspecialty-trained attendings and include both didactic lectures and case conferences. Some notable examples within our didactics include the following.

Teaching file

Teaching file is a monthly conference where residents present an interesting case you read on the prior rotation, noting a few teaching points you gleaned from it.

Missed case conference

Missed case conference is a monthly, resident-only conference where a single class of residents presents a few personal misses to show that we are all human and help each other avoid repeating the same mistakes.

Neuroradiology Grand Rounds, Gastrointestinal Grand Rounds and Radiology-Pathology Correlation Conference

These conferences are resident-led interdepartmental conferences with a review of cases, covering both clinical concepts and important radiologic findings. Multidisciplinary conferences will help reinforce your ability to communicate meaningfully with your colleagues and succinctly answer clinical questions.

Physics

Our dedicated physics lecturer, Karen Brown, covers the entirety of the physics curriculum annually with a combination of high-yield didactic lectures, on-demand online modules and engaging case-based conferences sprinkled throughout the year.

Resident conference

As a resident, you are responsible for one 45- to 60-minute lecture during each of your 4 years. You can choose any topic — it does not need to be limited to radiology. A faculty mentor you choose attends the conference to provide support and teaching pearls.

Journal club

Journal club discussions are led jointly by a resident and attended on the third Friday of each month. Different departmental sections choose each monthly article.