Curriculum

Clinical Training
Your clinical training will cover all subspecialty areas of diagnostic radiology. You will participate in radiological examinations, interpretations and interventional procedures while on rotations in every subspecialty.

Rotation Schedule
Following is a list of the rotations that diagnostic radiology residents experience:
(Note that the total number of weeks does not equal four years due to multiple rotation offerings.)

Rotation Descriptions
PGY-1
During the first year, you will participate in film interpretation, special procedures and fluoroscopy under the direct supervision of a staff radiologist. The major emphases are on:

• Musculoskeletal radiology
• Thoracic radiology
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Gastrointestinal radiology
• Ultrasound
• Mammography
• Radiology physics

Audiovisual materials, didactic lectures, round table discussions, independent study, film packets and case discussions are included.

PGY-2 and PGY-3
As a second- and third-year resident, you will take rotations through all radiological subspecialties. While you still work under staff supervision, you will have greater responsibility and function more independently during these rotations.

PGY-4
In the fourth year you will be given more responsibility for performing and interpreting examinations. In addition to a rotation in cardiac radiology, you will revisit subspecialty areas, working at a more independent level. Ten weeks of elective time are provided for you to gain additional expertise in areas of your choice. Most residents choose electives in computed tomography, ultrasonography, interventional radiology, neuroradiology and/or MRI. You also may develop a unique elective course in a specific area of interest.

You will attend the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Radiology-Pathology Correlation Course in Bethesda , MD. Mayo Clinic will pay the tuition and subsidize housing expenses for this popular off-campus experience. You may also spend elective time at Mayo Clinic in Rochester or Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale during your fourth year. Mayo funds authorize travel and living expenses for all rotations at these sites.

Educational Environment
Clinical conferences, formal courses, seminars, small discussion groups, journal clubs and one-on-one instruction are all an integral part of the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program. This educational environment includes:

• Introductory course for first-year residents
• Didactic and case conferences (five days per week) given by residents, staff and visiting professors
• Physics/radiobiology course
• Armed Forces Institute of Pathology rotation
• Faculty-assisted research seminars
• Small discussion groups, journal clubs, one-on-one instruction
• Board review course
• Diagnostic Radiology Library (ACR & Institution teaching files, texts, periodicals, electronic educational media) with interactive study stations

Physics Education
There are several components to the physics education program for residents:

• Imaging and Radiation Safety Orientation: A course offered during the first two months of residency, which presents basic principles of each imaging modality and radiation safety.
• Radiological Physics Course: A course covering radiation physics, diagnostic imaging, radiation biology and radiation protection. The Department of Diagnostic Radiology's faculty medical physicists teach the course.
• Physics Written Board Review: A series of interactive review sessions offered to residents prior to taking the ABR board exam in radiological physics.
• Informal physics consultation: The Diagnostic Radiology Department's medical physicists are available to residents for consultation and assistance regarding topics such as clinical imaging principles, research project design and implementation and radiation safety issues.

Radiology Teaching File and Library
The Mayo Clinic Radiology Teaching File contains pathologically proven cases that are worked-up, researched and entered into the permanent file for resident education. The American College of Radiology teaching file is included as part of the electronic teaching file system. The department's library contains computers for residents and fellows, proprietary database search software, extensive audiovisual materials, and a large collection of pertinent journals and textbooks.

Conferences
There is at least one hour-long radiology teaching conference each day. The conferences encompass all aspects of radiology and include radiology/pathology correlation, resident case conferences, staff case conferences, didactic lectures, visiting professor lectures and satellite teleconferences.

Case Studies
You will prepare case-of-the-week presentations developed from material you present at conferences. These will include a summary of the pertinent diagnostic imaging procedures of an interesting case, an in-depth discussion of that case and a current bibliography.

Practice Board Exams
During the last six months of your residency, you will spend several hours each week with a consultant conducting practice examinations that are designed to prepare you for the oral board examinations. After each exam the cases will be thoroughly discussed by the presenting staff in an informal setting. These practice exams include:

• Musculoskeletal radiology
• Thoracic/cardiac radiology
• Gastrointestinal radiology
• Mammography
• Neuroradiology
• Nuclear medicine
• Pediatric radiology
• Ultrasonography
• Genitourinary radiology
• Vascular/interventional radiology

Teaching Opportunities
You will have the opportunity to teach Mayo Medical School students, visiting students from other medical schools, junior residents and other residents spending elective time in diagnostic radiology. Normally, this includes discussing cases from the Radiology Teaching File and assisting with daily assignments in film interpretation.

Research Training
All diagnostic radiology residents are required to present two seminar projects during their residency. Your seminar projects will focus on the topics of your choice. The seminar is a 30-minute lecture/presentation prepared under the direction of a consulting staff advisor.

These seminars usually are based on a review of Mayo Clinic's experience with a particular disease or the investigation of a new technology as it relates to a particular problem. Recent seminar topics have included:

• Accuracy of enhanced MRI in detection of recurrent lumbar discs
• Diagnosis of pulmonary embolism by fast CT
• Hepatic cavernous hemangioma: re-evaluation of CT criteria
• MR flow measurements to screen for chronic mesenteric ischemia
• Intraoperative ultrasound after carotid endarterectomy

All residents also participate in additional research projects during their training. Residents are expected to have at least one publication or presentation during their training.

Call Frequency
Your call schedule will vary by individual rotation. Mayo follows the recommendations of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Evaluation
To ensure that you acquire adequate knowledge and develop your technical skills, your performance will be monitored carefully during the course of your residency. Your supervising faculty member will formally evaluate you after each clinical rotation. In addition, you will regularly evaluate the faculty to ensure that your educational needs are being met.

Radiology's education committee continually monitors the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program. Elected junior and senior resident representatives are active members of this committee.

Career Development
You will meet periodically with various faculty members, administrators and the training program director to discuss your professional goals. Mayo recruits many of its staff physicians from its own training programs. Thus, when you successfully complete the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program, job opportunities may be available at one of Mayo's group practices. Mayo's vast alumni network is an asset and resource, providing opportunities in both academic radiology and private practice.

Additional Training
At the conclusion of your diagnostic radiology residency, you may wish to continue your graduate training at Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education. Mayo offers radiology fellowships in most subspecialty fields.

If you are accepted for a fellowship, you will continue to receive in-depth, daily, one-on-one training with a consultant. You also will have the opportunity to increase your supervisory and administrative skills. Contact your faculty advisor for more information about these opportunities.