Comments from Current Radiology Residents

Environment

Washington, DC - plenty to see and do in the Nation's Capital

Georgetown University Hospital

GUH - strong tradition in radiology, as well as surgery, internal medicine, and other specialties; Especially strong in cancer, transplant, GI, neuro, fibroids, and vascular treatments which enhances the quality of pathology that we as radiologists see

Ingrained Jesuit Catholic ethos of "serving others" -one of the most well-regarded Catholic hospitals in the nation

Residency Program

Mid-sized resident-centered program (5 residents/year), enabling the development of strong relationships with faculty and other residents, along with scheduling flexibility

In 2006, received full accreditation for residency and fellowship programs

Outstanding Abdominal and Pelvic MR service with a wide variety of transplant and fibroid pathology, among others - multiple training months in Body MR

Strong tradition in Abdominal Imaging and Neuroradiology education, with well-regarded fellowships

Exposure to advanced neuro-interventional procedures, such as Aneurysm coiling, Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty

Dedicated PET/CT rotation in 4th year

Exposure to a busy Nuclear Cardiology practice 

Multiple rotations in the outpatient/private practice setting - provides real world radiology experience

Dedicated procedures month in 4th year to hone skills prior to fellowship

Numerous research opportunities at GUH/GUMC and at the nearby NIH

Training by national board examiners in Cardiac (Dr. Green), IR (Dr. Barth)

Recent 300% increase in resident book fund from $1,800 to $5,000, supported generously by faculty funds, enabling financial coverage of resident board examinations with plenty of money left over for books/review courses

Concentrated physics training in preparation for the Physics Board Exam

Newly refurbished conference room and updated dedicated resident library with ongoing faculty support to keep library stocked with the latest and greatest radiology textbooks

Continuously update resident curriculum to reflect changing trends in radiologic practice

Collegial atmosphere among residents and attendings which fosters learning

Attendings on clinical services are ever present in reading rooms and not confined to their offices

Efficient daily schedule with good resident coverage on the busier services from 7:30-6 and then an on-call resident buffer from 5-8 before the night float resident arrives

2 dedicated lectures/day, most prepared by Attendings - good balance between education and clinical service

Well-established night float system that greatly limits the number of resident 24 hour shifts

Manageable call schedule with only one resident on per night

US techs available to scan at night

Attending backup via Teleradiology available 24-7

Parking provided

Enjoyable year-long Case of the Week competition for residents, developed and maintained by Dr. Allison, with prizes awarded at the end  

Free admission to dynamic monthly DC Radiology Society meetings, which include a Resident's quiz (good opportunity to win $50), an outstanding lecture from a national expert (many of which lecture at the AFIP), and a nice dinner to boot - a nice opportunity to interact with residents from other programs 

Several dedicated outside rotations which supplement GUH learning

New trauma rotation with world renowned Trauma Radiologist, Dr. Stuart Mirvis, at University of Maryland Shock Trauma

New outside Pediatric rotation at Children's National Medical Center, to increase overall exposure to pediatric studies

Cardiac MR rotation at Washington Hospital Center, our sister institution, the 5th busiest hospitals in the country

MSK MRI at Bethesda Naval Hospital, one of the region's busiest MSK facilities

Dedicated OB/GYN US rotation at a local private practice, where scanning skills can continue to be honed

Extensive faculty board review participation for 4th years

Department of Radiology

Two dynamic leaders in critical positions: Chairman and Chief of Service, Dr. James Spies and Program Director, Dr. Sandra Allison (who is also the Director of Ultrasound)

New state of the art and user-friendly Philips PACS Stentor system, Powerscribe Voice Recognition Software and dedicated Siemens and TerraRecon 3D workstations

Recent complete remodeling of all of the Reading Rooms

State of the art Ultrasound machines (with 3D and 4D Capabilities), new Digital Fluoroscopy Room and new Interventional Radiology Suite

Grand Rounds series with monthly lectures from experts on a variety of industry topics (lectures provided from inhouse Physicians and Visiting Professor from around the country)

World renown Uterine Fibroid Embolization program, led by Dr. Spies, with exposure during VIR and also MRI/US

Strong IR division, which in addition to UFE, includes Chemoembolization and RF ablation, with opportunities for residents to first-assist as much as they want; one of the few residency programs that offers the IR resident/fellow clinical pathway

Active Ultrasound service which provides the residents with extensive training in transplant sonography, MSK sonography, pediatric sonography and Ultrasound guided procedures

Strong in-house Pediatric Radiologist who just won a prestigious MAGIS award for excellent teaching

New 64 slice CT and 1.5 or 3T MRI on the way