Resident training is centered at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. This is integrated with offsite rotations at the White River Junction, Vermont, Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital, a 3-month rotation in Pediatric Radiology at Boston Children's Hospital (BCH), and a 4 week course in radiologic-pathologic correlation given by the American Institute for Radiologic Pathology (AIRP) of the ACR.
View rotation block schedules R1-R4 (PDF).
First year
The first year begins with an introductory period to the general principles of Diagnostic Radiology and radiographic technique, including introductory lectures by faculty. The year is comprised of 4-week rotations in Chest, Nuclear Medicine, and VIR; two 4-week rotations in Body CT/MRI and Neuroradiology; 7 weeks in both Ultrasound and Fluoroscopy with an emphasis on gastrointestinal and genitourinary radiology; and 6 weeks in Musculoskeletal radiology.
Second year
During the second year, the resident rotates at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in nearby White River Junction, Vermont, and also starts Night Float (NF). NF is comprised of 6 days (Sunday through Friday) and is followed by a week at the VA. Total weeks of NF and VA are each 4 weeks.
The resident also spends 3 months at Boston’s Children’s Hospital, which provides a superb core foundation in pediatric radiology to complement the pediatric radiology experience at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. We have a 2-bedroom furnished apartment in the Galleria, which is immediately adjacent to BCH for our residents.
The remainder of the year consists of 4-week rotations in the subspecialty divisions of radiology at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, with the resident gradually assuming responsibility for specific imaging services as their skills and experience increase.
Third year
During the third year, the resident continues with 4-week clinical rotations at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, including NF and VA (total 4 weeks each). The resident participates in the 4-week AIRP course given by the ACR, which provides an organizational framework for disease processes, classified by organ system, and provides a radiologic-pathologic correlation. Since the introduction of virtual course sessions, our residents have chosen to attend AIRP by the virtual platform. The resident also attends 3 national review courses (expenses also covered by the department) in preparation for the ABR Core Examination.
Fourth year (DR)
During the fourth-year in Diagnostic Radiology, the resident assumes greater levels of responsibility for managing individual clinical services. Scheduling of fourth year clinical rotations is largely individualized, tailored to the resident’s interests/future subspecialty training. Required clinical rotations include 4-week rotations in Mammography and Nuclear Medicine as per MQSA and NRC requirements, as well as Night Float and VA, each of which will not exceed 4 weeks. The fourth-year DR resident is allowed up to 12 weeks of elective time, which may be spent pursuing a variety of both clinical and non-clinical opportunities. The resident may spend 2 to 3 months in a clinical radiology subspecialty. Additional clinical and non-clinical electives include:
Clinical radiology electives:
- Community Radiology
- Emergency Radiology
- Global Health Radiology
Two-week rotations with clinical specialties. These currently include:
- Comprehensive Breast Program (for those pursuing a breast imaging fellowship)
- Neurology/Neurosurgery (for those pursuing a neuroradiology fellowship)
- Orthopedics (for those pursuing a musculoskeletal fellowship)
Non-clinical electives (mentored by faculty):
- Business and Leadership
- Clinician-Educator Track
- Radiology Informatics
- Research
Fourth year (IR)
The fourth year of IR residency includes rotations at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, with 4-week rotations dedicated to Mammography and Nuclear Medicine to fulfill the MQSA and NRC requirements. The remainder of the year consists of IR and IR-related rotations, including 4-week rotations in the Surgical ICU, Vascular Surgery, and Neuro-Interventional Radiology, as well as an elective month.
Beginning from the first year, IR residents attend two dedicated didactics conferences weekly. Senior IR residents (R4 and R5) also partake in continuity clinics weekly.
Fifth year (IR)
The fifth-year IR resident assumes greater levels of responsibility for managing the IR service and performance of procedures. Clinical rotations include an 8-week rotation with Vascular Surgery, where the resident continues to participates in arterial and venous interventions, and 4-week rotation at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in White River Junction, Vermont. Additional options for IR-related and elective rotations include Pain Medicine, Neuro-Interventional Radiology, dedicated CT guided procedures, Gastroenterology/Hepatology and/or Surgical sub-specialties. The resident is allowed 2 elective months.
Physics
Currently, radiology physics instruction begins in the first year of residency under the direction of physicist William Sensakovic, PhD. This consists of a 3-month weekly WebEx session with Dr. Sensakovic during the first year of residency (“Foundations”) and two 3-month weekly WebEx sessions during the second year of residency (“X Ray Modalities” and “Advanced Modalities”). All these sessions are interactive and include pre-course work required reading and a post-course exam. Our third-year residents participate in Dr. Sensakovic’s 4-day online review course in April/May before the June ABR Core Exam. Our on-site physicists also perform a series of hands-on labs in Mammography, Fluoroscopy, CT, and Nuclear Medicine. With a new Chief of Medical Physics joining us in July 2025, we plan to restructure the physics curriculum and provide all in-house physics didactics.