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 at the American Institute for Radiologic Pathology (AIRP) of the ACR in Silver Spring, MD.
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 resident’s 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, consisting of two 2-week rotations.
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. Night Float also begins in the second year, with two 2-week rotations.
Third year
During the third year, the resident continues with 4-week clinical rotations at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, including 2 2-week rotations on Night Float and at the VA. The resident participates in the 4-week AIRP course at the ACR in Silver Spring, MD, which provides an organizational framework for disease processes, classified by organ system, and also provides a radiologic-pathologic correlation. Accommodations, travel, and food expenses are covered by GME and the department. The resident also attends 3 national review courses (expenses also covered by the department) in preparation for the ABR Core Examination.
Fourth year (DR)
The resident assumes greater levels of responsibility for managing individual services. 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 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 2-3 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 first year of IR residency includes rotations at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, with 3 of the 4-week rotations dedicated to mammography and nuclear medicine to fulfill the MQSA and NRC requirements, as well as a 4-week Night Float rotation. The remainder of the year consists of IR and IR-related rotations, including an ICU rotation and 1 to 2 other clinical rotations. There is an elective month for research or additional clinical or IR exposure of interest to the trainee.
Fifth year (IR)
The fifth-year resident assumes greater levels of responsibility for managing the IR service and for the performance of procedures. Clinical rotations include 2 dedicated rotations on the Vascular Surgery service, where the resident participates in interventions for aneurysmal and peripheral vascular disease. Additional dedicated rotations include pain medicine and Neuro-Interventional Radiology, as well as 2 potential elective months.
Physics
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. Dr. John Weaver, our on-site physicist, also performs a series of hands-on labs in Mammography, Fluoroscopy, CT and Nuclear Medicine.