Diagnostic Radiology Residency
Cedars-Sinai is a very large tertiary and quaternary care institution. The S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center (radiology and nuclear medicine) is subspecialty-based so that your training will be by experts in these fields, not generalists. We are proud of our one-on-one teaching, which we can offer because we maintain a staff-to-resident ratio of more than 2 to 1. Our equipment is state of the art and we are committed to remaining at the leading edge. The procedure volume well exceeds 330,000 per year, so there is no dearth of patient teaching and research material. Research opportunities abound for interested residents, and the staff is anxious to assist and participate in projects with the residents.
In addition, the hospital has a remarkable imaging facility, which consolidates all imaging services for inpatients and outpatients. This center is a PACS-based, filmless center with only the finest equipment. There are six 1.5 Tesla MR scanners and seven CT scanners. The nuclear medicine department has 13 cameras, wich include two PET scanners, pne PET/CT, with another PET/CT installation in process. A 3T MRI scanner will be installed soon. This beautiful facility houses a world class imaging department with few rivals.
Program Summary
The Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program provides a four-year academically and clinically oriented residency training program in diagnostic radiology beginning at the PGY II year. The American Board of Radiology and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education fully approve the program.
Radiology subspecialty training is provided to prepare the resident to become eligible for certification by the American Board of Radiology. The radiology resident is the liaison with the house staff. Reviewing of studies with house staff and discussions of further imaging procedures provide a basis of experience for future interactions with clinicians. The training program features extensive one-on-one teaching with individual attention the rule, rather than the exception. The academic year is divided into twelve rotations of one-month duration each. Residents rotate through general radiology and subspecialty areas. In addition, residents rotate through University of Southern California Medical Center for bone training and Children's Hospital of Los Angeles for pediatric radiology. Each hospital serves different patient populations, creating a well-rounded environment for training in all aspects of radiology.
During the residency, each individual is given increasing responsibility for performance of procedures and interpretation of films under the supervision of the attending radiologists. Third- and fourth-year residents are provided with elective time to develop a subspecialized area of interest and to assume greater responsibility in that area. Residents are encouraged to engage in quality assurance and clinical research projects.
First Year
The The first-year resident's (PGY 2) curriculum consists of rotations through CT, US, chest, general radiology, gastrointestinal, MRI, musculoskeletal, pediatric radiology, neuroradiology and nuclear medicine. During the first three months, there are no on-call responsibilities for the first-year resident. A night-float call system is in place. Staff radiologists work in the hospital 24/7 and are available for consultations at all times. The resident is given the post-call day off. Four weeks of vacation per year are provided.
Second Year
The second-year (PGY-3) curriculum includes rotations through CT, US, nuclear medicine, chest/general radiology, gastrointestinal, MRI neuroradiology, pediatric and musculoskeletal radiology, mammography, angiography and pediatric radiology.
Third Year
The third-year (PGY-4) curriculum includes rotations through nuclear medicine, angiography, chest/general radiology, CT/US, gastrointestinal radiology, MRI, pediatric radiology and mammography. Third-year residents are strongly encouraged to attend the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, D.C. for a four-week course in radiology with pathologic correlation.
Fourth Year
The fourth-year (PGY-5) curriculum includes rotations through angiography, CT/US, gastrointestinal radiology, neuroradiology, pediatric radiology, mammography, MRI, cardiac vascular imaging, obstretical imaging and an elective. Call responsibility is reduced. A total of four months of nuclear medicine, including nuclear cardiology, is provided as required by the American Board of Radiology.
The Teaching Program
The Department of Diagnostic Imaging conducts an active program of interdepartmental and departmental conferences and seminars, including daily subspecialty conferences and monthly radiology pathology and neuroradiology conferences. A biweekly, five-hour lecture series is given at UCLA to our residents. Additional conferences include basic science courses, weekly Brant and Helms clubs, monthly journal clubs and board review sessions. Senior residents are also given Board Review conferences by the attending radiologist in their respective specialties to assist in preparation for the American Board of Radiology examinations. Radiology residents have performed consistently well as a result of this preparation. Staff members present first-year residents a series of emergency care lectures during the months of July, August and September. These are intended to develop the clinical foundation and imaging skills required in emergencies and in-house calls. The department owns the entire American College of Radiology (ACR) learning files, an extensive selection of audiovisual materials, essential journals, textbooks and other educational materials.
Practice and Fellowship Opportunities
Approximately 95% of graduates elect to pursue fellowships. Thanks to superior preparation, most have been successful in securing fellowships in the subspecialty and institution of their choice. Most of these physicians go into private practice, and about 20% develop successful careers in academics throughout the United States.
Clerkship
Clerkships are offered year round to fourth-year medical students and outside residents from affiliated institutions i.e. UCLA Medical School, LAC+USC Medical School, Children's Hospital only. One or two medical students/residents are accepted for each one-month rotation. This elective exposes the resident/student to all aspects of diagnostic radiology. The value of obtaining appropriate imaging studies to solve clinical problems is emphasized. The flexibility of the program allows individuals to concentrate more time in subspecialty areas under direct supervision. The Clerkship is Observation Only.
Department Visits
Personal interviews with the program director are not authorized at this time.
Application and Interview Process
The Department of Imaging will only accept applications via ERAS for the Diagnostic Radiology. Applicants should contact their Dean's office or ERAS directly. To apply for an open position or unexpected opening, please send the following materials:
- NRMP Application/Universal Application
- Dean's letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Medical license/L3A Form
- Personal statement
- Medical school transcript
- National Board scores
- Three reference letters
| Dora Thompson |
| Diagnostic Radiology Program Coordinator |
| S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center |
| 8700 Beverly Blvd., Suite M-335 |
| Los Angeles , CA 90048-0750 |
| Phone: (310) 423-3419 |
| Fax: (310) 423-8335 |
| Send Us a Message |
Applicants must have a medical degree from an approved institution and one year of post-graduate clinical training in a clinical field. All applicants must be eligible for medical licensure in the State of California. Graduates of foreign medical schools should contact the Medical Board of California to ensure that eligibility requirements have been met.
Candidates who have graduated from medical schools outside of the United States must have passed the ECFMG. As a participant in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), all candidates should review the specific requirements for independent applicants as set forth in section 3.0 of Policies of the NRMP. Our program's official NRMP code is 103062. The number of positions being offered is three per year.
All candidates for a residency position are required to undergo an interview. Interviews are by invitation only and are given only after all application materials and letters of recommendation have been received. The cut-off date for receipt of diagnostic radiology applications is November 1st each year.
