A Letter from the Director
Dear Prospective Resident:
Thank you for your interest in our Diagnostic Radiology Program. While excellent opportunities for research and academic pursuits exist, the particular strength of the UT Medical Center program is in preparation for private practice. This program provides a comprehensive, graded hands-on experience in all the American Board of Radiology subspecialty fields of radiology: GI, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, neuroradiology, chest, pediatric radiology, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine. Residents see a high volume of "bread and butter" radiology. The faculty teaches a practical, private practice-oriented approach to solving imaging problems.
As a busy tertiary trauma center with a nationally-renowned aeromedical service, training in emergency radiology is exceptional. We are also proud of our advanced MRI, PET, and image processing capabilities. Since the department does not have interventional fellows, residents perform invasive procedures, becoming well prepared for the interventional demands of modern practices. The comprehensive lecture/conference schedule is notable for extensive radiology/pathology correlation and interaction with other services. There is a monthly Journal Club and end-of-year "Academic Day" that will appeal to residents with academic leanings. However, lectures are generally geared toward private practice preparation and to this end, the department provides a short lecture series dealing with practical business aspects of radiology. In 2005-2006 a two-week block lecture series was instituted.
This is one of only a few programs who offer a flexible clinical experience to residents who are participating in a transitional clinical year at The University of Tennessee Medical Center. Residents can elect to spend up to two months of their transitional year in radiology. The curriculum revision for 2003-2004 academic year allowed a transistion to organ-based rotations. With PACS and a filmless department, we are able to integrate multi-modality correlations. This has been well received by the residents and allowed the addition of more elective time in the fourth year. The addition of a research month during the second year has also been a positive change.
All residents have the privilege and full funding to attend the acclaimed six-week Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) course in Washington, DC during their third year. Residents also attend educational conferences at departmental expense in their third and fourth year.
Senior electives allow the resident to tailor his training. In-house call is accomplished by a resident-friendly night float and provides excellent training in trauma radiology. There is no in-house/overnight call for two of the four years, and overnight call does not commence until March of the first year. We are sensitive to the financial pressures on many residents and allow moonlighting provided that resident training is not compromised.
UT Graduate School of Medicine's program design facilitates residents' performance on boards. For example, fourth year residents have no call or conference responsibility from April onward to facilitate oral boards preparation. Residents have performed very well on ABR Board examinations. Graduating residents have routinely secured excellent fellowships and private practice positions.
With regard to style and atmosphere, The University of Tennessee Medical Center might best be described as a friendly institution. Radiology residents can expect to work hard, but can also expect to be treated with warmth and respect. There are a number of departmental social events scattered throughout the year which serve to bring the department closer together. Residents clearly enjoy their experience here.
If you have any questions concerning our program, please feel free to call. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Kathleen B. Hudson, MD
Interim Chair
Radiology Residency Program Director
Women's Imaging (Mammography)
Associate Professor
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