Overview

The UMKC School of Medicine radiology residency has an innovative detailed and well-organized curriculum that guides residents through the process of obtaining medical knowledge needed to become an outstanding clinical radiologist in private or academic practice. We take great pride in the fact that residents rotate through all areas of radiology, including cardiovascular imaging, OB, and neuro IR. Additionally, the core curriculum includes dedicated teaching in important topics including basic research methods, business and financial management, personal/professional development and general competency.

Educational Resources

Resident Education Center – In 2014, a new radiology education facility was opened. Located in the Department of Radiology at Saint Luke’s Hospital, the center includes a resident lounge, kitchen, call room with shower/bath and a 50-seat conference room, Scarpellino Hall. The conference room includes Apple TV and state-of-the-art web conferencing capabilities.

Educational Benefits – Residents have free access to e-anatomy, STATdx, and RadPrimer. Also, free online access to multiple textbooks through ClinicalKey and the UMKC Health Sciences library, which has an extensive online journal collection. Residents also receive an annual educational stipend.

Daily 7:30am conferences– The core curriculum is covered at 7:30am by subspecialty, fellowship trained faculty, and repeats biannually.

Monthly Journal Club and Interesting Case Conference
UMKC radiology hosts a monthly Journal Club and Interesting Case conference. Both conferences are resident-led and overseen by a faculty physician. This provides an excellent hands-on learning opportunity with real-time feedback. All sights have microphone and speaker capability, allowing the conferences to be interactive from remote locations.

Physics course –In addition to core physics lectures, the institution’s physicists host a week-long physics course during the PGY4 (R3) year as a board review. The course curriculum strictly follows the AAPM (American Association of Physics in Medicine), APDR (Association of Program Directors in Radiology) curricula and the RSNA physics modules. Practice questions are provided.

Resident Scholarly Activity – At UMKC, we appreciate residents being productive in their scholarly work. Residents who are presenting their work at national meetings may be granted additional time off. Financial support is available to help cover travel and related expenses.

 

Resident buddy system – Each incoming PGY1 resident who matches at UMKC has a resident buddy in the PGY2 or PGY3 year. Resident buddies help with advice on making the transition from medical school to residency, including information about Kansas City in general, and UMKC in particular.

ACE mentoring program – We are proud that each UMKC resident chooses an ACE (Accessible, Confidential and Encouraging) faculty mentor in the first 8-15 months of residency training. Mentors provide professional support such as advice on fellowships and help with personal issues or other needs. ACE mentors are basically “there for their mentees” when needed.

Visiting professors –Because learning from a variety of attendings from different backgrounds is very beneficial to broadening resident knowledge, UMKC recruits sought after visiting professors from around the country.

Rotations

Residents are assigned to monthly rotations in various sub-specialty sections at different hospital sites, including Truman Medical Center, a Level 1 Trauma Center, and Saint Luke’s Hospital, a Level 1 Time Critical Diagnosis Center for Stroke. Each site has a unique set of pathology and diverse patient population. Residents follow a core curriculum established by the ACGME.

Working closely with faculty physicians, residents gain hands-on experience with increasing responsibilities appointed to residents commensurate with ability. Additionally, early exposure to MR imaging provides groundwork to build on as residents advance in the program.

 

American Institute of Radiological Pathology (AIRP) – To reinforce correlation of diagnostic imaging findings with pathology and physiology, each resident attends a four-week course in during the PGY4 (R3) year prior to the core exam. The course registration fee is paid by the program.

 

Evaluations

Residents undergo formative core competency-based evaluations at the completion of each rotation. Additionally, confidential program and faculty evaluations are performed. Resident comments are used for internal program improvements. Residents meet with the program director biannually.

Exams – UMKC pays for residents to take a yearly in-service exam provided by the American College of Radiology (ACR). This exam provides UMKC residents with an opportunity to compare individual sub-specialty subject knowledge by level of training to peers at other programs. These scores can help determine strengths and weaknesses to focus study efforts.

Research

UMKC is proud of the extensive award winning research produced by the department from residents, faculty and fellows in recent years. Although each resident is required to do only one scholarly project (as per ACGME guidelines), our residents are encouraged to pursue as many as they wish. Research electives are available and will be reviewed on a case by case basis by the program director. Free statistical support and pre-project research planning are available through UMKC as well.

Accreditation

 

 

 

 

 

 

Few fellows in the department and a collegial work environment allows residents to reach their full potential.The UMKC School of Medicine and the radiology residency are both fully accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education.