5-day radiology elective lifts pre-residency skills
An Academic Radiology study found that a short virtual bootcamp improved fourth-year medical students’ radiology knowledge and confidence before internship.
A 5-day virtual radiology elective improved fourth-year medical students’ preparedness for imaging-related tasks before residency, according to a study published online May 23 in Academic Radiology. The paper is titled “Radiology Bootcamp Elective To Enhance Residency Preparedness: Curriculum Development And Assessment.”
The course was offered after the national residency match and before students entered internship. Its content focused on imaging tasks that junior residents may encounter early in training, including ordering diagnostic studies, counseling patients, assessing exam eligibility, and screening studies for critical findings that require escalation.
Researchers used pre- and post-course questionnaires to assess changes in radiology knowledge and confidence. The study reported significant improvement in radiology knowledge, especially in patient communication and appropriate exam selection.
Confidence also improved for noninterpretive radiology skills. These skills included imaging request decisions, patient-facing communication, and knowing when urgent findings should be referred to senior clinicians.
The course received an average rating of 4.8 out of 5. All participating students said they would recommend the elective to another student, according to the reported findings.
Academic Radiology lists Abdul M. Zafar, MD, as lead author, with Steven Angtuaco, Petra J. Lewis, MBBS, and Nancy J. McNulty, MD, among the authors. The article appears as an in-press original investigation.
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth lists radiology education across several parts of its curriculum, including imaging content in systems-based courses and required clerkships. The department also describes radiology electives and imaging-learning objectives that include imaging algorithms, risks and benefits, communication, and screening.
AAMC has described transition-to-residency bootcamps as courses commonly held near the end of medical school to help students practice clinical responsibilities before starting residency. The association reported in 2024 that 90% of U.S. medical schools provide such courses.
The authors concluded that a short, structured radiology elective may be a feasible way to strengthen internship preparedness. The course will now be offered to fourth-year medical students each spring semester, according to the reported study findings.
Company:Academic Radiology
Sources
- Radiology Bootcamp Elective To Enhance Residency Preparedness: Curriculum Development And Assessment. Peer-reviewed study
- Articles in Press. Peer-reviewed study
About the author
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Radiology Signal Staff covers developments across medical imaging, radiology AI, imaging informatics, clinical research, and radiology business. The team monitors primary sources, peer-reviewed studies, company announcements, society updates, and healthcare industry news to deliver concise reporting for imaging professionals.
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