Research Track Radiology Residency

The Department of Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania proposes continuation of its innovative T32-spomsored Research Track Radiology Residency Program with the goal of developing imaging clinician-scientists. The clinical and scientific importance of biomedical imaging, rapid progress in imaging technology, and an increasing investment in imaging research create a growing need for imaging-based clinician-scientists to ensure translation of these advances into human research and clinical practice. There continues to be a talented pool of resident applicants to academic radiology residency programs across the US but only a small fraction of programs are equipped to provide comprehensive training radiology clinician-investigators. The training program described for this proposal continues the Penn radiology residency track designed for clinical trainees interested in careers as imaging scientists. This program leverages a highly active research program in imaging and image-guided therapy as well as the large and well-developed research infrastructure within Penn’s Radiology Department. The Program specifically comprises 1 year of research training during the 4th year of radiology residency and a second optional research fellowship year undertaken in the context of an integrated radiology resident experience that meets the requirement for board certification. In this renewal proposal, we continue to emphasize the development and application of technology for biomedical imaging and image-guided therapy that aligns with NIBIB training priorities. We integrate insights and experience gained from the considerable success of our prior and current trainees in obtaining academic radiology faculty positions, publishing high-impact research papers, and developing independent research programs and funding, such as NIH Director’s Awards 2 NIH Early Independence Awards and a Transformative R01. Other advances comprise additional mentors and further integration of the research preceptorship year with research undertaken during subsequent fellowship specialty training in order to ensure a contiguous research experience. Proposed Program innovations for this renewal include (1) a continued focus on Interventional Radiology spurred by increasing research in the field and evolving training pathways; (2) increased access to pediatric radiology residence leveraging an expanding research program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and adding a pediatric clinician-scientist as Program mPI/co-PD, and (3) ongoing efforts to establish a Radiology Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP) network leading to the recognition of radiology as a formal PSTP entity in the AAMC accomplished during the current funding period. In summary, we request the opportunity to continue our highly successful program to train imaging and image-guided therapy focused clinician-scientists.