Program Overview

Program Overview

The UNC Department of Radiology offers an ACGME-accredited Independent Interventional Radiology Residency program, which is 24 months in length and immediately follows completion of a four-year Diagnostic Radiology residency and an internship year. The program accepts applications for both ESIR (12 month) and non-ESIR (24 month) candidates.

Early Specialization in IR (ESIR)

The UNC Diagnostic Radiology residency is approved for three Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR) spots per residency class. Selection takes place in the Spring of the PGY-3/R2 year. When selected, residents complete 5 months of Interventional Radiology with additional selectives during their PGY-5/R4 year. While on Interventional Radiology, they will be in the call pool. After completion, they will be eligible to complete an Independent Interventional Radiology Residency in one year.

Program Goals

The UNC Department of Radiology Interventional Radiology Division delivers the highest level of quality patient care. The program provides compassionate, appropriate, and effective care in a professional manner from residents, faculty, and staff alike. The faculty’s three-part mission in clinical, educational, and scholarly accomplishment extends to each resident as well.

Fundamentals

Trainees benefit from a focused interventional radiology lecture curriculum. During interventional radiology blocks, trainees get daily attending topic-focused lectures and participate in journal club, M&M, interesting case conference, and dedicated research meetings. Trainees rotate through different locations to focus on skills such as clinic, inpatient consults, and procedures.

Lectures

A dedicated morning VIR lecture series has been constructed to teach trainees about the numerous disease pathologies and procedures within IR. In addition, interesting case topics, M&M, journal club, and review topics are presented on a monthly basis. Every Friday is reserved for a joint conference with vascular surgery.

Pre-call Training

While on diagnostic, trainees obtain lectures on call several months prior to July, when a new cohort of second-year radiology residents take lower-level call and third-year residents begin taking upper-level call. The wide variety of emergency radiology cases used by attendings during these lectures are often derived from real cases seen by residents while on their call shifts.

Call Schedule

• PGY5/6 IR resident: Weekdays 5pm-7am
• PGY 5/6 IR resident: Weekends 5pm Fri – 7 am Mon

Call Responsibilities

Independent residents will rotate on call evenly with ESIR PGY5 and integrated PGY5/6 residents. Residents are responsible for answering the VIR pager in a timely fashion, working up urgent and emergent consults, and performing procedures overnight with the call attending.

Resident Meetings & Research

It is encouraged but not required of ESIR and independent IR residents to publish one paper during their 1-2 year independent residency. Residents are encouraged to present at national meetings and are excused from clinical responsibilities to attend approved educational meetings. Travel expenses for residents who present at approved conferences are reimbursed by the department.

Vacation

Each resident is allotted 3 weeks of vacation during each academic year.

Culture of Connection

The camaraderie among our residents and between residents and faculty makes UNC a unique program.