Are there "bad" programs?

[Khairan]

Are there any radiology programs out there that have a reputation for being malignant, or for providing a sub-par education? So far, none of the residents at the programs I have interviewed at said they were unhappy -- they liked the admin, they like their education, they say they'd go there again.

Are radiologists just happy people or are all the programs really this awesome?

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[poloace]

i think a big part of this is due to the fact that radiology (moreso than any other residency training i can think of) is very resident dependent. most of your learning is done with books and other materials. i'd say the same is not true of surgery where, for the most part, being involved in procedures taught by leaders in the field is where you will gain a large part of your education. radiology, on the other hand, nears becoming a correspondence course. you can get most of your training through online case files if you so choose.

p

 

[eddieberetta]

i think a big part of this is due to the fact that radiology (moreso than any other residency training i can think of) is very resident dependent. most of your learning is done with books and other materials. i'd say the same is not true of surgery where, for the most part, being involved in procedures taught by leaders in the field is where you will gain a large part of your education. radiology, on the other hand, nears becoming a correspondence course. you can get most of your training through online case files if you so choose.

p

I don't agree with this at all.

There is stuff you can learn from books, and then there is the real world of cases that are not classic, management decisions that are not cut and dried, and many other technichal and procedural aspects of radiology that cannot be learned from books.

Being at a radiology program where you are "taught by leaders in the field" is just as advantageous in Radiology as in surgery or any advanced specialty. And just like in those other specialties, those who are not taught by world-leaders will still be able to learn the information and skills, and become a very competent specialist.

There are stronger and weaker programs, and there certainly are more and less malignant programs, but finding out the inside scoop may not be as easy as just asking -- people are going to be guarded about this knid of info. The best bet is to do electives at some of the progams you are most interested in, and you will get thie inside scoop once people get to know you.

Overall though, rads is probably a more pleasant residency than many, and that may come through when you talk to people.