Vir Direct Pathway

[BobCat3]

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hi, I'm a M4 that will soon be applying to radiology residency programs. I am interested in VIR and am currently taking a VIR elective. I have heard about the direct pathway program for VIR. I was wondering what people thought about that path? Can anyone currently in that pathway tell me more about it, how they feel about now that they are in it, and why they chose that path? Thanks.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

hi, I'm a M4 that will soon be applying to radiology residency programs. I am interested in VIR and am currently taking a VIR elective. I have heard about the direct pathway program for VIR. I was wondering what people thought about that path? Can anyone currently in that pathway tell me more about it, how they feel about now that they are in it, and why they chose that path? Thanks.

I'm actually very curious about this too. One of the IR fellows at my institution had mentioned it to me as a path for future leaders within the subspecialty.

 

[rox]

It would be intersting.

 

[cbest]

Is it more difficult to match into the VIR direct pathway than a regular diagnostic radiology residency?

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

Is it more difficult to match into the VIR direct pathway than a regular diagnostic radiology residency?

I would think, simply based on the extremely limited number of available programs, that it would be much more competitive than diagnostic radiology. I could be way off base though - perhaps there aren't very many people that would be interested in applying to this program directly from medical school.

 

[Osteopathology]

From what I have seen or heard --- Direct seems easier to match. Can't be quoted here, but most people:

A. Dont know much about it
B. Dont want to do IR, without seeing other areas of rads
C. Know enough about IR in general


My 2 cents.

 

[cbest]

If you enter the direct pathway, are you only able to practice IR or can you still do mostly IR with a little of the 'usual' diagnostic radiology?

 

[cool c]

If you enter the direct pathway, are you only able to practice IR or can you still do mostly IR with a little of the 'usual' diagnostic radiology?

If u do direct IR, u r still boarded in diagnostics, so yes, you will be able to do diag rads.
Only downsides from what I hear about the direct pathway are the initial 2 yrs of surgery, 1 less year of diags (people have trouble passing boards), and the fact that you don't get boarded in diags til PGY-6 I believe.
I am actually very curious bt the initial question. How hard is to match? anyone in Direct pathway able to tell us their feelings??

 

[f_w]

The way it is set up right now, you finish the DIRECT pathway with the boards in general diagnostic radiology. So yes, you are formally able to read everything else.

That said, the extra time for IR has to come from somewhere. Mastering the entire field of general radiology in only 4 years of residency is difficult enough, reducing the 'general' time further is going to lead to some degree of compromise.