Residency Program

 

General program description:

The Department of Clinical Sciences offers a 3 year residency program in Veterinary Radiology. Responsibilities of the resident include participation in the operation of the clinical radiology service in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, assisting in instruction of the fourth year veterinary students and participation in the didactic courses offered to first and second year veterinary students. Responsibilities will include night and weekend emergency duty on a rotating schedule.

A completed research project, an oral presentation at the annual meeting of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and at least one major manuscript submitted to a refereed journal and accepted for publication are required. Individuals applying for admission to the program should have completed an internship program or at least one year of veterinary practice.

Specific Objectives

1. Advanced training in Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Therapy

   1. Develop skills in diagnostic imaging to include: diagnostic and special radiographic procedures; ultrasound; CT; MRI; nuclear imaging.

   2. Develop skills in radiation therapy/radiation oncology

2. Training in Clinical Investigation

3. Training in Scientific Writing and Literature Evaluation

4. Training in Didactic Teaching and Scientific Presentations

5. Preparation for Certification Examination by the American College of Veterinary Radiology

6. Develop Skills for Communication With Clients and Referring Veterinarians

Training Period

Thirty-six months of supervised postdoctoral training in veterinary radiology will be required. Additional training would be required if the individual wishes to obtain a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degree in addition to the residency certificate. While some course work could be taken for graduate credit during the three year residency, it is anticipated that graduate degree candidates would require an additional one to three years of didactic and research course work following the residency.

Currently one resident will be accepted every three years, although if future caseload and funding allow, one resident may be selected every other year. The residency program begins in June (1998).

Application and Selection Procedures

Residency program information is available to the candidates through the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians Resident and Intern matching program, VIRMP website. Applications are directed to the Department Head of the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine. Application deadline is that given by the AAVC (usually in December or January). Information is also posted on the ACVR website.

The resident selected for 1998 responded to our posting on the ACVR website, when we did not match with any of the applicants through the AAVC program. For this selection process, we used a May, 1998 deadline.

Prerequisites for the residency

Resident must be a graduate veterinarian. Preference is given to those applicants with an internship or practice equivalent, and those graduating from an AVMA accredited veterinary school.

Radiology Faculty

James Hoskinson, DVM, DACVR, Residency Program Director

Diagnostic Radiology
Nuclear Medicine
Radiation Oncology/Radiation Therapy
Angiography and Interventional Radiology

Clinical service and teaching 60%
Didactic teaching 15%
Research 20%
Administration 5%

David S. Biller, DVM, DACVR

Diagnostic Radiology
Ultrasound

Clinical service and teaching 60%
Didactic teaching 15%
Research 20%
Administration 5%

Description of Clinical Service

The thirty-six month program will be divided (approximately) as follows:

*Because of the centralized nature of the radiology department at KSU, clinical service involves all diagnostic modalities for all species. An average of 1.5 radiologists are in support of the clinical radiology service each day. The resident is involved with >60% of the cases imaged each day and in the review of 100% of the cases during rounds the following day. The majority (>95%) of cases are reported the same day as the imaging study. All cases reported by the resident are reviewed the following day by all available radiologists (2 or 3).

Based on your value of 60% maximum commitment, and our in house training requirement of 82%, the resident would get "credited" with involvement in 50% of cases imaged each year. Using our projected number of studies for this coming year multiplied by 3 years (which does not allow for anticipated continued growth), the following numbers are obtained.

We anticipate large increases in the number of MRI studies performed with the planned acquisition of in house MRI equipment this fiscal year.

**The resident will be given four weeks off of clinics to study for boards, and will be allowed to use four weeks of vacation along with this to give an eight week block for study.

Training Content

Responsibilities of the resident include participation in the operation of the clinical radiology service in the veterinary medical teaching hospital, assisting in instruction of the fourth year veterinary students and participation in the didactic courses offered to first and second year veterinary students. The individual would also participate in rounds and lectures which cover the basic physical and applied aspects of diagnostic radiology, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, nuclear scintigraphy, radiation safety and radiation biology.

Requirements and Expectations

Rounds

The resident will be expected to attend rounds given by the department and radiology section. The following is a list of rounds which the radiology resident is expected to attend:

All radiology section rounds. Rounds include daily review of all cases (and the written case interpretation/report) from the previous day (or weekend). (Anticipated time commitment ~1 hr per day).

"Known" case interpretations by the resident to be prepared by the radiologist on duty that week. During the first year these will involve scheduled topics. The radiologist on duty will provide the resident with an appropriate reading list for the week’s topic.

Pathology Rounds by the radiology resident each month reviewing those cases for which biopsy or necropsy findings are available. Resident shall present cases and pathology findings for the radiologists.

All morning resident rounds. Tests and special reading assignments may be given on the particular topic under study during that period. (The majority of these occur prior to the regular clinic hours and do not conflict with radiology clinic duty.)

All afternoon pathology rounds. The resident will present the radiology portion of the cases. (These occur at the end of the day, after the radiology clinic is closed.)

All scheduled radiology section meetings.

All 4th year student teaching radiology rounds or portions thereof. The resident is expected to administer and grade the first quiz to the seniors over the appropriate topics as shown on the clinical radiology rotation sheet. During their first year, the resident is to take the diagnostic radiology tests given to the senior students.

Education Environment

The resident will assist in instruction of the fourth year veterinary students (through clinical instruction and rounds) and participate in the didactic courses offered to first and second year veterinary students. This includes lecture and laboratory preparation and presentation of material in gross anatomy (radiographic anatomy) and diagnostic radiology (sophomore course). The resident will present a seminar each year as part of the resident seminar series. The resident will attend daily medicine and surgery rounds. The resident will attend all weekly pathology rounds and present pertinent radiographic studies.

Clinical Training

As the Kansas State University residency program is (currently) limited to one resident, and is a centralized single facility, the resident will have exposure to all areas of diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy while on clinical service. Emphasis will be placed on development of technical and basic diagnostic radiology skills early in the program, with increasing focused training and responsibility in advanced diagnostic imaging techniques later in the program.. A general overview of specific areas of emphasis during the training program is given below.

During the first year it is expected that the resident will:

From July through September 1 - review the radiology teaching files and computer programs and anatomy auto-tutorial packets in the morning. During the afternoon the resident is to primarily assist the technologist in making proper radiographs and in independently approving the quality of the films made. As experience is gained in this regard, it is expected that the attending radiologist will rely heavily on the resident for quality control. During this time frame, it is expected that the resident will read in its entirety and be familiar with the diagrams in Morgan's Book "Techniques of Veterinary Radiography", Morgan's text "Equine Radiography", and Ticer's "Radiographic Techniques in Veterinary Medicine".

Objective: Become knowledgeable with the equipment and radiographic positioning and technique.

September 1 through February 1 - the resident will be in the clinic (principally involved with diagnostic radiology) when not in Anatomy or Radiology classes. The resident will continue to work with the technologists in making and approving radiographs. The resident's responsibility in interpretation and dictation of clinical cases will increase with ability.

January through May - the resident will attend the didactic lectures in diagnostic radiology and assist with all laboratories (computer and conventional film). During this time the resident is expected to read and become familiar with Thrall's "Textbook of Veterinary Diagnostic Radiology", O'Brien's "Radiographic Diagnosis of Abdominal Disorders of the Dog and Cat", and Suter's "Thoracic Radiography of the Dog and Cat". Additional suggested reading assignments may be made.

Objective: Introduction to diagnostic radiology of large and small animals.

From February 1, in addition to diagnostic radiology, the first year resident is assigned to an increasing commitment in diagnostic ultrasound. The resident will be the "reader" to the attending radiologist and will no longer be involved in making radiographs but may be involved in quality control. The first year resident will begin assisting the nuclear medicine radiologist and attending CT and MRI examinations as scheduled. As the resident gains more competency, their responsibility in all diagnostic areas will increase. The attending radiologist will be available to assist.

Objective: Introduction to diagnostic ultrasound and nuclear medicine.

It is expected during the first year that periodically the resident will miss assigned clinic times due to other (teaching) responsibilities.

During the first year the resident will be involved with teaching radiographic anatomy to first year students. The resident will prepare and present lectures in radiographic anatomy. Laboratory autotutorial film packets and computer programs will be reviewed and updated by the resident. The resident will present and assist the students with laboratory material.

Objective: Review and learn anatomy with an emphasis on radiographic anatomy.

During the first six months of the residency, a radiologist will be on emergency duty with the resident. After that time the resident will be on emergency duty every second week (alternating with a senior radiologist). A faculty radiologist will be available for backup.

Objective: Prepare the resident for after hours emergency duty. Allow resident to develop confidence in diagnostic radiology in an emergency setting.

Office Day - During the second six months, office time of one half day per week is provided to the resident as protected time for study.

Objective: Allow for directed study of radiology topics and preparation of a research proposal.

During the second year it is expected that the resident will:

Continue to present radiographic anatomy material in gross anatomy courses. The laboratory commitment will be reduced.

Provide clinical service jointly with the senior radiologist on duty. Responsibilities will increase with increasing experience.

Objective: Continue to improve diagnostic radiology skills.

Provide primary nuclear medicine service and interpretation for clinical cases. A senior radiologist will be available to assist as needed with the performance of studies and will review all reports.

Review all archived clinical nuclear medicine cases and correlate radiographic and pathologic findings with the scans.

Objective: Develop skills in veterinary nuclear medicine.

Assist with all radiation therapy cases. Increasing responsibility for the performance of therapy procedures will be given as experience dictates.

Objective: Introduction to radiation therapy with an emphasis on therapies available at KSU.

Be provided one day per week for study and research. The exact manner in which the time will be taken (blocks, day/week, etc.) shall be arranged the resident and his/her committee. The resident's research project should be performed during the second year. Completion of longer studies (extending into the third year) may be permitted by the resident's committee.

Objective: Development and application of research skills.

Lead and direct 4th year student rounds 1 day per week.

Prepare and present 2 lectures for the sophomore didactic radiology course (CS840). Resident will participate all lab sessions.

Continue to present lecture material in radiographic anatomy with a decreasing laboratory commitment.

Objective: Development and application of teaching skills.

Continue to attend all appropriate resident/faculty seminars and rounds

During the third year it is expected that the resident will:

Assume increasing responsibility for running of the clinical radiology service. By the third year it is expected that the resident will act as primary radiologist on duty (with backup available as needed) on a rotating schedule with the other radiologists. Resident will serve as backup radiologist when not on primary duty.

Assume full responsibility for 4th year student radiology rounds on a rotating basis with other faculty.

Continue to attend all applicable resident/faculty rounds, and assist with the teaching of any radiology rounds for other house officers.

Prepare a third lecture for the sophomore didactic radiology course (CS840). Continue to assist with all laboratories.

Complete resident research project manuscript and submit to a refereed journal (if not already completed).

Present research at the ACVR meeting (if not previously done).

Prepare for the ACVR examination (8 weeks with no other duty). Participate in written and oral mock examination with radiology and clinical faculty.

Professional and Graduate Training

Courses - During their training, the radiology faculty may give one or more special elective courses either to the students or geared to the radiology residents. It is expected the resident will attend these sessions, provided they do not duplicate previous experiences.

Didactic tests - Written and oral examinations will be administered to the resident by the radiology faculty. Each faculty member will cover sections emphasizing their areas of interest, and will provide a "minimum" reading list of suggested tests or articles. Successful completion of these exams is required for continuation in the program.

Literature - It is expected that the resident delegate adequate time to search the veterinary literature and develop a comprehensive clinical journal file.

Didactic Examination Schedule and Suggested Readings*

(*not a complete list. It is expected that the resident will also be familiar with current veterinary literature related to each topic. Texts for alternate imaging will be selected at a later date.)

Jul 1998 Radiographic Technique (no exam)

Morgan JP. Techniques of veterinary radiography (5th ed). Iowa State University Press.

Ticer JW. Radiographic technique in veterinary practice (2nd ed). WB Saunders.

Morgan JP, et al. Equine radiography. Iowa State University Press.

Nov 1998 Radiation Physics Exam

Curry TS, et al. Christensen's introduction to the physics of diagnostic radiology (4th ed). Lea and Febiger.

Jan 1999 Diagnostic Radiology (no exam)

Thrall DE. Textbook of veterinary diagnostic radiology