Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency

Overview

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Ronald Arellano, MD
Program Director,
Interventional Radiology Residency Program

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Sara Zhao, MD
Associate Program Director,
Interventional Radiology Residency Program

The Integrated and Independent IR Residency Training Programs at Massachusetts General Hospital are excited for the 2025 Match. In this cycle, we will interview applicants for dedicated training and graduation from Massachusetts General Hospital. During your MGH training, elective opportunities will be available at the MGB Radiology Department (MGH/BWH), offering the extensive clinical and scholarly resources of these preeminent institutions. Our future vision of an integrated MGB healthcare system and training program will push the limits of procedural care and foster innovative educational experiences. Both today and in the future, our goal is to produce exceptional Interventional Radiologists equipped to thrive in the dynamic landscape of modern healthcare.

Interventional Radiology is a distinct specialty that provides high-quality patient care by using minimally invasive, image-guided techniques to diagnose and treat diseases in nearly every organ system.

The Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has established program requirements for the Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency program which, upon completion, offers dual certification in diagnostic and interventional radiology. The Massachusetts General Hospital offers three annual positions in the ACGME accredited Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency program. The aim of the Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency is to provide a comprehensive training in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and to enhance the quality and safety of patient care through a greater focus on clinical care in outpatient clinics, inpatient consultation, admissions and critical care.

The clinical evolution of our specialty has been accompanied by an increased complexity and expansion of imaging and minimally invasive treatment techniques that are employed in an ever-increasing number and variety of procedures. From the treatment of peripheral artery disease with angioplasty and catheter-delivered stents to interventional oncology procedures that rely on transcatheter or percutaneous techniques, an interventional radiologist physician is a member of an exciting, evolving and advancing field.

The Department of Radiology is dedicated to training world-class clinical radiologists who will practice in a variety of academic and private settings. One of our goals is to train the next generation of academic radiologists, who will continue to contribute to the specialty and expand the frontiers of medical imaging and interventional radiology. Opportunities exist to advance knowledge through participation in basic and clinical research.

Why Mass General?

The Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Radiology is uniquely positioned to provide exposure to a wide variety of disease states, a critical component of radiology training:

  • MGH serves as a general hospital for the local Boston area.
  • MGH Satellite imaging centers further increase our coverage of outpatient centers and urgent care clinics.
  • MGH draws referrals for subspecialty care from all over the world, providing exposure to rare and newly described diseases.

The Department of Radiology has a long history in the training of future radiologists. It was the first in the country to establish a residency training program. Resident education is given a high priority by the faculty, which consists of approximately 120 radiologists, of whom 18 are Interventional Radiologists. The formal residency training program is closely aligned with the latest advances occurring in the radiologic and minimally invasive care of patients. The department performs more than 890,000 diagnostic examinations and over 19,000 interventional procedures annually.

Clinical Experience

Mass General is the largest Harvard Medical School-affiliated teaching hospital with over 900 beds. It is a world recognized, full service facility covering multiple subspecialties. It is a Level 1 trauma center with a nationally recognized cancer center and active liver, kidney and pancreas transplant surgery programs. With over 47,000 inpatient admissions per year and over 1 million outpatient visits per year, trainees can gain exposure to a wide variety of patients and diagnoses.

Facilities

The interventional facilities include nine fluoroscopy procedure suites and three procedure CT rooms. Four additional hybrid operating rooms with open and endovascular surgical capabilities are also available. All fluoroscopy procedure suites are equipped with digital subtraction angiography capability and physiologic monitoring.

The Department of Radiology is well staffed with dedicated interventional nursing personnel to provide conscious sedation and procedural care. All nurses in the department are critical care and/or ER-certified, and several are pediatric specialists.

Curriculum

The MGH Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency curriculum is structured to provide a strong clinical background and broad exposure to the entire interventional radiology scope of practice and the full range of IR procedures. Learning opportunities exist through daily and weekly teaching conferences dedicated to resident teaching. At the same time, we also provide our residents with a strong foundation in diagnostic radiology.

PGY 1: Clinical Internship
The MGH Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency is a categorical program, which requires trainees who match into our program to also complete a surgical internship at the MGH. This internship has been tailored specifically for interventional radiology trainees and offers a broad exposure to clinical services that are closely aligned with our specialty. Residents rotate on Interventional Radiology for 1 month during this year.

PGY 2-4: Diagnostic Radiology Rotations
The subsequent three years of training are essentially the same as the Mass General diagnostic radiology curriculum. In brief, residents are assigned in two- to four-week blocks and will rotate through all diagnostic radiology subspecialties.

Residents rotate in Interventional Radiology for at least 3 months during these years.

At the end of 36 months of rotations, IR residents are expected to pass the American Board of Radiology Core Exam (part 1).

PGY 5 and 6:
The last two years of training will be dedicated to mastering clinical and procedural skills in interventional radiology. Typical rotations include the following:

  • Interventional Radiology
  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Vascular Surgery
  • Research
  • Clinical Service (outpatient clinics, ward rounds, consultations)
  • Electives – ICU
  • Vacation & Conferences

Once a resident completes training, they are eligible for the American Board of Radiology IR/DR certificate.

Alternative training pathways to achieve training in Interventional Radiology

Independent Pathway (2-4 positions/year):

We offer one-year Interventional Radiology Independent Residency positions only for individuals who have completed an Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR)* program during their diagnostic radiology residency.

  • Requires completion of a diagnostic radiology (DR) residency
    • Match during PGY 4 year of diagnostic radiology residency
    • ESIR certification required from DR residency program
    • Enter the MGH Interventional Radiology Independent Residency for PGY 6 (if ESIR certified)

Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR)

  • Diagnostic radiology programs that wish to provide residents with sufficient IR training to qualify for an advanced entry into the second year of an independent IR residency may offer the ESIR program
  • Requirements include 12 months of IR (e.g. through a ‘focused year’) or IR-related rotations and 500 procedures

For more information, please visit https://www.sirweb.org/learning-center/ir-residency/esir/.

How to Apply

The Interventional Radiology Residency Program is dedicated to training physicians in minimally invasive, image-guided techniques to diagnose and treat diseases in nearly every organ system, while providing high-quality clinical patient care.

Applications to the Program in Diagnostic Radiology are made through the AAMC Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) in the fall of the fourth year of medical school, approximately 20 months before the starting date on July 1.

Applications must be submitted before November 1 of the corresponding match year. No applications will be considered if submitted after November 1.

The following components of the application should be submitted through ERAS and are essential in order to complete the application:

  • Universal Residency Application, including:
    • Personal statement
    • Curriculum vitae
  • Dean’s letter
  • USMLE board scores
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcript
  • Completion of USMLE Steps I and II

On the basis of the submitted application, approximately 20 to 30 candidates are selected for personal interviews. Each completed application is carefully reviewed. Applicants will be notified as soon as possible by e-mail for an interview date (November, December, or January). For a variety of reasons, occasionally applicants may be asked to arrange travel plans on short notice. Residents are chosen on the basis of their medical training, general achievements, and personal qualities. No preference is given to any particular medical school or geographic area, nor is race, sex, or national origin a consideration.

International medical graduates are made aware of the restrictive provisions of Public Law 94-484, the Health Professions Education Assistance Act. The following conditions must be met:

  • Standard ECFMG certificate
  • Completion of an accredited internship in the United States
  • Eligibility for ECFMG visa sponsorship if candidate does not have permanent status in the United States

Our program coordinator, Ledja Lera, can be contacted at llera@mgh.harvard.edu in the event that personal circumstances demand direct information.

For more information about the residency, contact the program director, Ronald Arellano, MD, at rarellano@@mgh.harvard.edu. or the associate program director Sara Zhao, MD at szhao9@mgh.harvard.edu.

Useful Links

  • During the COVID-19, residency interviews were conducted virtually and this has been continued since per recommendations from the ACGME and AAMC. We anticipate this to continue into the near future but may be subject to change and applicants will be notified when invited to interview as to the format of the interview day.

  • Further details regarding the remote interview day will be announced closer to the interview dates. We are committed to providing an optimal remote interviewing experience that allows applicants to gain a sense of the program and culture here at Massachusetts General Hospital.

  • Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted directly by email to select from one of several dates in November through January.

  • Consider using this virtual interview guide from the American Association of Medical Colleges as a resource as you prepare for your virtual interview.
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