Mission

The mission of the Department of Radiology is simply to achieve excellence in patient care, education and clinical research. While all aspects of the academic “3-legged stool” are important, educating future generations of physicians is especially gratifying and meaningful for those of us at GW. Residency and fellowship training are just 2 phases of a life-long educational process of all physicians. The objective of post-graduate training in Diagnostic Radiology at GW is to provide thorough training in all subspecialties of Diagnostic Radiology and create an environment that allows the residents and fellows to excel in the general competency areas of medical knowledge, patient care, interpersonal/ communication skills, and professionalism. Practice- and systems-based knowledge and participation are also important skills for every radiologist to develop. Almost more than any other medical specialty, the rate of technology change in imaging and intervention has underscored the need for radiologists to be motivated and excited learners throughout their professional careers. The GW program is proud of turning out graduates who are well prepared to take the American Board of Radiology examination, are excellent and experienced clinicians, and are competent to practice now and in the future, be it in community-based or academic practice.

The subspecialty areas that the residents participate in include Gastrointestinal Radiology, Neuroradiology, Vascular/Interventional Radiology, Genitourinary Radiology, Chest Radiology, Musculoskeletal Radiology, Pediatric Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Computed Tomography, Ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance imaging, and Breast Imaging.  In addition, the training program includes instruction in Radiation Physics, Radiation Protection, Radiation Biology, and Radiologic Pathology (at GW and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology).  With expert faculty instruction in each subspecialty, the program is based on systematic learning and progressively increasing responsibility, governed by individual resident progress and acquisition of diagnostic skills.

There are many mechanisms employed for realizing our training objectives at GW. These include individualized instruction at the work station, daily department conferences, consultant clinical conferences, interdepartmental conferences, visiting professor lectures and case-based conferences, and attendance by residents at the D.C. Metropolitan Radiological Society, other local, and national scientific meetings.  The departmental library, cases on our extensive PACS system, and teaching film files are made available for resident self-learning and self-evaluation. Residents are required to participate in quality improvement activities and encouraged to perform research leading to publication of scientific papers.*

*Modified from a statement originally conceived and written by Alvin C. Wyman, M.D., Director of Resident Education, 1977-1983. Updated by Barry Potter, M.D., Chairman 1999-2000, Program Director 1994-2004 and Robert Zeman, M.D. Chairman 2000- and Program Director 2004-.