Interventional Radiology Residency

Thank you for your interest in the Interventional Radiology Residency program at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). We are very proud to offer both the Integrated IR as well as the Independent IR residency programs, and are excited to welcome new residents to our outstanding academic institution. Our mission is to provide every resident with comprehensive training in Interventional Radiology to prepare them for a successful career within the field. The ultimate goal of the MCW IR Residency is to train the most well rounded, most clinically competent, and most technically advanced interventional radiologists in the United States.

The division of Vascular & Interventional Radiology consists of ten diverse, experienced clinical faculty who practice at Froedtert Hospital as well as at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. Our faculty’s entire clinical and research focus is on Interventional Radiology. Our residents will have the opportunity to train with physicians that have a wide range of special interests, such as interventional oncology, palliative medicine, vascular disease (peripheral interventions and Aortic), musculoskeletal interventions, and MR guided-focused ultrasound (MRgFUS). The division's faculty are world-renowned in their areas of expertise and are frequently invited to speak at national and international meetings. We have demonstrated national leadership within our field including founding the Society of Interventional Oncology (SIO), chairing the SIR Scientific Annual Meeting, holding positions as SIR committee chairs, past and present councilors on the SIR Executive Council, and president of APDIR, among others. Additionally, our program has state-of-the-art facilities housed within a new surgical and interventional platform designed with our patients in mind. The new interventional platform has the latest Siemens equipment including five single plane flat panel angiography suites, three bi-plane angiography suites, two hybrid OR Zeegos, and an integrated CT-angiography suite. Our education mission is not limited to our residents as we also support an IR technologist training program, one of only a handful in the country.

The training environment includes all aspects of Interventional Radiology as well as those pertinent to running a clinical practice. This includes dedicated education on E&M and CPT coding, documentation, and perspectives from hospital administration.

We thank you for your interest in our residency program, and wish you the very best as you progress through training. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

Parag J. Patel, MD, MS, FSIR
Program Director, Integrated & Independent IR Residencies

Additional Residency Information

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Program

The first three years (PGY2-PGY4) of the Integrated IR Residency will focus primarily on Diagnostic Radiology rotations. Residents will rotate through thirteen four-week blocks per year, covering all areas of Diagnostic Radiology including chest imaging, musculoskeletal imaging, nuclear medicine, neuro-radiology, gastrointestinal/genitourinary, interventional radiology, ultrasound, body CT, body MR, breast imaging, pediatrics, VA digital imaging/VA general imaging, emergency medicine and American Institute for Radiologic Pathology (AIRP) Cardiac.

The last two years (PGY5-PGY6) are devoted primarily to Interventional Radiology and include procedural rotations, an ICU rotation, a palliative care rotation, and clinical care rotations (in-patient care, consult service, and outpatient clinic). The program provides a well-rounded experience for complete clinical competence and prepares the resident for IR/DR certification. Opportunities exist for participation in a broad range of clinical and basic research activities.

Educational Objectives

The Integrated IR Residency provides a complete clinical and academic experience, which is fully compliant with the Program Requirements for Residency Education in Interventional Radiology, as accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Direct clinical training with graduated responsibility, a comprehensive didactic program, and excellent availability for participation in a wide variety of research activities provides a complete academic Integrated IR residency. The Medical College of Wisconsin is currently one of a small population of institutions that is approved to provide this residency program, which will qualify graduates to sit for the new ABR IR/DR certificate exams.

Options for Entering the IR Residency

As of June 30, 2020, the Vascular & Interventional Radiology Fellowship program will end and Interventional Radiology residencies will provide the full scope of training for those aspiring to be board-certified Interventional Radiologists. There are several different ways to enter an IR Residency program after medical school, and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is able to offer all three avenues to aspiring trainees. MCW has been fully accredited for the Integrated Interventional Radiology Residency program as well as the Independent Interventional Radiology Residency program. Additionally, the MCW Diagnostic Radiology Residency program has been approved for ESIR designation.

Integrated Interventional Radiology Residency Program
Senior medical students who are certain they want to specialize in Interventional Radiology are best suited to enter the Integrated IR Residency program directly after medical school. Medical students match into this program during their fourth year of medical school, and begin with a preliminary (internship/PGY-1) year followed by five additional years of residency training. MCW offers an excellent Surgical Preliminary year program, and candidates interested in applying to the Integrated IR Residency are encouraged to apply to the Surgical Preliminary program as well.

Independent Interventional Radiology Residency Program
Residents that complete the Diagnostic Radiology Residency and decide to specialize in Interventional Radiology can enter the Independent Interventional Radiology Residency Program, which replaces the current VIR Fellowship program. DR residents match into Independent IR residency positions during their PGY-4 year, and begin their training directly following successful completion of the DR Residency program. The first match for this program at MCW will take place in March 2019. The first Independent IR residents will then begin with our program in July 2020.

Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR)
ESIR is a training option for Diagnostic Radiology residents and medical students who develop an early interest in Interventional Radiology. ESIR training is not a separate residency program, but rather an ACGME-approved designation within DR residency programs. Interested residents in a DR program with ESIR designation must apply for ESIR after beginning their DR residency. If, after applying, the resident is selected for ESIR, he/she is then able to go directly into the second year of the Independent IR Residency program (upon successful completion of the DR residency). The DR Residency at MCW has been approved for ESIR designation, so this option is available to current DR residents at MCW.

How to Apply

Independent IR Residency

Applications for entry into our Independent IR Residency program starting on July 1, 2020, will open on November 21, 2018. Applications are only accepted via ERAS and positions are only offered through the NRMP. Please note that ERAS and NRMP classify the Independent IR Residency as a “Fellowship” for match purposes.

The MCW Independent IR Residency will accept both ESIR and Non-ESIR applicants. If you are an ESIR applicant submitting your application via ERAS, the following additional documentation is also required:

Diagnostic Radiology Program Director letter verifying acceptance into ESIR
Training block diagrams for R1-R4 years
Current case log, plus the expected IR and IR-related rotations in your R4 year and anticipated procedure experience in your R4 year

The above documents are not able to be uploaded to ERAS with your application, so please email them to astadler@mcw.edu. Please be sure to include your full name and AAMC ID in your email.

Integrated IR Residency

Applications for entry into our Integrated IR Residency program starting on July 1, 2020, will open September 5, 2018. Applications are only accepted via ERAS and positions are only offered through the NRMP. Applicants wishing to also apply to the MCW Diagnostic Radiology Residency program must submit a separate application via ERAS. If an applicant applies to both programs and is invited to interview, he/she can request consideration for both programs in the same interview. This accommodation is only made if the applicant chooses to inform us that they have applied to both programs. MCW respects and abides by the NRMP agreement and will not ask that a candidate reveal any programs he/she has applied to, including programs within our own institution.

ESIR (Diagnostic Radiology Residency)

The Diagnostic Radiology Residency program at MCW is approved for ESIR designation, which is one reason an applicant with interest in IR may choose to apply to both programs. In an effort to remain transparent, we would like applicants to understand that our program does not view dual applications negatively. The positive relationship between the IR and DR programs at MCW allows us to be supportive of applicants choosing to apply to both programs, and this choice will not be held against them.

Interviews are offered to qualified applicants after review of the complete application, which should include the following:

MyERAS application
Medical school transcript
Three letters of recommendation
Curriculum vitae
Medical School Performance Evaluation
USMLE Step I and Step II scores (scores greater than 220 for interview consideration)
ECFMG certification (international medical graduates only)

VIR Division & Faculty

Core Participating Sites

Froedtert Hospital
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center

Current Residents

Lawrence Lin, MD

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Undergraduate: Washington University, St. Louis
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin

Suraj Prakash, MD

Hometown: Columbus, OH
Undergraduate: The Ohio State University College of Engineering, Columbus, OH
Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH

Amer Rasheed, MD

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Undergraduate: St. Louis University
Medical School:University of Illinois

Kaila Redifer, MD

Hometown: Churchville, VA
Undergraduate: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Are Preliminary (internship) year positions available in the Integrated IR Residency program?

Yes. The Integrated IR Residency is a categorical program, which means that residents matching to our program will also match into the MCW Surgical Preliminary year.

How many Integrated IR Residency positions are available for the 2020-2021 program year?

Two.

How many Independent IR Residency positions are available for the 2020-2021 program year?

Four.

Does the program include a dedicated research rotation?

No, there is not a dedicated research rotation in Interventional Radiology. However, a research elective is available and all residents are expected to participate in a dedicated research project. Additionally, one of the faculty within the division has established a translational Interventional Oncology laboratory, and regular opportunities to become involved with research projects will be available to residents.

Does the Integrated IR Residency program have a night float system?

Yes, but residents are not on night float during year 1 of the program. Residents also will not take call during year 1.

Does the program provide time off for residents to attend conferences or professional meetings?

Yes, the program is in full support of opportunities for residents to attend local and national conferences to further their education during their residency. Historically, fellows in the MCW VIR Fellowship program have attended and presented research projects at conferences such as the annual SIR, CIO/ISET, WCIO, and SIR Fellows Spring Practicum.

Will the program consider international medical graduates with ECFMG certification?

Yes, appropriately qualified applicants with J-1 visa sponsorship through ECFMG will be considered.

Does MCW offer a visiting student clerkship in Interventional Radiology?

Yes. Please visit the MCW Medical School Visiting Student page for information on how to apply.

Contact Us

Parag J. Patel, MD, MS, FSIR, Program Director
Amanda Stadler, Program Coordinator
astadler@mcw.edu | (414) 805-3414 | (414) 476-7503 (fax)

Department of Radiology
Division of Vascular & Interventional Radiology, Room 2803
Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals
c/o Froedtert Hospital
9200 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53226