Medical College of Wisconsin Radiology Clinical Electives for M3 and M4 Medical Students
During the Diagnostic Radiology Clinical Elective, students are given the opportunity to:
- Gain basic diagnostic radiology knowledge through subspecialty rotations, learning modules, lectures and reading.
- Learn how specific diagnostic radiologic studies benefit patients.
- Compare the relative utility and expense of differing radiologic procedures to arrive at a cost-effective diagnosis.
- Observe radiologic procedures to facilitate a more holistic understanding in interactions with patients, radiologists, and other clinicians.
- Explain the importance of effective communication between ordering clinicians and radiologists.
Learning activities include:
- Rotate through each of the radiology subspecialties, spending additional time in two or three sections chosen by each student. Students will spend time at read-out stations with radiologists who are interpreting exams.
- Prepare and present a concise case presentation at the conclusion of the rotation.
- Online teaching modules
- Assigned and outside reading.
- Student-specific lectures.
During the Vascular & Interventional Radiology Clinical Elective, students are given the opportunity to:
- Gain understanding of patient selection and therapeutic options for vascular and non-vascular interventional procedures.
- Become familiar with pre-procedural evaluation and post-procedure management and follow-up for various interventional radiology procedures.
- Learn to identify potential complications of interventional radiology procedures.
- Demonstrate technical competence in the performance of basic vascular access procedures.
Learning activities include:
- Daily pre-procedure evaluation and post-procedure management for in-patient and out-patient interventional radiology procedures.
- Participate in out-patient consults in the Interventional Radiology Clinic.
- Attend weekly clinical conferences: Hepatic Tumor Conference, Vascular Surgery Conference, Pancreaticobillary Case Conference, Peripheral Vascular Board, and Interventional Radiology Section Conferences.
- Observe and assist in interventional procedures in the interventional radiology suites.
- Supervised performance of basic vascular access procedures.
- Prepare and present a 30-minute presentation.
Interventional Radiology is a surgical sub-specialty of Radiology where emphasis is placed on treating patients using the least invasive approach to minimize the risk to the patient and improve patient health outcomes. Minimally invasive image-guided procedures are relied upon for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and can be applicable to virtually every organ system.
This Acting Internship will allow students to utilize the knowledge gained in their internal medicine rotations to help with inpatient consults to evaluate the type and need for procedures. In addition, students will use the technical skills gained on their surgical rotations to help perform procedures in interventional radiology. In order to achieve this, students will be assigned to follow inpatients from initial contact with IR to discharge home. They will be the primary contact for these patients, will write initial consultation notes, participate in all procedures, peri-procedural care, write progress notes and attend daily rounds on their patients.
During the Nuclear Medicine Clinical Elective, students are given the opportunity to:
- Learn the physical principles of nuclear medicine and become familiar with the equipment.
- Learn clinical applications of nuclear medicine.
Learning activities include:
- Participate in interpretation of patient studies, conferences, and lectures.
- Interact with patients, faculty and staff.
- Participate in quality control measures and radiopharmaceutical preparation.
- Prepare a written case presentation on several patients observed during the rotation.
The Department of Radiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin has initiated the URiM medical student elective program to help facilitate underrepresented in medicine (URiM) student experience in radiology and radiology at MCW.
MCW Radiology believes that diversity enhances the educational and academic climate. Workplace diversity positively impacts our patient care, education, and research missions. The Visiting URiM Student Elective Program is one initiative to respond to:
- Department and American College of Radiology (ACR) focus on having physicians of concordant race and gender to the patients and communities served.
- Department concentration on bridging the “specialty gap” by building the channels for URiM physicians to enter radiology, and the resulting impact on representation in Department residencies, fellowships, instructorships, and clinical and research faculty.
- The Medical College of Wisconsin’s institutional emphasis on exposing students underrepresented in medicine to the outstanding training and education at MCW, to increase the number of URiM students applying for housestaff positions at MCW, to allow students to engage with current students and trainees at MCW, and to experience the city of Milwaukee and the surrounding areas.
- Literature which has clearly articulated the benefits to patient care and practice resulting from a diverse radiologic/radiologic oncology workforce and who strongly advocate for the removal of barriers to a diverse physician workforce.
- The ACR Commission for Women and Diversity which has as its vision the promotion of inclusion at all levels of training, practice and leadership. One of the goals of the ACR Commission is to support opportunities, participation, and representation of women and minorities within the radiological profession.
MCW Radiology is proud to offer visiting medical students with an experience that engages students by providing exposure to, building interest in, and removing unconscious bias toward Milwaukee, MCW Radiology and radiology, in general, as a profession. Training sites include: Froedtert Hospital and Children’s Wisconsin.
Available U.S. M4 visiting medical student electives in Radiology include:
- RADI-D4201 – Diagnostic Radiology
- RADI D4202 – Pediatric Radiology
- RADI D4205 – Nuclear Medicine
- RADI D4206 – Interventional Radiology
- RADI D4619 – Vascular & Interventional Radiology Acting Internship
What is the MCW Diagnostic Radiology Visiting Medical Student experience like?
Four student elective courses are available; please go to AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) for course descriptions. These experiences are designed to expose students to the clinical knowledge and practice of radiology within a tertiary care center with a robust cancer center, a Level 1 trauma center, and a nationally renowned children’s hospital. All students attend a comprehensive series of lectures throughout the experience and are encouraged to take advantage of wider-MCW educational, developmental, and research programming. Students can also meet with and attend events hosted by the MCW URiM student groups and MCW Office of Diversity and Inclusion. All students will have the opportunity of a faculty mentor to guide them through their elective experience.
Who should apply?
MCW Radiology encourages applications from full-time M4 U.S. medical students who have demonstrated academic excellence, who have an interest in radiology, and who are members in a group that is recognized as historically underrepresented in medicine and healthcare professions by MCW, including Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Black/African American, Native American, or Hmong/Hmong American.. Applicants not selected for the travel program may still be accepted for visiting student electives.
How are applications reviewed?
Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, by an established committee, beginning April 1, 2022. Applicants not selected for the travel scholarship may still be accepted as visiting students for elective credit. The Department of Radiology has a committee established to review applications to the program. Program application decisions will be communicated directly to the applicant.
Program details:
- MCW accepts applications through the VSLO (Visiting Student Learning Opportunities) for full-time senior medical students attending an LCME-accredited medical school or COCA-accredited osteopathic medical school seeking to take an MCW 4-week elective for credit during the fall term only (July - December).
- Rotation dates are established by MCW and noted on the VSLO MCW Information Page. More information is available on the MCW Visiting Senior Medical Students Program Page. All program rotations are subject to availability.
- Accepted students must be in good standing at their home institutions, have a demonstrated record of academic excellence and be a member of a group that is recognized as racially/ethnically URiM by MCW:
- Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Black/African American, Native American, and Hmong/Hmong American
- Accepted students will receive a travel stipend up to $2,000 to cover application costs, housing, transportation, and other living expenses. Students may attend resident didactics, MCW conferences and development sessions (as applicable).
Please email visitingstudent@mcw.edu with any questions.