DR Residency Program Overview




Dr. Judy Squires, MD
Associate Professor of Radiology
Director, Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program
Associate Director, Interventional Residency Program

Nikhil Amesur, MD
Professor of Radiology
Associate Director, Radiology Residency Program
Director, Interventional Radiology Integrated Residency Program
Director, Interventional Radiology Independent Residency Program

Marion A. Hughes, MD
Professor of Radiology and Otolaryngology
Associate Director, Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program Associate Medical Director of Faculty Development

Contact Information:
Trish Martino
Academic Manager
412-647-7338
martinot@upmc.edu
The Diagnostic Radiology (DR) Residency Program at UPMC has been carefully designed to provide a superb clinical experience in the setting of a supportive, academic environment which trainees will draw upon throughout their careers. For each first year residency class, the AGME accredits the DR Program for 9 residents. There will also be 2 additional residents per year in the Interventional Radiology (IR) Residency Program, leading to a total class size of 11 residents between the DR and IR Programs. The DR Residency Program is four years in length, consisting of rotations in all subspecialties of radiology. We offer 3 ESIR spots per class for DR residents pursuing fellowships in Interventional Radiology. All residents must successfully complete an accredited transitional year or internship in medicine or surgery prior to commencing radiology residency.

Under the current curriculum for the DR Residency Program, residents spend approximately half of their clinical experience at UPMC-Presbyterian Hospital, the flagship institution of UPMC. Residents also rotate through UPMC-Shadyside Hospital, UPMC-Magee Women’s Hospital, UPMC-Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, and the Pittsburgh Veterans’ Affairs Hospital. These locations provide a diverse experience at sites dedicated to trauma, transplantation, oncology, minimally-invasive surgery, pediatrics, and women’s health. During the third year, all residents participate in the American College of Radiology’s (ACR) four-week didactic course at the American Institute of Radiologic Pathology in Silver Spring, MD. The residency curriculum complies with all requirements of UPMC Graduate Medical Education, the national ACGME, and the American Board of Radiology (ABR).

The DR Residency Program has consistently attracted competitive applicants from top-tier medical schools throughout the United States and the world. The performance of our radiology residents compares very favorably with that of any other program in the country. Quantifiable measures of our residents’ performance include consistently excellent scores on the ABR Core and Certifying Examinations and the ACR In-Service Examination. Since its inception in 1973, the UPMC DR Program maintains a 99% pass-rate on ABR Examinations.

The DR Program’s unparalleled caseload and diverse patient mix allow residents to easily meet all ACGME requirements. In addition to the high volume, the DR Program’s subspecialty faculty and close clinical relationships with other departments foster an unprecedented residency experience. Due to our belief in multi-disciplinary training, all residents spend several weeks rotating with other medical and surgical services during their third year functioning in a consultant role.

Other unique experiences that lead to our program’s diverse experience include a week-long didactic course in MR Physics and multiple peer to peer teaching opportunities. The 4th year of the DR Program consists almost entirely of resident chosen electives, allowing our Program to offer residents concentrated training (‘mini-fellowships’) in any of the subspecialties of radiology. Additional popular electives include Abdominal Intervention, 3D printing, Informatics, International away electives, and a Community elective that mimics the private practice experience and helps residents make educated career decisions. Finally, since our DR and IR Residency Programs work synergistically and have shared leadership, the educational experience for all residents in maximized.

As our department is currently ranked 12th in the nation in NIH grant funding and many of our faculty members participate in academic endeavors, there are numerous opportunities for residents to partake in research, teaching, and other academic pursuits. Residents attend a research symposium designed to foster academic productivity and interdepartmental collaboration.

Historically, nearly all of our residents have undertaken subspecialty fellowship training following the completion of residency. The DR Program has a proven track record of placing graduating residents into competitive fellowship programs at top-tier institutions across the country. While many of the residents go on to build successful careers in the private practice setting, a significant number have developed rewarding careers in academia and have become leaders in their specialties.

Residents in the DR program receive a competitive salary and benefits package, a generous educational fund, and have the option to partake in ample moonlighting opportunities. Pittsburgh has been consistently rated as one of the most livable cities in the country over the past two decades and offers many cultural, entertainment, dining, outdoor and athletic experiences.

Residency applications for the R1 (PGY-2) positions are only able to be accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and residency positions are only offered through the National Residency Match Program (NRMP). Additional information can be found under the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) tab on our website.