Academic Curriculum

Conferences and Educational Curriculum

Daily Teaching Conferences

At BMC, two 45-minute teaching conferences are held daily from 12:00 – 1:30 PM, providing a structured and balanced learning experience. Approximately half of the conferences are didactic lectures, and the other half are case-based presentations.

The curriculum is organized in a “block” schedule, with each subspecialty presenting for one week at a time, allowing residents to focus their learning. “Mini-courses” in the radiologic domains recognized by the ABR form the framework of the conference curriculum. These domains include:

  • Breast

  • Cardiovascular

  • Gastrointestinal

  • Genitourinary

  • Interventional

  • Musculoskeletal

  • Neuroradiology

  • Nuclear Medicine

  • Pediatrics

  • Thoracic

An additional non-interpretive curriculum covers topics such as education, research, leadership, quality improvement, patient safety, health equity, and wellness. Residents are expected to give one lecture per academic year.

During case conferences, residents actively participate by interpreting and discussing unknown cases under the guidance of faculty or co-residents, developing skills in observation, synthesis, differential diagnosis, and management planning. Residents rotating at BVAMC participate in BMC conferences via teleconferencing.

Introductory Conference Series

First-year residents attend a series of introductory lectures during July and August, providing foundational knowledge and orientation to the department.

Core & Non-Interpretive Curriculum

Beyond mini-courses, the curriculum includes additional essential topics, such as journal club and monthly departmental Morbidity & Mortality (M+M) conferences.

Departmental Grand Rounds

Radiology Grand Rounds are held monthly from September through May. Local, national, and international speakers present on timely topics and often provide additional case-based sessions for residents. Speakers are selected by the Education Committee and invited by the Co-Chief Residents.

Radiology Physics Education

A dedicated physics course runs throughout the academic year for all residents, taught by the department’s medical physicist. Topics include:

  • Introduction to imaging and associated risks

  • Radiation biology

  • MR, CT, mammography, nuclear medicine, ultrasound, and radiography physics

By the end of the first year, residents complete an online radiation safety training module and participate in a hands-on radiation safety lab during orientation.

Additional physics training includes:

  • Foundations of Physics Program (Telerad Physics Teaching): a 12-week course with weekly live interactive lectures supplementing departmental instruction

  • ABR Core Exam Physics Program: a 4-day live online review for third-year residents covering radiation safety, MR, CT, mammography, nuclear medicine, and ultrasound physics

  • Radioisotope Practicum: a 10-hour hands-on course on radiation signage, written directives, handling of radioactive materials, response to spills and accidents, and quality control of clinical radionuclide doses, directed by a board-certified health physicist