Medical Students | Emory School of Medicine

Emory Radiology Interest Group

We are proudly dedicated to and passionate about medical student education and are pleased to offer many opportunities for medical students to engage with and learn about radiology. We also have many award-winning educators and have presented nationally regarding our medical student education curriculum and methods.

- Mark E. Mullins, MD, PhD
Director of Radiology Medical Student Education

Each year, the Department of Radiology offers at least one second-year medical student elective. Topics vary and previously offered electives include 1) Radiology Quality and Safety (taught by Dr. Kimberly E. Applegate); 2) Drawing and Medical Illustration for Medical Students (taught by Dr. Stefan Tigges and Ms. Julia Kjelgaard, senior lecturer in visual arts); and 3) Clinical Correlation: Anatomy, Pathology, and Radiology (supervised by Dr. Stefan Tigges).

In 2010, the freestanding two-week radiology clerkship was replaced with a two-credit-hour, letter grade “virtual” clerkship: radiology lectures, small group sessions, and shadowing are woven into the other seven traditional, required clerkships. Medical students have about 40 hours of contact with members of the Department of Radiology distributed over the entire third year, with topics appropriate to each particular clerkship rotation. For example, students on the surgery clerkship are shown how and what kinds of imaging can help diagnose the etiology of abdominal pain.

Students also learn how to approach common imaging studies such as chest radiographs and head CTs. In addition, they learn about the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria® so that they know when imaging is indicated, and if so, what imaging modality is best for a given condition.

Students also learn 22 "don’t miss" imaging findings like pneumothorax and intracranial bleeding so that important diagnoses are not missed or delayed (Alliance of Medical Student Educators in Radiology). Finally, the students review 16 computer-based modules on important topics in imaging such as trauma and read the textbook Learning Radiology: Recognizing the Basics, 4^th Edition. At the end of the third year, the students are tested using a nationally designed and validated computer-based exam offered by the Association of University Radiologists (AUR)/Alliance of Medical Student Educators in Radiology (AMSER) and Aquifer. The course is run by Dr. Stefan Tigges with Dr. Judith Gadde, assistant director, and Carol Dowdle, clerkship coordinator.

A 4-week Clinical Elective in Radiology also is offered by the Emory University School of Medicine and is administered by Dr. Ryan Peterson and Dr. Eugene Berkowitz. This elective provides a varied exposure to the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences and the numerous subspecialties (e.g., abdominal, cardiothoracic, interventional, neuroradiology, breast imaging, nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, musculoskeletal, and pediatric imaging) within our department.

This elective covers general radiology topics in didactic sessions that are expected to be useful during the remainder of medical school as well as for internship and/or subsequent clinical practice. Students may select rotation sites to best meet their needs and interests. In addition, students learn about the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria® so that they know when imaging is indicated and what imaging modality is best for the situation. Students also learn 22 "don’t miss" imaging findings like pneumothorax and intracranial bleeding so that important diagnoses are not missed or delayed (Alliance of Medical Student Educators in Radiology).