R1 (PGY-2) year
Residents are introduced to almost all radiologic sub-specialties during the first year. Rotations are comprised of four week blocks. In the first year, these blocks typically include: abdominal imaging, musculoskeletal imaging, ultrasound, thoracic imaging, neuroradiology, interventional radiology, pediatric radiology (Children’s of Alabama adjacent to UAB Hospital), nuclear medicine, and rotations at the Birmingham VA (adjacent to UAB Hospital).
R2 (PGY-3) year
Residents begin to assume more responsibility in the second year. Rotations typically include: thoracic imaging, interventional radiology, abdominal imaging, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, neuroradiology, Birmingham VA, breast imaging, and pediatrics.
R3 (PGY-4) year
Third year block rotations typically include: Birmingham VA, thoracic imaging, musculoskeletal imaging, pediatric radiology, nuclear medicine, neuroradiology, breast imaging, and a cross-sectional procedures rotation. Residents also have an elective rotation and also attend the American Institute for Radiologic Pathology course which is paid for by the department. Residents take their ABR core exam at the end of their R3 year.
R4 (PGY-5) year
Diagnostic radiology residents typically have rotations in nuclear medicine, breast imaging, and the Birmingham VA during the fourth year. The remainder of the blocks will be used for elective time. Residents can choose from a large selection of electives, including opportunities for subspecialty learning as a mini-fellowship (6 months) or area of concentration (3 months). If pursuing one of the 18 month pathways (Nuclear Medicine or Pediatrics) all of the elective months will be utilized in these areas.
Resident Call:
An upper and lower level resident take call from the main UAB hospital with 24 hour in-house or remote faculty coverage. The first call resident covers radiographs, neuro CT, and fluoroscopic studies. The second call resident covers non-neuro CT, US, and any urgent MRI.
“Baby Call”: Starting in January, 1st and 2nd year residents begin “baby call”, where they cover the call worklist for their rising level of call from 5:00-9:00pm on weekdays and 7:30am-12:00pm on weekends and holidays. This helps to prepare them for the demands of call before covering overnights. Residents will continue these weekday “short call” shifts until they reach the next graduated level of call.
Night float: Residents work night shifts in a block-based night float system where they will do shifts for 2 weeks (typically one week at a time) and the remaining 2 weeks are free from clinical duties. R2 and R3 residents cover 2 blocks of night float per year and the R4 residents cover 1 block per year (10 total weeks over the course of residency). This occurs from 9:00pm-7:30am on weekdays and 7:30pm to 7:30am on weekends.
Weekend call: Residents work both the first and second call shifts from 7:30am-7:30pm.
Float resident: A separate call centered rotation for upper level residents. The float month is split between two residents to help with the call list from 5:00pm-12:00am.