Residency and fellowship training in radiology: survey of all United States programs.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

We surveyed radiology training programs to determine current requirements for a clinical internship year, recent changes in the clinical internship requirement, current number of residents, percentage of residents with preradiology clinical experience, number of current first-year fellows, and percentage of residents entering fellowships.

METHODS

Survey forms were sent to all 208 U.S. diagnostic radiology programs and were followed up by telephone and facsimile transmission.

RESULTS

Survey response rate was 100%. One hundred programs (48%) require an internship, whereas 108 programs (52%) do not. Of programs without a clinical internship requirement, 33 (31%) have eliminated this requirement within the last 5 years. The clinical year requirement varied greatly by region. A total of 3983 residents are training at present, and 29% did not complete a clinical internship. Currently, 650 fellows are in training. Approximately 68% of graduating residents are entering fellowships.

CONCLUSIONS

Many residency programs have recently discontinued the clinical internship year requirement. Changes in Medicare reimbursement of resident salaries may be one factor promoting this change. During the past 4 years, the number of radiology residents training per year has increased. The percentage of residents entering radiology without an internship year has increased by 6% during the past 4 years. An increasing number of graduating residents are entering fellowships.