Diagnostic radiology residents in the classes of 1999 and 2000: fellowship and employment

Most diagnostic radiology residents undergo fellowship training. Applications for fellowship positions are submitted during the third year of residency. We compared the number of residents undertaking fellowship, accepting jobs, and rescinding accepted fellowship positions to accept jobs.

During the 47th Association of University Radiologists meeting, participants from the American Association of Academic Chief Residents in Radiology completed a questionnaire regarding the intentions of third- and fourth-year residents in their programs.

Seventy programs, representing 402 fourth-year and 395 third-year residents, responded. Of fourth-year residents, 322 (80.1%) accepted fellowships and 41 (10.2%) accepted jobs. Of third-year residents, 335 (84.8%) accepted fellowships. Eighty-eight (27.3%) fourth-year residents and 95 third-year residents (28.4%) accepted interventional radiology fellowships, and 104 (32.3%) fourth-year residents and 96 (28.7%) third-year residents accepted body imaging fellowships. Most residents who accepted fellowships did so in the same city in which they completed their residency training. Of fourth-year residents who accepted fellowship positions the year before, 14 (4.3%) withdrew their acceptance to pursue employment.

Most residents opt for fellowship training in interventional radiology or body imaging. We postulate that the practice of accepting fellowships during the third year of residency may contribute to the percentage of residents who rescind fellowship acceptance to pursue employment. We suggest that consideration be given to changing this practice.