Establishing a cardiac imaging rotation in radiology residency

The advent of new technologies for cardiac imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cardiac computed tomography (CT) have added new tools in the armamentarium of noninvasive methods for predicting cardiac disease. However, training in cardiac anatomy and physiology is critical if radiology is to meet the demands of this service.

We designed a core rotation in cardiac imaging at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, to train residents in noninvasive cardiac imaging methods, such as cardiac echocardiography, nuclear cardiac imaging, cardiac MRI, and with special emphasis on cardiac CT.

This 1-month block includes cardiac imaging conferences and a lecture series, hands-on training in the use of imaging software, introduction to cardiac catheterization, and clinical cardiology. Residents are provided with a set of research and review articles along with textbooks on coronary imaging to serve as references for this rotation.

We believe that this educational exercise will establish a core of young, knowledgeable, and capable physicians who will be able to meet the clinical demand for noninvasive cardiac imaging and maintain a major role in this emerging specialty.