Radiology Resident Journal Club: Enhancements Add Educational Value

Resident journal clubs are essential to develop skills to critically appraise existing literature. However, most reports of journal clubs focus on logistics of the activity and less on established roles of those involved. Our objective is to report on an innovative journal club from the perspective of key participants.

Journal club schedule, assignments, evaluations, and analysis are proffered from our institution. The journal club goals were formulated as: (1) improving resident understanding of research (biostatistical and epidemiologic) methods and statistical concepts, (2) teaching critical appraisal skills, and (3) promoting the use of evidence-based medicine. Each session's format is interactive, consisting of a 10 minute lecture with radiology examples of a research or statistical concept, followed by a journal club style discussion. Crucial to the success of this curriculum has been input and engagement of multiple parties: radiology residents, epidemiologist directors, and subspecialist clinician educator faculty members.

A well-thought out and well-run resident journal club offers numerous solutions to radiology residencies. To residency program leadership and to each individual resident annually, resident journal club offers cutting edge medical knowledge, interactive conferences in the formal didactic curriculum, resident training in critical thinking skills and research design, resident training in interpersonal and communication skills, opportunity for residents to be teachers, and expanded resident interprofessional education. It meets Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education common program, Residency Review Committee diagnostic radiology program, and American Board of Radiology Milestones requirements.