Radiology Residency Clinician Educator Tracks: State of the Field

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Radiology Residency Programs
• Academic Career Development

Background:

• Clinician Educator Tracks (CETs) aim to prepare radiology residents for academic careers.
• The current landscape and structure of US radiology CETs are not well-defined.
• Understanding existing CETs is crucial for developing effective academic training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the current state of diagnostic radiology clinician educator tracks in the US.
• To identify the number, structure, and key components of existing radiology CETs.
• To explore challenges and successes associated with these academic tracks.

Main Methods:

• A multimethod, observational, cross-sectional study design was employed.
• An online survey was distributed to identified radiology CETs, supplemented by virtual interviews.
• Programs were identified via AMA Freida website searches and direct outreach.

Main Results:

• 23 active or potentially active radiology CETs were identified, representing 11.6% of US residencies.
• CETs showed variability in length and structure, with a slight majority being resident-led.
• Most faculty leaders lacked protected academic time, and institutional support was often insufficient; common components include lectures, mentorship, and capstone projects.

Conclusions:

• This study provides a comprehensive overview of US diagnostic radiology CETs.
• Key success factors and challenges were identified, offering recommendations for program development.
• Further research is needed on CET outcomes and resident experiences.