Maine Medical Center
Dr. Gerding in OR

Curriculum

The integrated interventional radiology (IR) residency is five-years in length (a total of six years of postgraduate training with the required internship year). This IR training format is available to medical students. The residency curriculum is concentrated on diagnostic radiology (DR) in the first three years and IR in the last two years.

Medical students enter into the integrated IR residency through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Main Residency Match®. Most integrated IR residency programs offer “Advanced-A” positions, while others offer “Categorical-C” positions, and very few (if any) offer “Physician-R” positions.

The Maine Medical Center (MMC) integrated IR residency program is categorical, with all residents completing a prerequisite year of preliminary surgery in the ACGME-accredited MMC general surgery residency program.

For more information about the NRMP Main Residency Match® and the types of positions offered, please visit the NRMP website. A Main Residency Match Calendar for Applicants is also available.

Graduates of the integrated IR residency qualify to take the IR/DR examination offered by the American Board of Radiology (ABR). The IR/DR certificate recognizes competency in both diagnostic radiology and IR. For more information, please visit the ABR website.

For more information about the IR residency, visit the Society of Interventional Radiology IR residency webpage.

The independent IR residency is two years in length (total of seven years of postgraduate training). This training format is only available to graduates of a DR residency. For more information, please visit the SIR independent IR residency webpage.

MMC does not currently provide IR education in the independent format.


Many DR residencies have an Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR) designation. DR residents who complete ESIR training can finish an independent IR residency program in only one year. For more information, please visit the SIR ESIR webpage.

We have applied for ESIR designation of our DR residency program, and are anticipating ACGME approval during the 2023-24 academic year.

The PGY 2-4 diagnostic radiology curriculum consists of:

  • Abdominal Radiology: Approximately nine months of Body MRI, ER CT, Body CT/US, and Late Stay/Night Float (see below), during which residents learn body CT and MRI in multiple settings.
  • Breast Radiology: Three months (one month each year from PGY 3-5), during which residents learn screening and diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound, ductography, and breast MRI. Residents also receive procedural training in US, stereotactic, and MRI-guided biopsies.
  • Cardiothoracic Radiology: Three months (one month each year from PGY 2-4), during which residents learn chest radiography, CT, lung screening CT, cardiac CT, and cardiac MRI.
  • Interventional Radiology: 1.5 months during PGY-2, and 2 months each year from PGY 3-4.PGY 5-6 are primarily spent in IR.Please refer to the “Interventional Radiology” tab for details.
  • Musculoskeletal Radiology: Two months, during which residents become competent in plain radiography, CT, MRI, and procedures such as arthrography.
  • Neuroradiology: Approximately 5.5 months (1-2 months each year from PGY 2-4), including Neuro CT, Neuro MRI, and Night Float (see below).Residents become competent in CT, MRI, and procedures such as lumbar puncture and myelography.
  • Nuclear Radiology: Four months (one month each year from PGY 2-5), with training in all forms of nuclear medicine, including PET-CT, cardiac imaging, physics, and I-131 administration.
  • Pediatric Radiology: Approximately 3.75 months, including three months at Boston Children's Hospital during PGY-3.Our department pays for an apartment in the Longwood Galleria, next to Boston Children's Hospital, which includes a parking space.For many residents, this special opportunity is the highlight of their residency.There is additional pediatric radiology experience at Maine Medical Center in a rotation combined with radiography/fluoroscopy.
  • Radiography/Fluoroscopy: Approximately 1.5 months of experience during a rotation combined with pediatric radiology.Residents become competent in a broad range of fluoroscopy procedures, including esophagrams, upper GI exams, upper GI with small bowel follow through, modified barium swallows, diagnostic enemas, fistulograms, defecography, and sialograms.
  • Ultrasonography: 1.5 months, including a dedicated rotation, a rotation combined with Body CT, and an OB ultrasound rotation.There is dedicated time to learn hands-on US with image acquisition, including simulation training. Residents have additional US exposure during their pediatric radiology and ER rotations.
  • Radiologic Pathology Correlation Course: One-month course at the American College of Radiology (ACR) Institute for Radiologic Pathology (AIRP) in Washington, D.C., during PGY-4.A stipend is provided for travel and housing.This course is considered the residency highlight for many residents.
  • Research: All residents receive one month of dedicated research time during PGY-3, and are required to complete at least one scholarly project and one quality improvement project with a faculty mentor by graduation.
  • Emergency Radiology/Late Stay: Residents spend two months in emergency radiology during PGY-2.Residents also spend a total of three months during PGY 2-5 covering emergency radiology from 12-9 pm Monday through Friday, called “Late Stay”.
  • Night Float: Residents cover emergency radiology overnight for a total of three months during PGY 2-5. They provide preliminary image interpretation, with final attending interpretation on all cases, who are always available by telephone.
  • Electives: Residents have two months of elective time (one month during PGY-4 and one month during PGY-6), during which they can have additional experience in any of the rotations listed above.
  • Vacation: Residents may take up to 21 working days of vacation per year, which are banked at the beginning of each academic year.Residents are encouraged to use all of their vacation time every year.However, they may choose to roll over 3 days into the next academic year.

Contact Us

Residency Program Manager

Shawn Harmon
207-662-4279
Shawn.Harmon@mainehealth.org