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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Radiology and Imaging Sciences
Find information on the MD program for the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at IU School of Medicine, including required courses.
radiology and imaging sciences

MD Education

It is impossible for contemporary medical students to become well-prepared for the practice of medicine without developing a strong foundation in the effective and efficient use of radiological diagnosis and therapy. Faculty and residents collaborate in presenting a three-dimensional MD curriculum, including lectures given by faculty and residents, one-on-one workstation-based education, and self-driven learning through case presentations and small group sessions.

A group of medical students study a whiteboard.

Learning Objectives

In the radiology introductory course, electives and senior clerkship at IU School of Medicine, the curriculum focuses on two key learning objectives.

  • Ordering Tests: Students learn which common clinical situations warrant radiological imaging and which test(s) to order first. For example, in a patient presenting with new neurologic symptoms, would CT or MR be more appropriate, and is intravenous contrast material needed? The school relies on the American College of Radiology’s Appropriateness Criteria for evidence-based guidance.

  • Interpreting Images: Students learn how to detect, describe and offer appropriate differential diagnoses for abnormalities on common imaging examinations, including chest radiographs, abdominal radiographs, head and body CT scans, and ultrasound examinations of the abdomen and pelvis. This pertains especially to urgent findings such as pneumothorax, pneumoperitoneum, intracranial hemorrhage, and appendicitis.

Subspecialty Training

Subspecialty learning opportunities in the area of radiology and imaging sciences are also available to medical students. For example, the nuclear medicine division offers rotation electives for third- and fourth-year med students. With these opportunities, the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences hopes to provide top-notch radiology education for a very large group of future physicians.

MD Education Information

All medical student related inquiries, visiting electives and clerkship related items should be directed to the statewide medical student education coordinator.

Required Radiology Courses for MD Students

The Radiology Core Required Course is offered every two weeks for most of the academic year with approximately 15-20 students enrolled in each course. This course includes large-group lectures given by staff and residents, small-group didactic sessions, and one-on-one education at the view station during the clinical rotations in imaging areas such as chest, abdomen, and neuro-imaging. Students function not only as learners but also as educators, choosing an imaging topic on which to present and make a presentation to the class,

Each student has access to Essential Radiology: Clinical Presentation, Pathophysiology, and Imaging, 3rd Ed. for the course, which constitutes the clerkship’s core curriculum.

Grading for the course is based on a final exam.

Radiology Electives for MD Students

The Radiology Clinical Elective month can be customized to the student’s needs and interest. It may be spent in one or more subspecialty areas:

  • Abdominal Imaging (University, Methodist, or Eskenazi Hospital)
  • Chest Radiology (University Hospital)
  • Musculoskeletal Radiology (Methodist Hospital)
  • Interventional Radiology (Eskenazi Hospital)
  • Mammography (University or Eskenazi Hospital)
  • Neuroradiology (Eskenazi, Riley, or Goodman Hall)
  • Nuclear Medicine (University Hospital)
  • Ortho/Emergency Radiology (Eskenazi Hospital)
  • Pediatric Radiology (Riley Hospital)

Please refer to the IU School of Medicine MD electives course book for information about the availability of elective opportunities especially designed to meet specific needs and interests.

The Nuclear Medicine Elective is designed to familiarize medical students with the place of Nuclear Medicine imaging in the imaging workup of patients.

The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiology / Nuclear Medicine course is designed to enable students to discuss types of nuclear medicine, diagnostic exams and correlation of the results with clinical findings, and methods of therapy via radiation and related side effects and results associated with treatments.

The objective of the Radiology Elective at South Bend Memorial Hospital is to introduce the students to diagnostic radiology and familiarize the student in working with radiologists to improve care for their patients.

Students taking Interventional Radiology at IU Health Arnett Hospital gain in-depth, hands-on exposure to the specialty of interventional radiology, including procedure experience, inpatient consultations and outpatient clinic visits in a comprehensive, community interventional radiology practice.