Abstract No. 452 Benchmarking the integrated interventional radiology residency curriculum: exploring institutional trends from a trainee perspective

Abstract

Despite being one of the most competitive specialties since its inaugural participation in the 2017 NRMP match, limited precedent exists for integration of interventional radiology (IR) education into the R1(PGY-2) to R3(PGY-4) years of the IR residency. While the traditional fellowship curriculum can be applied to the R4 to R5 years, integration of IR education within the R1-R3 years is valuable to the evolution of an integrated training pathway. This study aims to assess variation in institutional IR curricula from a trainee perspective. A 21-item electronic survey was disseminated via Twitter and emails to IR residents and program directors at all ACGME-accredited IR residencies. Responses from R1-R5 IR and ESIR residents were included in analysis. For each survey item, institutional responses were determined from modal values acquired from individual responses, with discordant responses lacking a modal value excluded to minimize bias. 80 responses from 46 of 82 ACGME-accredited IR residencies were analyzed (56% institutional response rate). The majority (66%) identified as R1/R2 trainees. 70% of institutions were reported to include IR rotations starting R1 year. While 52% of institutions offered 4 weeks of IR per year, nearly a quarter of institutions (24%) reported 6 or more weeks per year. A wide range of call (1-7 days/IR month) was reported among most institutions (63%); however, 32% did not require any call. 30% of programs were reported to provide dedicated IR lectures in addition to that included in diagnostic training. 6 institutions (13%) were reported to include outpatient clinic during R1-R3 years. Of programs that did not, 59% of respondents felt this was important/very important. Feedback opportunities also varied: 39% of institutions were reported to have meetings with leadership less than quarterly, 22% quarterly, 4% monthly, and 4% never. Most programs were reported to have dedicated IR rotations starting R1 year, averaging 4 weeks/month, with variable integration of call, clinic, and program feedback experiences. Understanding niche institutional differences is foundational for continued advancement towards a standardized IR training pathway.