Externship Program
Welcome
The radiology externship was created to allow senior medical students further experience in the field of radiology as well as ease the burden of clerical work for the radiology residents on call. The radiology externship began with a pilot program in November 2006 and it has enabled the department to provide fast and accurate reads to the ETC and other clinicians. |
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Without the frequent interruption, the residents on call are reading ETC and inpatient studies much faster than prior to the externship implementation. The Department of Radiology has received positive feedback from multiple clinical services regarding decreased turn around time for reports on advanced imaging as well as availability of the radiology resident to discuss cases in person without interruption.
Responsibilities
Externs responsibilities include answering calls to the radiology on call pager and performing clerical work such as filling out forms and faxing documents. When a physician calls to order a study, the extern simply takes the information down and passes it on to the resident on call who protocols the study. If any additional information or discussion is needed, the resident calls the ordering physician to discuss the case further. It remains the radiology resident's responsibility to discuss cases and interpretations with the referring clinician.
Requirements & Commitment
Third year medical students at the University of Iowa are invited to apply by downloading and completing our Externship Program Application. The externship is a year long commitment from March 1 through February 28. Twelve externs will be selected to allow for flexibility in coverage schedules while they rotate through their medical school clinical responsibilities and the fourth year interview season. Externs work hours include weekdays 5p-10p and weekends and holidays 9a-7p. Two chief externs will be elected who will coordinate the schedule to allow for 365 day coverage. The extern schedule will be available on the UIHC Smartweb call site (intranet).
Benefits
Externs will receive unmatched experience in the field of radiology during medical school. Hopefully this will allow our externs to pique their interest in radiology and understand how the department operates. Radiology externs will receive a modest stipend direct deposited monthly regardless of work hours completed the prior month. It remains the responsibility of the chief externs to keep a schedule that is fair to all externs in terms of equal call hours at the end of the year.
Schedule
January 18, 2012, 5:15p:
Information meeting for M3s (Faculty Conference Rm, 3962 JPP)
February 1, 2012:
Application deadline
February 2012 (1st or 2nd week of February, TBD):
Applicant interviews with program director
February 2012 (TBD):
Information meeting for new externs (Franken Conference Rm, 3567 JCP)
Election of chief externs
February 2012 (TBD):
Shadowing with current externs will occur in the 3rd and 4th weeks of externship
March 1, 2012:
First day of work
Links
Application (editable pdf)
Extern Handbook (intranet pdf)
Extern Worksheet (intranet pdf)
Smartweb Call Calendar (intranet)
Radiology Image Capture (intranet ppt)
Contact
Christine Walsh, MD, Chief Resident
Brendan O'Shea, MD, Asst Chief Resident
UIHC Department of Radiology
3960 JPP
200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
Pager #: 3363
rad-extern@uiowa.edu