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Commission on Outreach and Professional Opportunities

Vision

To cultivate a radiological profession that values a wide range of perspectives where all individuals have access to opportunity across all stages of training, practice, and leadership.

 

Mission

The Commission for Outreach and Professional Opportunities is committed to fostering a culture of accessibility, fairness, and innovation within the radiological professions. By expanding outreach to broaden awareness of radiology careers, supporting professional growth and leadership across all career stages, and cultivating collaborative environments where all voices are respected, the Commission aims to strengthen the radiology workforce and enhance patient care. These efforts support the continued excellence and impact of the American College of Radiology® and the broader healthcare community.

Commission Goals


  • Broaden Awareness: Increase visibility and understanding of careers in radiology and radiation oncology through outreach that connects individuals across a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds.
  • Promote Opportunity: Expand access to professional development, mentorship, and leadership pathways across all stages of radiology careers.
  • Foster Engagement: Encourage meaningful participation in the radiology community by cultivating collaborative environments built on respect, inclusion, and shared purpose.
  • Support Workforce Excellence: Strengthen the radiology profession by embracing a variety of perspectives and skillsets that drive innovation and elevate standards of care.
  • Empower for Impact: Equip radiology professionals to lead efforts that improve health outcomes, reduce health disparities, and advance access to radiological care and quality for all patients and communities.
  • Advance Organizational Alignment: Ensure Commission initiatives reflect and support the strategic mission of the ACR, and facilitate relationships with other professional societies, thus contributing to the sustained growth and relevance of the profession.

Leadership & Staff

Creating Inclusive Excellence in Radiology

The ACR is committed to fostering a radiology community that welcomes a broad range of perspectives and experiences across all levels of training, practice, and leadership.

Learn more
Workplace Culture and Representation

Explore how ACR is working to shape an imaging workforce that best serves our communities. 

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Strengthening Radiology Through Holistic Recruitment

View presentation

PIER Internship

Rising second-year medical students can apply for the Pipeline Initiative for the Enrichment of Radiology (PIER) internship, a program offered across the U.S. that helps talented medical students who have historically not pursued careers in imaging to explore radiology.

Applications for the PIER Internship will reopen in fall 2025.

The Pipeline Initiative for the Enrichment of Radiology (PIER) is a nationally recognized program designed to introduce talented medical students to the field of radiology and radiation oncology early in their training. 

  • PIER offers rising second-year medical students a comprehensive six to eight-week summer experience that includes: 
  • Expert-led lectures and seminars by leading radiologists and guest speakers 
  • One-on-one mentorship from dedicated preceptors 
  • Hands-on exposure to radiographic imaging across various modalities 
  • In-depth case discussions with faculty and peers 
  • Development of a Case-in-Point submission and presentation  

Throughout the program, students also engage in academic research and collaborate with their preceptors to prepare a Case-in-Point submission and an oral presentation to be presented at the National Medical Association (NMA) Annual Meeting.  

This immersive experience helps participants build core skills in medical imaging, intervention and treatment, critical thinking, and patient communication. PIER has proven instrumental in preparing students for residency programs in diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, and radiation oncology, with many alumni successfully matching into competitive programs across the country. 

The internship is open to first-year medical students at institutions across the U.S. seeking an opportunity to explore the radiology specialty and engage in research.

The PIER internship is open to first-year medical students in the U.S. Application requirements include:

  • a letter of good standing
  • resume/curriculum vitae
  • two letters of recommendation
  • ACR membership (medical students join free)

The internship culminates with a presentation of the students’ research of their Case in Point projects to the Radiology/Radiation Oncology Section at the annual meeting of the National Medical Association. The PIER Program provides a stipend for selected scholars during their Summer Internship, as well as continued mentorship and support throughout the years leading to your radiology residency application.

Since 2020, PIER has been offered as a fully virtual program, enabling broader participation and greater accessibility for students nationwide. What began as a five-student, in-person pilot has grown significantly to accommodate up to 40 students each year. This growth reflects the increasing interest in radiology among medical students and the success of the program in delivering a high-quality, engaging, and impactful experience. As the only radiology medical student summer internship developed by the American College of Radiology, ACR PIER offers premier training in Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology and Radiation Oncology as well as medical physics and non-interpretive skills and tips to prepare you for a successful application for residency.   

By offering early exposure and structured support, PIER plays a key role in building a strong, well-prepared radiology workforce and promoting excellence in patient care. 

Announcement: Welcome the 2025 PIER Internship Class!

We are proud to welcome the newest members of the Pipeline Initiative for the Enrichment of Radiology (PIER) Class of 2025! This talented group of first-year medical students from institutions across the country will spend the summer exploring the fields of radiology and radiation oncology through hands-on research, expert-led lectures, and engaging professional development.

Kicking off in June 2025, this eight-week program offers participants an inside look at the many paths and possibilities within radiology. We’re excited to support their journey as they grow their knowledge, sharpen their skills, and build lasting connections in the field.

Stay tuned as we spotlight their work and progress throughout the summer!

Serve as a Preceptorto a PIER Student

Supervise a student intern for six weeks and help them complete a research project and provide valuable mentorship to them throughout their medical school career.

Apply to be a preceptor

The Pipeline Initiative for the Enrichment of Radiology (PIER) is a nationally recognized program designed to introduce talented medical students to the field of radiology and radiation oncology early in their training.  

PIER offers rising second-year medical students a comprehensive six to eight-week summer experience that includes:  

  • Expert-led lectures and seminars by leading radiologists and guest speakers  
  • One-on-one mentorship from dedicated preceptors  
  • Hands-on exposure to radiographic imaging across various modalities  
  • In-depth case discussions with faculty and peers  
  • Development of a Case-in-Point submission and presentation  

Throughout the program, students also engage in academic research and collaborate with their preceptors to prepare a Case-in-Point submission and an oral presentation to be presented at the National Medical Association (NMA) Annual Meeting.  

This immersive experience helps participants build core skills in medical imaging, intervention and treatment, critical thinking, and patient communication. PIER has proven instrumental in preparing students for residency programs in diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, and radiation oncology, with many alumni successfully matching into competitive programs across the country. 

Since 2020, PIER has been offered as a fully virtual program, enabling broader participation and greater accessibility for students nationwide. What began as a five-student, in-person pilot has grown significantly to accommodate up to 40 students each year. This growth reflects the increasing interest in radiology among medical students and the success of the program in delivering a high-quality, engaging, and impactful experience. As the only radiology medical student summer internship developed by the American College of Radiology, ACR PIER offers premier training in Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology and Radiation Oncology as well as medical physics and non-interpretive skills and tips to prepare you for a successful application for residency.   

By offering early exposure and structured support, PIER plays a key role in building a strong, well-prepared radiology workforce and promoting excellence in patient care. 

If you are interested in being a preceptor for the PIER radiology summer internship, you may want to ask for support from your chairman and obtain administrative support to help with logistics.

Administrative support would be able to contact the student with all credentialing details such as HR paperwork, communication and check on transportation needs to and from the hospital. This person can set up requirements such as compliance training, etc.

If you have a medical student coordinator in your department, that person could help the student integrate into the medical student lecture and reading room rotation schedule. Since this is meant to be an internship that exposes the student to radiology, it would be good if they could spend time in subspecialty reading rooms or with a clinical colleague. We intend to provide the student with a diverse clinical radiology experience so they can see all aspects of radiology.

  • Assign a desk with computer and access to PACS.
  • Designate a person to teach student access to PACS and EMR.
  • Establish rules for communication with the preceptor.
  • Meet with your institution’s diversity office to see if they have activities for the student participate in.

  • Create a calendar with lectures, reading room schedules, etc. that the intern can both access and edit.
  • Schedule deadlines (abstract submission, day of service*, etc.) on the calendar. Plan when data collection and analysis should be complete as well as submission day for poster printing.
  • Plan for any down time. For example, if you see a great case in the reading room, perhaps the student can submit an ACR Case in Point.

  • Initiate IRB compliance training as soon as possible. The student will need an ID and access to the network prior to this training.
  • Schedule focused phone meetings with your intern at least 1–2 months prior to their arrival. Provide reading material if there is an ongoing project you plan on using. If the intern is starting a new project, use the first meeting to establish areas of interest and brainstorm research projects, and the second meeting to finalize plans and complete IRB. The study should be designed prior to student arrival. Ideally, the IRB would be submitted 1.5–2 months prior to the start date.
  • Enlist your department biostatistician early on for help with study design and data analysis.
  • Have a schedule for deliverables for the research project so that the project’s abstract, data acquisition and analysis, and poster printing can be done on time.

American College of Radiology. The Power of PIER: The Importance of Support in the Radiology Pipeline. ACR Bulletin. Available at: https://www.acr.org/Clinical-Resources/Publications-and-Research/ACR-Bulletin/power-of-pier-support 

Hernandez E, Chan P, Johnson G, Wang J, Hawkins CM. Student Perspective of Pipeline Programs: An Essential Tool in Diversifying Radiology. J Am Coll Radiol. 2022;19(2):205–207. Available at: https://www.jacr.org/article/S1546-1440(21)00751-1/fulltext 

Twelve Approaches to Outreach 

By Johnson B. Lightfoote, MD, MBA, FACR

  1. Expand the Pipeline – Inspire future talent by speaking to students from a wide variety of backgrounds—middle schoolers love seeing bone images too!
  2. Listen to the Community – Host a focus group with patients to understand their experiences with imaging and care.
  3. Mentorship Matters – Mentor someone in your practice who might benefit from support and encouragement—whether a student, technologist, or early-career radiologist.
  4. Improve Communication – Identify one community or culture your practice frequently serves and develop better ways to connect with them.
  5. Refocus the Mission – Consider whether your organization’s mission includes a clear commitment to inclusion and whether your strategic goals reflect this.
  6. Lead with Intention – Model inclusive behaviors and champion equitable practices among colleagues and referring providers.
  7. Empathy Exercise – Reflect on interpersonal dynamics in your workplace—how might things feel from someone else’s point of view?
  8. Community Outreach – Visit local organizations or civic groups and share both your technology and your team’s commitment to access and excellence.
  9. Identify Gaps – Look for imbalances in care delivery or representation within your practice and use data to inform improvement strategies.
  10. Assess Your Culture – Engage your team regularly to learn how they feel about the workplace environment and inclusion efforts.
  11. Support Career Growth – Make leadership and development opportunities available to everyone, with intentional outreach to those who may be underrepresented.
  12. Leverage Unique Strengths – Embrace different work styles, specialties, and contributions. Flexibility can lead to innovation and improve outcomes for both patients and staff.