Revamping a Curriculum for Preclinical Radiology Students
Discover how University of Minnesota students integrated radiology into preclinical medical education through innovative curriculum reform.
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This past May, I found myself in Washington, DC, for the ACR® 2026 Annual Meeting. Between sitting in on sessions, mingling with fellow medical students and residents and meeting leaders in radiology face-to-face, I walked away with a much clearer picture of where the field is headed. Whether you’re set on radiology or just curious, it’s worth attending the annual meeting.
Coming from a math and computer science background, radiology has always been intriguing. It’s hard to fully appreciate the field as a medical student, but imaging itself is intrinsically fascinating to me; you get to directly see the anatomy and piece together findings with the clinical picture like a puzzle. The field is also remarkably broad, collaborating with physicians across nearly every specialty. Add in the potential with minimally invasive procedures, and ACR 2026 was an easy sell.
One of the parts I was most excited about was the Medical Student Poster Showcase. I was a member of the poster planning committee with fellow medical students, Adriana Ene, MS, and Triston Messer, BS, led by Hamza Alizai, MD. This year marked the first time medical students presented posters in person at the ACR Annual Meeting as part of a pilot program. It was wonderful to see student posters on display, covering everything from imaging research to education initiatives, with residents and attendings actively engaging with them.
As a third-year medical student, residency applications are approaching sooner than you’d think. The program director (PD) panel, “Inside the Match: Tips for Residency Applications From Radiology Program Directors,” was very insightful. The panel featured Morlie Wang, MD, MPH — the PD at the University of Illinois Chicago — along with Omer Awan, MD, MPH, Associate PD at the University of Maryland and Jonathan Martin, MD, the diagnostic radiology PD at Duke.
There's nothing quite like hearing directly from the people who actually read our applications about:
What surprised me most was that the PDs had genuinely different opinions on what they prefer in an applicant. It was a good reminder that not all programs are the same. It goes both ways: While PDs evaluate whether students belong in their program, students should evaluate whether the program is right for them.
The session that stuck with me the most, though, was the career panel, “Finding Your Niche in Radiology: A Day in the Life and Career Pathways for Radiologists.” The panel brought together radiologists from different corners of the field, including Lisa Mullen, MD, FACR, a breast radiologist and the Breast Imaging Fellowship Director at Johns Hopkins, and Elana Smith, MD, an Associate Program Director at the University of Maryland specializing in trauma and emergency radiology.
Two panelists made a particularly strong impression on me. The first was Florence Doo, MD, MA, an abdominal radiologist and AI researcher who serves as Director of Innovation at the University of Maryland Medical Intelligent Imaging Center. I was lucky enough to meet her personally and catch her separate talk on AI and informatics in radiology. She gave an honest look at the current state of AI in the field, showing how it is already woven into radiology workflows.
At the same time, Dr. Doo emphasized something I think every medical student needs to hear: No matter how powerful these tools become, we must train ourselves to be solid radiologists first. Leaning on AI without building strong foundational skills is a trap, and the radiologists who will thrive are the ones who refuse to neglect that foundation while also incorporating emerging technology.
The second was Robert Min, MD, MBA, FACR, an interventional radiologist who serves as President and CEO of the Physician Organization at Weill Cornell Medicine. Getting to meet him personally and hear how he built a career involving both clinical IR and executive leadership opened my eyes to just how many directions a radiology career can take. It was motivating to see that the field can lead to the highest levels of health system leadership.
I also want to give a quick shout out to Kirang Patel, MD, for his session on advocacy in radiology. Advocacy is a huge priority at the ACR Annual Meeting. I didn't get to participate in Capitol Hill Day this year, but being in DC drove home the fact that the decisions shaping imaging access and patient care are made just down the road, and that radiologists, and even medical students, have a real voice in that process. You can attend your state or local caucus meeting and dig into the issues facing your own area as well as network with local attendings.
Some of my favorite moments happened between sessions. I met many friendly residents in both diagnostic and interventional radiology who were happy to share honest takes on their institutions, navigating the match and what to prioritize when choosing between training programs (pro tip: ample readout time with attendings is critical!). Those candid conversations reinforced how welcoming and supportive this community really is.
Of course, it wasn't all sessions and networking. DC has no shortage of things to do! I squeezed in a little sightseeing between events, with the Washington Monument being a highlight.
Attending ACR 2026 left me energized about radiology. I came home with practical advice for the match, a clearer sense of the career paths available to me and several new connections. If any part of this resonated with you, consider this your invitation to attend next year.
Revamping a Curriculum for Preclinical Radiology Students
Discover how University of Minnesota students integrated radiology into preclinical medical education through innovative curriculum reform.
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