by Mohsina Yusuf

One of the greatest advantages of radiology is the flexibility to practice and gain experience in the field through a number of ways. The Clinical Education Track (CET) is one of them. The CET was started by Dr. Dexter Mendoza when he and his team piloted the program for radiology students at the Emory University School of Medicine.

During its development, they asked Dr. Ryan Peterson to help with the program. The CET recruited seven radiology students during its inaugural year but has since risen to 12 residents.  The CET is a structured curriculum that is completed through the four years of residency. It consists of three main components: Small Group Series, Practicum, and Capstone Project.

“Dr. Meg Fleming and I are the faculty advisors, but it’s run by the residents,” shares Peterson. “It sculpts residents going into academic radiology and allows residents to learn how to be excellent teachers and clinician educators." 

David Theriot, MD (middle) is one of the residents participating in the program. The physician in the painting is Dr. Heinz S. Weens, the first chairman of the Department of Radiology and a pioneer in the field of radiology. 

During Year 1, residents build on core concepts pertinent to being an effective educator, work with a mentor to prepare for the following years, and attend Small Group Series (SGS). The SGS consists of lectures, small group discussions, and skill sessions. During Year 2, trainees continue to attend SGS and begin their teaching-related Practicum activity, which includes providing lectures to medical students. During Year 3, efforts involving the CET are more limited in order to emphasize clinical training. During Year 4, trainees complete their Capstone Project at the end of the year. The Capstone Project requires at least one deliverable from each trainee and should focus on the resident’s educational research interest or teaching activities during their time in the CET.