Vanderbilt Radiology, VUIIS Trainees to Participate in RSNA’s Introduction to Academic Radiology Program

Ryan Adams, M.D., second-year diagnostic radiology resident, was recently selected to participate in the Introduction to Academic Radiology (ITAR) Program at Radiological Society of North America’s (RSNA) Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting in Chicago next month. 

Co-sponsored by RSNA, the Association of University Radiologists and the American Roentgen Ray Society, ITAR is a four-day workshop designed for trainees with expressed interest in academic radiology. Topics of the program include preparing manuscripts, integrating research in an academic career, career development and more. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network at an orientation and dinner presentation.

“Introduction to Academic Radiology is a great program that introduces trainees into various aspects of academic radiology,” said Donnelly. “We try to pick someone who has both qualifications and interest in having careers in academic radiology,” said Edwin Donnelly, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor and Residency Program Director.

Adams was nominated by Donnelly and Lori Deitte, M.D., Professor and Vice Chair of Education, to participate in the program. His application included past research accomplishments, publications and presentations. In addition, it provided an overview of the dedicated research time he will have throughout the remainder of his residency, which will include one half-day per week in his second year and an option for additional time in his fourth year of training. He is expected to complete his training in 2021. 

“I really want to come away from the program learning how to best approach research in an academic career,” said Adams. “Specifically, I want to learn how to be most efficient and effective while having clinical responsibilities and still being a radiologist.”

Jennifer Watchmaker, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Science Training Program graduate student, is also attending ITAR. She completed her Ph.D. at the Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science where her work addressed sensitivity of functional magnetic resonance methods to disease and intervention outcome, and extended upon currently available tools for parenchymal assessment. She additionally has performed work evaluating treatment response to targeted therapies with a focus on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and has 11 peer-reviewed publications in journals, including Neurosurgery and the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology. She was one of two M.D./Ph.D. students selected nationally by the American Physician Scientists Organization to attend the program this year.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to attend ITAR,” added Watchmaker. “I look forward to learning from expert clinician scientists throughout this workshop, and hope to gain tools that will help in my pursuit of new knowledge that will improve the lives of patients.”