ABOUT US

Who We Are

We are dedicated young doctors learning a complex craft.

We are parents, friends, and former research scientists.

We are ambitious, collegial, and unified in our mission.

We are continuously improving our skills and ever swift to teach.

We are essential members of a vibrant healthcare system.

We are proud champions of our underserved community.

We are exceptional physicians.

We are the medical imaging leaders of tomorrow.

We are...LAC+USC Radiology.

Where We Work

In order to obtain varied, comprehensive clinical exposure throughout training, our residents rotate at three distinct clinical sites, which are all within the USC Medical Campus located just three miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

LAC+USC MEDICAL CENTER

With origins dating back to 1878 and being recently rebuilt in 2008, LAC+USC Medical Center (a.k.a. "County") has become one of the largest public hospitals in the nation.  The strengths of training at County are rooted in the medical center's role in providing accessible healthcare to the diverse communities of Southern California, as well as in hosting one of busiest emergency departments in the country. Additionally, the medical center is the busiest Level I trauma center in the region, with over 4,500 "trauma only" cases per annum. Finally, County promotes resident growth by remaining solidly grounded in its identity as a truly resident-driven teaching institution. A majority of resident rotations are completed at LAC+USC.

KECK HOSPITAL OF USC

Resident training at Keck Hospital of USC ("Keck") is enriched by its status as a private tertiary/quaternary referral center that provides care for some of the most complex and acutely ill patients in the world. In addition to its medical services, Keck operates thriving heart, kidney, liver, and lung transplant programs; it hosts comprehensive surgical and neuro-oncology programs; and its surgeons perform some of most advanced techniques in urological and vascular surgery.  Furthermore, the hospital's Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology is a "full service" department, performing the gamut of diagnositic, therapeutic, and minimally invasive interventional oncology procedures. Regarding case volume, Keck Medical Center physicians received over 420,000 outpatient visits and performed over 19,000 surgeries/procedures in 2016. A majority of resident experiences at Keck take place during R4 mini-fellowships. 

USC NORRIS COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER

Designated as a National Cancer Institute comprehensive cancer center, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center ("Norris") is a leader in cancer prevention, treatment, education, and research. In addition to providing diagnostic services, Norris provides interventional radiology services to its highly specialized patient population. It also maintains an active affiliation with Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, which is home to the largest pediatric hematology/oncology program in the US. Residents complete a designated oncologic imaging rotation at Norris as an R3, and also spend time there during R4 mini-fellowships. 

What We Do

CLINICAL SERVICES

We pursue expertise in patient care via the interpretation of all forms of medical diagnostic imaging, including radiography (X-rays); computed tomography (CT); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); sonography (ultrasound); nuclear medicine (e.g., PET); and fluoroscopy; as well as performing minimally invasive, image-guided diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Our duties comprise all divisions of clinical radiology, such as musculoskeletal radiology, emergency radiology, neuroradiology, cardiothoracic imaging, pediatric imaging, women's imaging, and vascular/interventional radiology. Direct patient care is by no means limited to IR rotations; procedures are a part of regular daily operations on multiple services, including ultrasound, body/cardiothoracic imaging, GI/GU, neuro, and MSK rotations. 

CALL DUTIES

We participate in various evening, weekend, holiday, and overnight call pools. In brief:

• Weekend/holiday daytime hours for County inpatient and emergency radiology are covered by the junior resident classes for 18 months beginning in January (i.e. from January 1 of the R1 year, to June 30 of the R2 year). Hours are 8AM – 4PM.

  • The R1 class is call-free for the first 6-months of residency. Beginning January 1, the R1 class covers the emergency department weekend day shifts, where they have direct faculty supervision. This duty averages to ~2 shifts per month.

  • From July to December 31, R2’s work a separate inpatient/procedure shift from 8AM to 12PM, under direct faculty supervision. After 12PM, preliminary reads are placed by R2s for requested inpatient studies, with an attending available remotely for support. On January 1 the R2 residents “graduate” from emergency department daytime coverage, but continue to cover inpatient/procedures until June 30.

• Weekend/holiday daytime hours for Keck and Norris are collectively covered by R2's (after January 1), R3's, and R4's. This approximates to roughly 3-5 shifts/year for senior residents, and 2 shifts for R2’s in the late academic year. Hours are 8AM – 5 PM. A portion of this shift is directly supervised by faculty.

• Overnight Coverage for LAC, Keck, and Norris inpatients is provided mostly by R3 and R4 residents. Hours are 10PM–8AM for weekdays and 8PM–8AM on weekends/holidays. This averages to 2.5 weeks per year. This shift simulates independent call, but attending available remotely for support.

• R2 and R3 residents on Interventional Radiology rotation carry a service pager in order to provide 24-hour coverage for LA County and Keck Hospital, in selected cases. Two to three residents are typically on service at a time. This varies from 12–18 shifts per year, depending on the number of residents on service.

• R3's are scheduled a call-free period preceding the Core Exam in order to aid in exam preparation.

EDUCATION

The Department provides ample structured learning experiences through its daily conference series, as well as through two separate curricula for new R1's (a "Boot Camp," and the year-long "Radiology Club"). Faculty also execute a conference series for R3's preparing for the Core Exam.

Our Leadership