Radiology

XRAY 700 – Pediatric Radiology Elective

Credits: 5 credits

Program director: Dr. James M. Brian

Location: Hershey

Maximum number of students: 1

Prerequisites: Third-year core clerkships

When offered: All rotations except July and August

Length of course: One month

Report to: Laurie Shearer

Date/time/location: 8 a.m., HG301L

Description: Tutorial course emphasizing interpretation, clinical correlation, indications and limitations of imaging studies used in the evaluation of infants and children

XRAY CES RED 730 – Improving Diagnosis in Health Care: Developing Solutions to Reduce Patient Harm

Credits: 5 credits

Program leadership: Dr. Jonelle Thomas

Maximum number of students: 4

Prerequisites: Must be a third-year student

When offered: Twice a year

Length of course: Two-weeks

Description: Using the Improving Diagnosis in Health Care report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) as a framework, the Department of Radiology designed and now offers this 2-week CES session focusing on improving diagnosis in health care using the 2015 IOM report’s eight goals to guide students in development of solutions to reduce patient harm from diagnostic error. Deliverable is a project aimed at reducing diagnostic error and improving patient safety.

XRAY CES RAD 730 – Career Exploration and Synthesis

Credits: 5 credits

Program leadership: Dr. Angela Choe

Maximum number of students: 4

Prerequisites: Must be a third-year student

When offered: Twice a year

Length of course: Two-weeks

Description: This two-week elective offered to third-year medical students who wish to gain early clinical exposure to radiology offers students ability to rotate through all the reading rooms and procedure suites in the department of radiology.

XRAY 771 – General Radiology Elective

Credits: 5 credits

Program leadership: Dr. Jonathon Maffie, Director

Location: Hershey

Maximum number of students: 7

Prerequisites: Completion of the first two years of medical school

When offered: All rotations except July and August

Length of course: One month

Date/time/location: 8 a.m., HG301L

Description: The elective exposes the student to all modalities currently used in diagnostic imaging and encourages learning by interaction with residents and faculty in an informal setting. A major objective of the elective is the understanding of the indications and contraindications for radiological studies and procedures as well as the cost-effective radiological work-up of various clinical conditions. Another major aim of the course is to teach issues of relevance for patient preparation for radiologic studies and procedures. For these reasons, the elective is of potential major benefit for any student, whatever his or her ultimate career objective may be.

XRAY 772 – Radiology Advanced Elective

Credits: 5 credits

Program director: Dr. Jonathon Maffie

Location: Hershey

Maximum number of students: Two

Prerequisites: XRAY 771 or special permission from course director

When offered: July through April

Length of course: One month

Date/time/location: 8 a.m., HG301L

Description:This course is designed for students considering a career in radiology. During the four weeks, the student receives in depth education and experience in the interpretation of radiologic studies. The major area of focus is the assessment of chest and skeletal radiographs with additional areas of study customized to individual student interests and objectives. The course provides similar experience to that of a beginning first year radiology resident. This course is useful to prepare students for future radiology residency through a “hands-on” approach.

XRAY 795 – Virtual General Radiology Elective

Credits: 5 credits

Program leadership: Dr. Jonathon Maffie

Location: Virtual

Maximum number of students: 25

Prerequisites: Completion of the first two years of medical school

When offered: All rotations

Length of course: One month

Description: The elective exposes the student to all modalities currently used in diagnostic imaging and is entirely remote/virtual. The elective includes synchronous learning via live Zoom lectures by radiology faculty and residents and attendance at a clinical interdisciplinary conference. Non-synchronous learning includes online modules and readings with an end-of-rotation exam. A major objective of the elective is the understanding of the indications and contraindications for radiological studies and procedures and the cost-effective radiological work-up of various clinical conditions. Other goals of the course include teaching issues of relevance for patient preparation for radiologic studies and procedures, as well as safety issues related to radiation, contrast material, etc. For these reasons, the elective is of potential major benefit for any student, whatever his or her ultimate career objective may be; however, students considering applying to a radiology residency should prioritize an in-person elective such as XRAY 771 or XRAY 700.

XRAY 796 – Radiology Individual Studies Elective

Credits: 5 credits

Program director: Faculty research adviser

Location: N/A

Maximum number of students: N/A

Prerequisites: Permission of the preceptor. Limited to students enrolled at Penn State College of Medicine. 

When offered: All rotations

Length of course: One month

Description: Creative projects including non-thesis research, supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.

XRAY 797 – Special Topics of Radiology

Credits: 5 credits

Program director: Dr. Jonathon Maffie

Location: Designation for remote electives

Maximum number of students: N/A

Prerequisites: Permission of the preceptor. Limited to students enrolled at Penn State College of Medicine. 

When offered: All rotations

Length of course: One month

Description: Creative projects and electives at outside institutions.