IRs in training By Audrey Magnowski, MD
An insider’s guide to choosing an IR residency
W
ith so many training pathways available for medical students looking to enter interventional
radiology, how does one decide where to apply, rank and pursue a career in this fi eld? We posed this question to our favorite SIR mentors and are excited to share their feedback with you as we enter this year’s residency application season.
Choosing the right pathway for you There are three main pathways to become a board licensed interventional radiologist: a 6-year integrated IR residency, a 5-year diagnostic radiology residency with the Early Specialization in IR (ESIR) track and shortened 1-year independent IR residency, or a diagnostic radiology residency and a full 2-year independent IR residency. For students who have no doubts
about a career in IR, the integrated residency is the most streamlined way to get there. However, these positions are limited and their competitiveness means that many future IRs will need to take a diff erent route.
How should students approach this scenario to optimize their chances of entering IR? Paul J. Rochon, MD, FSIR, recommends that students who want to fi nd a pathway to IR should strongly consider ESIR programs in addition to integrated programs, because training via ESIR will be similar to an integrated residency. For students looking to maximize their chances of matching, evaluate the available combinations that are available. Does the program have an ESIR program and an independent IR residency? If so, pursuing this option (while requiring a separate application process for the independent-IR residency) will allow trainees to complete their training in much the same way as the integrated residency. In fact, many programs are more eager to add ESIR positions for trainees because
the resources needed to support each resident are already in place, making these spots easy for programs to add without having to allot additional fi nancial resources.
While a pathway that includes the independent residency leaves students with the uncertainty of where they will complete their training, this also off ers an opportunity that was previously seen with the IR fellowships. While there will be situations where residents can complete their training from start to fi nish at the same institution, many students may fi nd it valuable to do their independent residency elsewhere. The diversity of IR naturally allows each practice to develop its own culture; this includes relationships with other medical and surgical specialties and relative proportions of diff erent case types within the subfi elds of IR.
Dr. Rochon believes that trainees may benefi t from a diverse experience at multiple institutions during residency to gain a solid foundation in a variety of procedures, as well as to learn a variety of approaches and techniques from mentors in each location. For this reason, students should fi nd out if programs are planning to have an independent residency program and consider this when applying and ranking.
For students that are not certain about committing to IR, Geogy Vatakencherry, MD, FSIR, recommends that students prioritize ESIR and diagnostic radiology programs and take full advantage of their early training years to explore other areas of radiology that have a procedural component. This allows students some time to consider other options alongside IR, yet still have the option to continue their training in IR down the road.
36 IRQ | WINTER 2026
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