Medical students recently had the opportunity to learn about a relatively unknown field of medicine during an event held at the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research (WIMR). The UW Department of Radiology hosted the Interventional Radiology Symposium for Students (IRSS), offering lectures from faculty and hands-on activities. Over 40 medical students, medical physicists, and undergraduates attended the inaugural event, which was free of charge due to generous support by the Department of Radiology.
The symposium exposed students to the basics of interventional radiology: using medical imaging to guide clinical procedures. Interventional Radiology Section Chief Orhan Ozkan, M.D., gave a brief history of interventional radiology (IR) and described the new UW residency program . Subsequent lectures were given by faculty from UW School of Medicine and Public Health, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), and Rush University with topics such as peripheral arterial disease, ablation, and interventional oncology.
In addition, a panel of residents and fellows took questions from symposium attendees regarding career decisions and advice for those interested in pursuing IR.
Students were also given the unique opportunity to handle tools and instruments used in clinical IR procedures. Simulators allowed students to experience a glimpse of life as an interventional radiologist, and education stations were sponsored by four industry representatives: Neuwave, Marvel Medtech, Cook, and Boston Scientific.
The event was organized by Medical Students Jimmy Xu and Matthew Smith, as well as 3rd-Year Radiology Resident Mircea Cristescu, M.D., MBA. Students interested in Interventional Radiology or Radiology as a medical specialty can contact Matthew Smith of the Radiology Interest Group at mrsmith4@wisc.edu.
