We are thrilled that you are interested in the Integrated Interventional Radiology residency program at Temple University Hospital. As a 700+ bed hospital in North Philadelphia, Temple IR residents are exposed early and often to all facets of Interventional Radiology across a wide range of disease processes.
Spending the majority of the first three years on diagnostic radiology rotations, we receive excellent training across all modalities and disciplines of diagnostic imaging, becoming confident to independently interpret and communicate findings to our referring clinicians. Through a strong and consistent didactic curriculum, Temple Residents approach the CORE exam with confidence and success.
In the dedicated IR years, we become fully immersed in the language and practice of procedural medicine and are challenged to run the IR service, serving as the primary point of contact for consulting services and providing guidance and leadership to junior residents. Through a system of graduated autonomy we quickly become autonomous, even as first operators during complex cases. This is always with the support of and backup from our attendings, who treat us as true peers and colleagues, and with whom we forge lasting professional relationships.
As a busy center for the treatment of penetrating trauma, Temple University Hospital provides a unique setting in which IR residents are tasked at utilizing their imaging knowledge, clinical mindset, and procedural skillset to care for patients afflicted by gun violence, with regular interdisciplinary collaboration with the Trauma Surgery and critical care services. As part of the hospital’s busy Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT), the Temple Interventional Radiology section is regularly involved in the care and management of patients suffering from acute life-threatening pulmonary emboli. Additional areas of high-volume procedural involvement include, but are not limited to, uterine artery embolization, vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty, hepatobiliary interventions, and dialysis interventions.
As IR residents, we complete approximately one-fourth of our dedicated IR training at Fox Chase Cancer Center, a NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. At Fox Chase, Temple IR residents obtain excellent training in Interventional Oncology, through experience in a variety of embolic and ablative techniques, with involvement in all preprocedural, periprocedural, and postprocedural aspects of care. Through our rotation at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, we gain dedicated experience in pediatric interventions at one of the nation’s premier children’s hospitals.
It should not go unsaid that our lives outside of the hospital do not go on hold during our years of training. We are fortunate that as Temple residents, we enjoy an excellent-work life balance with abundant time to take care of family obligations, attend important life events, and even relax with our colleagues outside of work. The city of Philadelphia has much to offer in this regard with a bustling restaurant scene, major sporting events, great concert venues, and the many historic and cultural attractions unique to the city.
We look forward to receiving your application to the residency program.
Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can provide further information or assistance!
Ian Leopold, MD
Integrated Interventional Radiology Chief Resident
Temple University Hospital