About the Program
Radiology is an exciting and ever-changing field, and our curriculum is built to keep pace with it. We have revitalized that curriculum to keep the best of the current program while affording residents the flexibility they need in their training. Residents rotate through all subspecialties of radiology and complete their core requirements in the first three years of training. The final year can be devoted to research, teaching, early subspecialization, or in-depth education in more than one field.
The timing of the American Board of Radiology examinations is changing. Beginning with the class of 2028, the Qualifying (Core) exam moves to the fall of the final residency year, with the new oral Certifying exam following in June, which means residents now sit for both exams before they graduate. We have been preparing for this since it was announced, and our board preparation and protected study time are being built around the new calendar.
Research is an integral component of our program’s educational mission. All residents undertake a mentored research project during their two-month competencies rotation and may also schedule elective time for research during their residency. We also offer a month-long forensic rotation in conjunction with the King County Medical Examiner's Office. Only a handful of programs in the country offer this experience. On this rotation, residents build a foundation in applying postmortem imaging to forensic investigations and work alongside experts to advance justice, support public safety, and provide clarity and closure for families. Two residents each year also have the opportunity to complete a month-long global health rotation abroad. Recent residents have trained in Croatia, Tanzania, and Kenya, returning to Seattle to share what they learned with the entire department.
Our mentorship program provides a resident mentor and a faculty mentor to every incoming resident. Mentors guide residents throughout their time at the University of Washington, advising on everything from which books to read and how to excel during residency to identifying a field of research and choosing a fellowship and a career path.
We are excited that you are considering the University of Washington for your radiology training. Whatever brings you here, the breadth of cases at Harborview, protected time for research, a month abroad, or simply a program where people look out for one another, we hope you find it in these pages. If you have questions that this site does not answer, please reach out; we would much rather hear from you than have you wonder. We look forward to meeting you this interview season.
Christine Rehwald, MD
Clinical Associate Professor of Radiology
Program Director, Diagnostic Radiology Residency
Program Highlights
University of Washington offers a wide range of opportunities designed to give residents flexibility in how they train, so that four years can be shaped around where each resident wants to end up. From the PGY-3 year on, residents take call at Harborview Medical Center in a reading room inside the emergency department, serving as the hospital's primary radiology consultant with faculty backup whenever it is needed.
Residents who know their direction early can formalize it through Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology, the ABR 16-month nuclear radiology or 15-month pediatric radiology pathways, or our research track . On top of that, the PGY-5 year may open up four to six months of electives, which residents can use for concentrated training in a single area; effectively a mini-fellowship.
The Charles A. Rohrmann, Jr., M.D., Endowment for Radiology Resident Educational Excellence funds much of this, including the travel stipend for residents presenting at national conferences, global health travel, and educational resources across all four years. Gifts go directly to resident education.
Our Mission
The mission of the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program at the University of Washington is to offer rich and diverse clinical experiences, an outstanding didactic curriculum, first-rate mentoring, and world-class research opportunities to train and educate residents to become:
- experts in medical imaging, its role in patient care, and its cost-effective use;
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compassionate providers of care who maintain the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in their interactions with patients and their families, medical center staff, and fellow physicians;
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patient advocates who understand the social and economic implications of radiologic examinations;
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practitioners at the forefront of discovery, teaching, and organizational leadership.
Our residents are well-rounded, with strong records of achievement and deep interest in research, teaching, leadership, and volunteer activities. We offer rigorous clinical training, and our residents graduate with a depth of knowledge that prepares them for successful careers. We hope you find this information useful. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Where Our Graduates Go
Our graduates match into competitive fellowships across the country, and most recently seven of our ten graduating residents chose to stay at the University of Washington.
Meet Our Residents
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Contact Us
Our program administrators are Tina Brothers and Yesenia Hernandez.