Rationale and Objectives
The Radiology Scholars Certificate Program (RSCP) is an extracurricular program created
for preclinical medical students to address disparities in radiology education and
exposure during medical school.
Materials and Methods
The RSCP was designed as a year-long program for first- and second-year medical students.
The 4 key components of the RSCP are: Exposure to radiology through shadowing, knowledge
acquisition through self-paced case-based learning modules, knowledge application
in interactive workshops, and completion of a scholarly project. Students are required
to complete at least 3 hours of shadowing, attend at least 3 workshops, complete self-paced
online modules, and complete a capstone project on a topic of their choosing. Pre-
and post-program surveys were administered to assess trends in participants’ perception
of the field and imaging-related clinical knowledge.
Results
In the first year of the RSCP, 55% of the matriculating class enrolled and of those,
84% completed the program. Approximately half of participants were female. Participants
demonstrated significant improvement in radiology knowledge, with average scores improving
from 52.8% to 68.6% (p < .001) on the knowledge-related survey questions. Significant improvements were
also observed in student-reported confidence with ordering and interpreting imaging
studies and in their perceptions of the field.
Conclusion
The RSCP is an effective tool for addressing deficits in radiology education and exposure
during medical school. It is designed to be run by senior medical students under radiology
resident and attending supervision. With motivated student and radiologist investment,
the RSCP should be easily replicable in medical training programs worldwide.
Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract
Key Words
Abbreviations:
RSCP (Radiology scholars certificate program)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 25, 2022
Accepted:
December 22,
2021
Received in revised form:
December 17,
2021
Received:
October 6,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
