Medical Student Education
The Department of Radiology at Baylor College of Medicine has worked very closely with the medical school Curriculum Committee to develop an excellent radiology program for the medical students.
Radiology is taught to the complete medical school class during the first and second years, as well as, approximately 50 percent of the students in their fourth year. In addition, a four-week general diagnostic radiology elective and a four-week special elective are offered.
In the first year, the medical students are given 10 hours of lectures correlating gross anatomy and radiological anatomy as imaged by routine plain films and special studies. In the second year, the students are provided 10 hours of introduction to clinical radiology:
- Four hours of lectures on the chest
- One hour on plain films of abdomen
- One hour on skeletal radiography
- Four hours of small group reviews
The small group reviews are conducted by radiology faculty and residents.
In the fourth year, medical students are given the opportunity to learn about the advanced imaging modalities such as interventional radiology, ultrasound, CT, MRI, and nuclear medicine. Approximately 50 percent of the class takes this 10-hour course.
Electives
A four-week general diagnostic radiology elective course is given from September through May of each year at Ben Taub General Hospital or St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. Approximately 15 hours of small group discussions are provided and the students rotate through the major imaging sections. At the end of the elective, the students make a PowerPoint presentation of an interesting case and are required to take a final examination.
This elective is open to BCM and other qualified medical students.
Students from institutions other than Baylor must contact the Office of Student Affairs to sign up for the elective. Requests for electives beginning or ending on dates that do not coincide with the Baylor four-week elective calendar and requests for electives less than four weeks in duration will not be approved.
A special elective in pediatric radiology can be taken at Texas Children's Hospital after completing a four-week general diagnostic radiology elective.
Another four-week special/research elective is offered which is tailored to the needs, desires and wishes of the individual medical students and is available after one has completed a four-week block of general diagnostic radiology. This elective can be taken in any of the subspecialty areas or a composite of these areas and must be coordinated with the faculty supervisor. Students can also do research or build teaching files on the elective.
Please e-mail Becky Baxter, beckyb@bcm.edu, or call Alfred B. Watson, Jr., M.D. at 713-798-6362 for more information on electives.