Welcome to the Nuclear Medicine training program at University of Iowa. We strive to educate the next generation of leaders in academic and clinical Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics. Our program offers a dedicated NM residency, nuclear oncology fellowship, and a 16-month pathway for dual training in NM and DR. 

The program includes education in all aspects of the field including:

• Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures 
• Dosimetry 
• Physics  
• Radiopharmacy

Clinical training takes place at University of Iowa Health Care and the Iowa City VA Medical Center. At the end of the NM residency, trainees are prepared to sit for the ABNM exam. At the end of the 16-month pathway, trainees are prepared to sit for both the ABNM and ABR exams.

1-, 2-, 3-year NM Residency

This is ACGME-accredited. The number of years in the program depends on prior training history and ABNM board certification requirements.

16-month DR/NM Pathway

This pathway allows dual-board certification in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine. This is a combined 4-year program co-managed by NM and DR. It is filled competitively with 1 position per year open only to applicants from within our current radiology residents. Residents should notify program leadership of their interest in pursuing this program as early as possible, but no later than the end of their 2nd year (R2) of radiology. In the first three years, residents complete the same core rotations as the other DR residents. During the 4th year, residents are on the combined-track focusing mostly on nuclear medicine.

Nuclear Oncology Fellowship

This is a one-year non-accredited program that includes both NM/PET with emphasis on therapy and dosimetry as well as substantial time in other specialties oriented around cancer therapy such as radiation oncology, medical and surgical oncology, neuroendocrine oncology, and pediatric oncology.

Accreditation

The Nuclear Medicine Residency Program at UI Hospitals & Clinics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Information specific to program guidelines may be found at the ACGME’s Nuclear Medicine overview.

Quick Facts

By the Numbers!

• 1-3 residents are accepted each year. Depending on the applicant's training background, 1-3 year positions are available.
• 1 competitive position is available per year for radiology residents pursuing the combined-accelerated nuclear medicine program.
• 3 total residents are ACGME approved for our training program
• 60 faculty members, including 12 nuclear medicine/PET physicians and physicists, are available to train and mentor residents
• 1 chief is selected each year

We offer the following programs:

1-, 2-, 3-year NM Residency

This is ACGME-accredited. The number of years in the program depends on prior training history and ABNM board certification requirements.

16-month DR/NM Pathway

This pathway allows dual-board certification in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine. This is a combined 4-year program co-managed by NM and DR. It is filled competitively with 1 position per year open only to applicants from within our current radiology residents. Residents should notify program leadership of their interest in pursuing this program as early as possible, but no later than the end of their 2nd year (R2) of radiology. In the first three years, residents complete the same core rotations as the other DR residents. During the 4th year, residents are on the combined-track focusing mostly on nuclear medicine.

Nuclear Oncology Fellowship

This is a one-year non-accredited program that includes both NM/PET with emphasis on therapy and dosimetry as well as substantial time in other specialties oriented around cancer therapy such as radiation oncology, medical and surgical oncology, neuroendocrine oncology, and pediatric oncology.

Benefits

• Competitive stipends
• Comprehensive medical, dental, hospitalization and pharmacy benefits for residents and their dependents
• 15 days of annual paid time off

Board Certification Requirements

• Visit the American Board of Nuclear Medicine for specifics on board certification requirements.

FAQs

Where is Iowa City?

Iowa City is 220 miles directly west of Chicago on Interstate 80. It's also within a 4-5 hour drive to Milwaukee, Madison, Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City and St. Louis. It has the cultural, educational, social and political opportunities of a bigger city with the values and ambiance of a Midwestern town. Its clean, safe, nothing is farther than a 15 minute car ride, it has a great city bus system (with bike racks!), wonderful parks, sports, schools and even sailing. Those who have lived here and left, frequently return because what they were looking for was in their own back yard. But we're not the only ones who think Iowa City is great:

• No. 1 "Employment Destination for Young College Grads" - Small Metropolitan Cities (AIER.org, 2019)
• No. 3 "Top 20 Best US Cities for College Grads" (Business Insider, 2019)
• No. 4 "Top 100 Best Places to Live" (Livability.com, 2019)
• UI Hospitals & Clinics ranked No. 15 in "America's Best Employers for Women" (Forbes, 2019) 
• No. 9 out of "50 Best College Towns in America" (Bestcollegereviews.org, 2019)
• No. 4 "Top 100 Best Places to Live" (Livability.com, 2018)
• No. 1 "College Town in America" (Saturdaytradition.com, 2018)
• Iowa No. 1 "Best States" (U.S. News & World Report, 2018)
• University of Iowa No. 10 "Nation's 25 Safest Universities" (ADT, 2018)
• No. 2 "Top 100 Places to Live" (Livability.com, 2017)
• Iowa City No. 9 Best Places to Live in Iowa (Niche.com, 2017)
• No. 2 "25 Best Cities for Entrepreneurs" (Entrepreneur.com, 2017)
• No. 4 for "21 Super Cool US Cities, Ranked" (Expedia Viewfinder Travel Blog, 2017)
• No. 5 for "20 Best College Towns in America" (Business Insider, 2017)
• In top 50 of "Best Cities for Entrepreneurs" (Livability.com, 2016)
• No. 5 "25 Healthiest Cities in America" (24/7 Wall St., 2016)
• No. 9 "50 Best College Towns in America" (Best College Reviews, 2016)
• Voted "Best in the Midwest" for "Best Places to Retire" (Time.com/money, 2016)
• No. 9 "Top 100 Best Places to Live" (Livability.com, 2016)
• No. 8 "Top 30 Small Cities" (Area Development Magazine, June 2015)
• No. 6 "The 10 Smartest Cities in America" (MarketWatch.com, January 2015)
• No. 1 "Best Employment Destination Index for Smallest Metro Areas" (AIER, 2015)
• No. 10 "Top 100 Best Places to Live" (Livability.com, 2015)
• No. 4 out of 20 "Top College Towns" (AIER, 2015)

How ethnically diverse are the patients?

Like a lot of university towns, we have a large international community. Growing cultural diversity is another reason Iowa City is an interesting place to live. Diversity is embraced and celebrated with city and university events, festivals, clubs and programs. We work hard to recruit and retain minorities with affirmative action policies. About 20% of Iowa Citians are non-white, which is reflected at about the same rate in our patients.

What’s the weather like in Iowa City?

It depends on what you like. For about two weeks every winter it's very cold and windy and for two weeks every summer it's really hot and humid. The rest of the time it's pretty nice. We have a lot of sunny days even in winter-166 per year. Our average snowfall is 28", average rainfall is 35", average temperature in the summer is 72.6 and in the winter, 23.7. We consider our weather character building.

What is there to do in Iowa City when you're not working?

There are 15 different festivals and art fairs, plus concerts and race events. There are many music venues, sports events and neighborhood street fairs and garden walks. We also have a really big mall and several smaller ones, 41 parks, 9 golf courses, 6 public tennis courts, 6 public pools, some lakes and a reservoir with trails, camping and boating. There are bike trails, some famous bookstores, a ton of galleries and excellent museums. There are half a dozen or more performing arts venues including Hancher Auditorium. There's always something going on. Find more information from the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

What's Iowa City like for kids and families?

There's ice skating, bowling, organized sports, 50 public parks, miniature golf, a great public library, a toy library, fun centers, swimming pools and 3 beaches, 9 museums including a children's museum, dance companies and public recreation centers that feature many activities for kids and families at little or no cost. We also have 20 movie screens and 50-licensed daycare providers. The Iowa City schools are perennially ranked among the top schools in the nation. Iowa City is unique in the facilities and services available for individuals with disabilities. Many families who have a family member with a disability are reluctant to leave Iowa City because they cannot duplicate those services in another location.

Are there any job opportunities for my spouse/significant other?

Yes, as of May 2019, Iowa City had an average of 2.1% unemployment. Also, check out University of Iowa's Dual Career Network.

What are the fellowship opportunities available?

We currently offer three accredited fellowships: Pediatric Radiology, Neuroradiology and Vascular Interventional Radiology. We also have four non-accredited fellowships: Breast Imaging, Body Imaging, and Musculoskeletal Radiology and PET/CT Imaging.

What's the call schedule like?

After the first six months of training, residents will begin taking a week of call (which includes the weekend) once every three weeks.

Is this a family friendly program?

Yes! We love children and support residents in their efforts to balance work with family life. We have several dual physician resident and faculty families and understand the stresses. Women residents receive up to 6 weeks of paid maternity leave after delivery. Men get 5 working days off for paternity leave. The house staff health insurance policy provides full coverage for spouses and children. There are several childcare facilities near the hospital and one on-site.

Is there sufficient patient volume so that I can have multiple exposures to a variety of diseases?

Yes. As one of only a few tertiary care hospitals in the region, the Department of Radiology at UI Hospitals & Clinics offers unique imaging services to a broad range of patients from both within and outside the state of Iowa.

Do you have a research project requirement for graduation?

Yes. A research project is required by ACGME for graduation.

Do you sponsor visas?

Yes, we sponsor both J1 & H1 visas.

If you have additional questions please contact our program coordinator at courtney-bork@uiowa.edu.

Benefits offered by University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics are competitive with other top training programs in the country.  Benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, Hospitalization and Pharmacy Coverage
• Counseling and Crisis Management Services
• Life, Disability, and Malpractice Coverage
• Computer and Software Purchases
• GI Bill
• Paid Time Off and Leave Information
• Reduced UI Tuition
• Retirement Savings

Stipends are also comparable to other top training programs in the country and in keeping with the cost of living in Iowa.

Contracts are issued to house staff each year until training concludes, and promotion at the end of each year is granted based on demonstrated clinical competence and professional growth.  House staff members who do not meet standards for promotion to the next level of training may require remedial action, as deemed appropriate by the Program Director.

1st Year

The first six months of the residency program will focus on the technical execution and interpretation of routine clinical procedures. Special procedures, quantitative measurement techniques, and participation in research are emphasized throughout the remainder of the training period. The learning process is stimulated and monitored through a series of resident presentations on both clinical and research subjects. With increasing experience, each resident assumes progressively greater responsibility for the direction of the Nuclear Medicine Clinic under the guidance of staff physicians. Similarly, residents are assigned progressively increasing responsibility for selecting, presenting, and discussing clinical cases at departmental and interdepartmental conferences.

2nd and 3rd Years

In addition to nuclear medicine instruction, 2nd- and 3rd-year residents will also spend a month each per year in the Chest, Neuroradiology, and Body Imaging Sections, for a total of 3 months per year.  They will also spend 3 months of the year rotating through the Veteran's Administration Medical Center (VAMC).

Electives

Residents in their 2nd and 3rd years will spend one month completing an elective of their choice.  Examples of electives include a rotation in the Department of Radiation Oncology or one of the divisions of Diagnostic Radiology, or a research elective.

Call Responsibilities

Every 3 weeks residents will be responsible for 1 week of at-home call (5 week days and 1 weekend), from 5:00 pm to 8:00 am.