Residents must apply for a license to practice in Iowa from the Iowa Board of Medicine at least three months (but no more than six months) prior to the start date of training.  Residents are prohibited from practicing in the State of Iowa without proper licensure.  For more information, please visit the GME's Medical Licensure website.

 

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.

 

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.

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

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.

Procedures performed in FY2018

Total	331,040
Breast Imaging	14,030
CT	51,408
MRI	31,875
Nuclear Medicine	6,380
PET	4,958
US	24,322
X-ray	187,186

What is the call like?

Fellows take General Call (reviewing plain films pre-dictated by on call resident) usually 1 weekday per month plus 1 weekend or holiday every 2-3 months. They will take MSK specialty call every 4 months, which includes emergency MSK procedures such as joint aspiration (usually 2-4 times per month) and reading emergency CT/MRI (5-10 cases, Friday night, weekend) the next morning on the weekend. MSK fellows are under direct supervision by the faculty member for the first 6 months and covered by the backup faculty member thereafter.  

Is there an opportunity to do research?

Yes, there are lots of opportunities to do research.

Do you sponsor visas?

Yes, we sponsor both J1 and H1 visas.

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

Applicants are required to have completed the USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3. Additionally, the applicant must have completed an ACGME accredited radiolgy residency in the United States and be eligible to obtain a permanent State of Iowa Medical License.  To find out if you qualify for a State of Iowa Medical License, please visit the Iowa Board of Medicine's website.

Howard J. O'Rourke, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor
Director, Musculoskeletal Radiology Fellowship Program

Musculoskeletal Division Faculty