Medical Students Electives

Overview

At the Cleveland Clinic, we value medical students as future colleagues and are committed to providing a welcoming, engaging and meaningful introduction to radiology. Our goal is to foster a strong foundation in the principles and broad applications of medical imaging while helping students appreciate the essential role radiology plays in the care of nearly every patient. From diagnosis to treatment planning and image-guided intervention, radiology is deeply integrated into modern medicine and touches virtually every specialty across the hospital.

Through our Diagnostic Radiology and Interventional Radiology electives, students work alongside dedicated faculty, residents and fellows in a collaborative academic environment. These experiences are designed not only to build knowledge and clinical confidence, but also to inspire curiosity, mentorship and a deeper understanding of how radiologists contribute to patient care every day. Whether you are exploring radiology for the first time or considering it a future career, we are excited to welcome you and support your learning.

Diagnostic Radiology (DR) Elective

The Diagnostic Radiology elective introduces students to the breadth of modern imaging, and the central role radiologists play in patient care. Students gain exposure to multiple imaging modalities and subspecialty areas while learning how radiologists interpret studies, communicate findings, and collaborate with referring teams.

Objectives

• Understand the role of Diagnostic Radiology in patient diagnosis and management
• Develop a basic approach to interpreting common imaging studies
• Understand the principles of appropriate imaging utilization in different clinical settings
• Gain exposure to different imaging modalities, including radiography, CT, MRI, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, mammography, as well as various nuclear medicine modalities
• Learn how radiologists communicate findings and recommendations to clinical teams
• Explore radiology as a specialty and understand training pathways and career options

Important facts

• Open to medical students interested in imaging, clinical decision-making and multidisciplinary care
• Exposure will include subspecialities in neuroradiology, body imaging, musculoskeletal imaging, chest imaging, pediatric radiology, breast imaging and nuclear medicine
• Students may participate in readouts, case conferences, multidisciplinary conferences and teaching sessions
• Opportunities to interact with residents and faculty in both academic and clinical settings
• Ideal for students considering radiology or seeking a stronger foundation in imaging for any specialty

A typical day

You will spend your day in the radiology department observing and discussing active cases with residents and subspecialty radiology faculty. Students participate in teaching sessions that may include lectures or reviews of interesting cases led by residents, fellows, or attending radiologists. There is also dedicated time to independently review cases on PACS, formulate your own impressions and practice radiology reporting.

Throughout the rotation, students will also observe imaging studies and procedures in progress, gaining a broader understanding of radiology workflow and patient care. Time is provided for individual study and assigned learning activities to reinforce key concepts and enhance educational experience.

What recent student rotators have shared

• “This rotation gave me a much better understanding of how radiologists contribute to patient care every day. The residents and faculty were incredibly welcoming, and I learned something new every day.”
• “I really appreciated the chance to review cases on my own and then talk through them with residents and attendings. It was a great learning environment and gave me a much stronger foundation in imaging.”

Interventional Radiology (IR) Elective

The Interventional Radiology elective provides students with exposure to a procedure-based specialty that combines imaging expertise, clinical care and minimally invasive treatment. Students observe how interventional radiologists evaluate patients, perform image-guided procedures and manage care before and after intervention.

Objectives

• Understand the role of Interventional Radiology in minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment
• Observe image-guided procedures and learn the indications behind them
• Gain insight into patient evaluation, peri-procedural planning and post-procedural care
• Appreciate the clinical and longitudinal aspects of IR practice
• Explore training pathways and career opportunities in Interventional Radiology

Important facts

• Students may observe a variety of procedures such as biopsies, drain placements, vascular access procedures, angiography, embolization and other image-guided interventions
• Exposure includes inpatient and outpatient clinical care, procedural workflow and multidisciplinary collaboration
• Students may participate in consulting rounds, clinic, case discussions and conferences
• The rotation highlights both the technical and clinical aspects of IR
• Particularly valuable for students interested in procedural specialties, surgery, vascular care, oncology, or critical care

A typical day

You will spend your day with the Interventional Radiology team observing and discussing active cases with residents, fellows and attending physicians. Students are exposed to the clinical and procedural aspects of IR, including patient evaluation, case planning, image-guided procedures and post-procedural care. This allows students to see how interventional radiologists combine imaging expertise with hands-on, minimally invasive treatment.

Throughout the day, students may observe procedures in progress, participate in case discussions and attend teaching sessions focused on indications, techniques and clinical decision-making. Time may also be spent in consultations, clinic, or rounds, depending on the service and workflow. Students are encouraged to ask questions, engage with the team and use independent study time to reinforce learning and deepen their understanding of the specialty.

What recent student rotators have shared

• “This rotation gave me a whole new perspective on Interventional Radiology. I really enjoyed seeing how procedures, imaging and patient care all come together in such a hands-on specialty.”
• “The team was very approachable and made me feel included throughout the rotation. It was exciting to observe procedures while also learning more about the clinical decision-making behind them.”

Learn More and Apply

Interested in rotating with us or learning more about our medical student opportunities?

Contact information

Geri Durka, Program Manager I
Diagnostic Institute - Imaging
Cleveland Clinic
durkag@ccf.org
216.554.9410