Doctor and resident looking at a radiographic image on a computer

Radiology Resident National Leadership Development

Our mission is to create national leaders in radiology.

The U-M Medical School Department of Radiology Leadership Training Tracks are designed to develop national leaders in radiology through specialized pathways in Research (NIH T32), Health System Administration, Education, and Information Technology. 

Across all tracks, residents engage in a common leadership curriculum in partnership with the Michigan Ross School of Business and build leadership competencies through mentorship, visiting professor interactions, and project-based symposia.

Training Future Leaders

Here at the U-M Medical School Department of Radiology Residency Program, we develop radiologists who will have an impact on our field. Our Leadership Training Tracks are designed to develop national leaders in radiology through specialized pathways in Research (NIH T32), Health System Administration, Education, and Information Technology. 

Across all tracks, residents engage in a common leadership curriculum in partnership with the Michigan Ross School of Business and build leadership competencies through mentorship, visiting professor interactions, and project-based symposia. Residents complete a capstone project that demonstrates their ability to plan, lead, and execute impactful initiatives—preparing them to advance the field and drive innovation nationally.

Tracks

Residents choose from specialized leadership tracks during their first year of training. Each track offers tailored mentorship, national program participation, and progressive leadership experiences. Through these focused pathways, residents gain domain-specific expertise and complete capstone projects that advance both their professional growth and the field of radiology.

Research Leadership (NIH T32)

Track leaders: Vikas Gulani, MD, PhD, Nicole Seiberlich, PhD, Peter Scott, PhD

Year 1: 

  • Identify research mentors and begin integration into research groups

Year 2:

  • Continue research projects and apply for NIH T32 (Michigan Translational Imaging Program (M-TIP))

Year 3:

  • Participate in M-TIP didactic activities along with research project

Year 4:

  • Continue M-TIP didactic activities along with research project and complete research capstone in the form of a presentation of publications or grant proposal

 Health System Leadership (RLI-Aligned)

Track leader: Elaine Caoili, MD, MS

Year 1:

  • Establish a mentoring relationship with one national leader outside U-M

Year 2: 

Year 3: 

Year 4: 

  • Get an executive coach, Undergo a formal 360, Complete capstone

 Education Leadership (COMET-Aligned)

Track leader: Aseem Sharma, MD

Year 1: 

  • Enroll in ARR mentorship program

  • Apply for the University of Michigan COMET certificate program

Year 2: 

  • Begin COMET certificate program

  • Prepare one med student lecture

  • Organize pre-1700 call training and invite faculty

Year 3:

  • Submit an RSNA educational exhibit and compete for a RadioGraphics publication

  • Organize pre-1800 call training and invite faculty

Year 4:

  • Run Radiology Olympics curriculum and invite faculty

  • Make one video for the Radiology Vault

  • Complete capstone

 IT Leadership (with Siemens Externship)

Track leader: Jess Fried, MD, CIIP and Ben Mervak, MD, CIIP

Year 1:

  • Read Practical Imaging Informatics textbook part I/II
  • Attend AI Literacy course (AIRE) administered by Society of Advanced Body Imaging (SABI)
  • Complete the SIIM I3 Curriculum
  • Attend quarterly informatics pathway lectures

Year 2:

  • Read Practical Imaging Informatics textbook part III/IV
  • Complete the RSNA Quality Improvement Certificate Program
  • Attend quarterly informatics pathway lectures

Year 3:

  • Read Practical Imaging Informatics textbook part V/VI
  • Identify area of focus (e.g., operations, innovation, research) and mentor
  • Begin to develop Capstone project (QA/QI or research driven)
  • Attend quarterly informatics pathway lectures

Year 4:

  • Participate in IT onboarding for new residents and faculty
  • Attend departmental or institutional informatics operations meetings (once per month)
  • Complete capstone project and presentation
  • Submit capstone project as abstract to SIIM or other informatics conference
  • Participate in organization of quarterly informatics pathway lectures
  • Siemens IT externship (optional)
  • Sit for ABII CIIP exam (optional)

Common Components Across Tracks

All tracks share a core leadership curriculum developed in partnership with the Michigan Ross School of Business, featuring interactive sessions on topics such as teamwork, communication, and change management. Residents participate in these sessions twice during their training, once in the R1 year, and once in the R3 year, at which point they serve as peer mentors. Through longitudinal projects, visiting speakers, and annual symposium presentations for each track, residents build and demonstrate leadership skills that evolve throughout training.

Years One and Three

Trainees will attend eight activity-based learning sessions with Ross (as learners), 90-120 minutes once per month for 8 months during noon conference time. 

Ross Business School Common Leadership Curriculum includes: Intro to Program, Journey, Michigan Model of Leadership, Negotiation, Working in Teams, Crucial Conversations, Managing Emotions for Ourselves and Others, Giving and Receiving Feedback, Change Management, Ross Capstone and Closing.

All Years

All years have monthly capstone project-based discussions and grand rounds visiting professor meetings for leadership group as well as periodic leadership-oriented visiting speakers and end of year symposium presentations and defense with Q&A.

The end-of-year symposium is a 10-min presentation that focuses on the following topics: a book review on leadership (Year 1), scientific review of a focused leadership principle (Year 2), interview results from two national leaders (Year 3), and the final capstone presentation (Year 4).

Capstone

Each leadership track culminates in a capstone project designed to translate learning into impact. Residents design and lead a formal initiative—developing proposals, managing teams, and delivering measurable outcomes that demonstrate their ability to lead and innovate on a national scale.

The purpose is to develop national leadership skills and accelerate national impact.

Proposal & Planning

Trainees will plan and develop a formal proposal. The project should demonstrate the ability to organize, budget time and resources, and direct a team. Leadership is required.

Before starting, a formal proposal must be submitted and approved, including: project description and objectives, intended deliverables, leadership and organizational structure, risks and mitigation strategies, economic considerations, if any, timeline and schedule, illustrations as appropriate.

The project should have a significant impact. The proposal should explain how the project will develop leadership skills and accelerate national impact. The deliverable is developed in collaboration with the program sponsors.