The Department of Radiology at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) offers the American Board of Radiology’s newly approved 15-Month Pathway to Subspecialty Certification in Pediatric Radiology, designed for current Diagnostic Radiology residents. This innovative pathway allows eligible residents to meet all requirements for both ABR Diagnostic Radiology Certification and Subspecialty Certification in Pediatric Radiology, without the need for a separate, traditional post-residency fellowship year.

Our program is established in accordance with the American Board of Radiology’s 2025 guidelines for the 15-Month Pediatric Radiology Pathway and offers broad experience in pediatric radiology.

Program aims

• To provide rigorous, high-volume training in all major subspecialties of pediatric radiology
• To prepare residents for board certification in pediatric radiology
• To foster technical, clinical, and communication skills essential for high-level pediatric imaging practice
• To cultivate future leaders in pediatric radiology through research, education, and innovation

Eligibility requirements

To qualify for the 15-Month Pathway, applicants must:

• Have passed all three steps of the USMLE
• Be enrolled in an ACGME-accredited Diagnostic Radiology residency program and in good standing
• Have completed a three-month rotation of dedicated pediatric radiology training during their second or early third year of residency. While we welcome trainees from all institutions, preference will be given to those who have completed a prior three-month rotation at Boston Children’s.
• Be eligible for a Massachusetts Limited License
• Begin full participation in clinical rotations and call responsibilities at Boston Children’s starting July of their R4 (PGY-5) year

Training structure

• Residents will complete 15 months of pediatric-focused training, including at least 12 consecutive months at Boston Children’s during their PGY-5 year
• In exceptional cases, up to three months may be dedicated to subspecialty rotations relevant to pediatric care (e.g., congenital cardiac MRI), if pre-approved during the selection process.
• Please note: Research months do not count toward the 15-month requirement per ABR policy.

Our team

• Vice Chair of Education: Dr. Jeanne Chow
• Senior Program Coordinator: Ms. Grace Umerani
• Program Directors: Dr. Atsuhiko Handa and Dr. Michael George
• Associate Program Director: Dr. Neha Kwatra
• Program Coordinator: Ms. Jane Choura
• Associate Program Coordinator: Mr. Joseph Coughlin

How to apply?

Interested residents must:

• Notify their Diagnostic Radiology Program Director and Pediatric Radiology leadership at Boston Children’s in R1 or R2 years, and no later than 18 months prior to graduation

Required documents

• Current CV
• Personal statement
• Letter of interest from home institution’s program director
• Three letters of recommendation
• Copy of ECFMG certificate (if applicable)
• Visa or permanent residency documentation (if applicable)
• Photo (for identification purposes only)

Application timeline, interviews, and selection process

• We will be accepting applications each year from March to June for residents starting their R3 year in July of the same year.
• The application materials of candidates meeting eligibility requirements will be reviewed by the Pediatric Radiology Selection Committee during this time.
• Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in interviews (currently virtual) with the program directors and selection committee in the summer of their R3 year (July to September).
• Final decision about acceptance into this program will be made on or before Sept. 30 of that year.
• Resident selected for the pathway will submit the application and Sponsoring Department Agreement for ABR review at the time of the acceptance into the program and comply with all the ABR requirements of this pathway. Please see the details on the ABR website.
• The candidates approved by the ABR will complete the pathway in their R4 year, starting July, alongside the fellowship class for the year for a seamless and integrated training experience.

Clinical rotations and education

Trainees will participate in the same robust curriculum as first-year pediatric radiology fellows at BCH, beginning in early July of their PGY-5 year. Rotations include:

• Body CT/MRI
• Musculoskeletal imaging
• Pediatric neuroradiology
• Fetal/neonatal imaging
• Nuclear medicine/molecular imaging
• Pediatric ultrasound
• Pediatric fluoroscopy
• Interventional radiology
• Pediatric emergency imaging

In addition to clinical rotations, residents will take part in:

• Twice-daily didactic including physics lectures, quality improvement, and interdisciplinary conference
• Grand rounds and visiting professor presentations
• Special courses such as The Program to Enhance Relational and Communication Skills (PERCS) and Bias in Child Abuse Course conducted on a year-to-year basis

Academic time and research

Trainees in the 15-Month Pathway will have:

• One half-day per week of protected academic time
• Opportunities for clinical research, quality improvement, and teaching initiatives
• Faculty mentorship and interdepartmental collaboration
• An expectation to complete at least one academic project by the end of the pathway

Non-discrimination statement

Boston Children’s Hospital is committed to a policy of non-discrimination. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, or marital status.

---

All materials and inquiries should be directed to:

Jane Choura, Fellowship Coordinator and Education Manager
Phone: 617-355-6290
Email: jane.choura@childrens.harvard.edu