DEPARTMENTS: Residents' Notes

Evolution of an ACR State Chapter Resident Section:
The Massachusetts Radiological Society Resident and Fellow Section
By Christoph Wald, M.D., Ph.D.

The Massachusetts Radiological Society (MRS) Resident and Fellow Section (RFS) has become an integral part of the MRS, working closely with the American College of Radiology state chapter leadership to provide resident- oriented educational and social events. Residents benefit from direct interaction with peers from programs across the state, gaining insight into educational and workplace related issues that may lead to improvement in their own respective programs. Participation in the section activities enhances the understanding of the ACR and its role as a professional organization; the section officers have the opportunity to develop leadership skills working with state chapter leaders as well as representing the section during the ACR Annual Meeting. The MRS RFS is an excellent recruiting tool for increasing membership; networking with more senior members of the specialty may form the basis for future working relationships.

The following article describes the evolution of the MRS RFS into a premier ACR state chapter resident section and its current structure.

In 1995 the MRS executive committee discussed methods to increase overall membership and to enhance awareness among younger radiologists of the state chapter and the ACR. A committee was formed and it organized an outreach effort, inviting representative residents to MRS meetings to discuss the foundation of a dedicated state resident section. Initially an ad hoc committee, the RFS was formally inaugurated at the MRS annual meeting in 1999.

Two RFS officers attend the monthly MRS executive committee meetings, where they present updates on section activities, encourage participation of senior state chapter members in resident activities and solicit support for projects. The RFS president has a full vote on the executive committee. The RFS representatives gain invaluable leadership skills through observing the committee and act as a liaison to the other RFS members. Thus, even residents not directly involved in the leadership of the section have an opportunity to become familiar with the many tasks and functions of the MRS and ACR.

Proactive residents who are willing to become and stay involved in the section, giving generously of their free time, are essential to the success of any state RFS. As well, resident sections in a large state such as Massachusetts, with its 10 residency programs and nearly 300 residents and fellows, depend on a powerful communication infrastructure to coordinate events. There is an inherent high turnover of the RFS membership due to the temporary nature of residency and fellowship terms.

The MRS RFS uses a combination of Web site (www.massrad.org/rfs) and e-mail communications to keep members informed. The Web site serves as the main communication hub, providing up-to-date information and archives of minutes and reports. Images from various social events provide a fun opportunity to reminisce. The MRS RFS does not censor minutes published in the public domain of the Web site. E-mails are distributed with invitations to events or to highlight new information on the Web site, including hyperlinks. Thus, business meetings, educational programs, social activities and professional opportunities can be announced quickly and efficiently.

The combination of these two powerful tools directs more traffic to the Web site, enhancing awareness of the membership on other issues. For example, the site contains information and links about Massachusetts residency programs and educational, database and general radiology sites, as well as detailed information on the MRS and the RFS, such as officers, mission statement and a calendar section. A forum is available for “virtual” discussions among the resident community. Of special interest, a joint effort was recently launched by the section with the MRS executive committee, providing contact details for many private practices in the state. Because residents in Massachusetts predominantly train in academic environments, this initiative offers an opportunity for individuals to visit private practices informally without the pressure of an interview situation, in order to experience this professional environment firsthand. Such experience may be helpful in making important career choices.

The RFS hosts two meetings a year, to provide information not available through individual training programs or other traditional educational pathways, such as preparation for board exams and the fellowship application process, transition from residency to work life, computers in radiology, etc. Speakers at these meetings include representatives from academic institutions and private practice, lawyers, accountants and headhunters. In addition, social events are held in the summer and winter, which offer an opportunity to recruit new resident members.

An increasing amount of valuable information is available online and is used by members to support discussion of issues during the meetings. While most activities are funded with support from the operating budget of the MRS, recently senior members of the MRS successfully obtaining additional funds from vendors to subsidize the activities of the section.

Exemplary section bylaws and other useful information are available from the ACR Web site for those who would like to form an ACR state chapter RFS: www.acr.org/frames/f-residents.html.

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