Observerships
The University of Washington Department of Radiology currently offers observer experiences with our department ranging from one day to four weeks. Observers will have the opportunity to experience the normal working environment for our medical faculty at either UW Medical Center-Montlake, or Harborview Medical Center. Though you will not be directly involved with patient care, we hope this experience can help you appreciate the rewards of pursuing this exciting field.
While here, you are welcome to attend any of our regularly scheduled conferences, including all departmental lectures and interdepartmental conferences. You may elect to observe any part of our practice that is most interesting to you.
You are responsible for the application process, securing your own visa, and arranging your housing and travel accommodations. To begin the process, please complete this form to provide us with your preferred dates and subspecialty experience. If you know the faculty member that you would like to work with, please include that information as well.
We will respond with the dates and sites that most closely match your request. We will also request a copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a statement of purpose indicating what you want to achieve during the observation. At that time, you may submit an observer application to the medical director at the appropriate site. We will guide you to the correct form in our response, but you can also access the forms here:
UWMC-Montlake
Harborview Medical Center
Final approval comes from the office of the medical director.
To begin the process, complete this form, and email radobserve@uw.edu with any follow-ups.
General guidelines
We are not able to accommodate observers during these dates:
November 15 to January 1
June 15 to July 15
About our subspecialty experiences
Abdominal Radiology provides the full range of body imaging services, including ultrasound, CT and MR. We also have a separate procedures service which performs image-guided biopsies and interventions. While here, we welcome you to attend any of our regularly scheduled conferences, departmental lectures, or various interdepartmental conferences. You may observe the parts of our practice that are of most interest to you and can review our large database of examinations any time.
Cardiothoracic Imaging provides comprehensive diagnostic imaging of the chest, heart, and great vessels. In addition to standard radiography and CT of the chest, we offer lung cancer screening, high-resolution CT of the lungs, CT of the coronary arteries, and MRI of the heart. We are committed to providing accurate diagnoses, rapid turn-around times, responsive communication, and unwavering compassion. We pride ourselves in offering patient- and family-centered care, prioritizing patient needs above all else. We perform imaging at the University of Washington Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center.
Emergency Radiology interprets radiographs and CTs of the spine, body and musculoskeletal system while also managing and triaging a large volume of seriously injured and ill patients.
Musculoskeletal Imaging offers a broad array of cases and imaging modalities (XR, US, CT, MRI), including sports medicine and tumor cases, exceptional orthopedic trauma experience at Harborview Medical Center, and an active MSK ultrasound service. We also have a well-balanced and active procedure service, performing imaging-guided injections, arthrograms, aspirations, and biopsies.
Neuroradiology offers a mix of cases the includes CT and MR imaging of the brain, spine, head, and neck.
Nuclear Medicine is a medical and imaging specialty within Radiology in which radiopharmaceuticals (molecules tagged with a radioactive marker) are administered to patients either for diagnosis or treatment of diseases. Once administered for diagnosis either by injection, orally or by inhalation we use dedicated cameras which capture radiation emitted from a patient’s body to generate images of the radiopharmaceutical distribution. From these images alterations in biological processes can be identified and diseases diagnosed or monitored during treatment. Numerous FDA-approved commercially available radiopharmaceuticals are used to image a variety of processes, including but not limited to tumor metabolism, bone turnover, cardiac perfusion, brain function, pulmonary perfusion and ventilation, and endocrine functions.
Breast Imaging and Pediatric Imaging are managed separately by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and by Seattle Children’s Hospital, respectively. Please contact them directly for observation experiences in those subspecialties.