Ep. 593 Evaluating IR Programs: A Residency Applicant's Guide with Dr. Neil Jain

What should you know before applying to an interventional radiology residency program? Get 70 minutes of free advice in this week's episode of BackTable featuring Georgetown IR fellow Dr. Neil Jain and host Dr. Chris Beck, covering everything from building your IR resume to crushing your interviews.

SYNPOSIS

The conversation starts by covering the essential steps that medical students can take to build their resume prior to the application cycle, including involvement in the medical student sections of SIR, CIRSE, and local symposiums. Dr. Jain highlights the importance of mentorship and research, strategies for obtaining strong letters of recommendation, and effectively navigating both home and away rotations. The discussion also extends to interview preparation, program selection, signaling updates, and the rank list construction. The episode also touches on the SOAP process for unmatched applicants and the avenues to secure a match. Importantly, Dr. Jain emphasizes the significance of fit over prestige and finding a program that aligns with your values and professional goals.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Introduction
03:07 - Building Your Resume for IR
10:43 - Away Rotations and Letters of Recommendation
23:54 - Personal Statements: Importance and Tips
30:07 - Application Strategies: IR and DR Programs
41:48 - Utilizing Signaling in the Application Process
44:19 - Evaluating Programs During Interviews
49:58 - Letters of Interest and Intent
54:33 - The Interview Day Experience
01:04:47 - Building Your Rank List
01:08:56 - The SOAP Process
01:12:50 - Final Advice and Closing Remarks

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RESOURCES

2025 NRMP Match Data

https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Advance_Data_Tables_2025.pdf
Society of Interventional Radiology Trainee Website
https://www.sirweb.org/in-training/

VI 372 - IR Pathways Unveiled: Matching, Training & Beyond https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/372/ir-pathways-unveiled-matching-training-beyond

VI 554: Optimizing the IR/DR Curriculum & Experience
https://www.backtable.com/shows/vi/podcasts/554/optimizing-the-ir-dr-curriculum-experience