Medical Students

The Department of Radiology provides many opportunities for medical students to learn about our field and conduct research.

Several lectures in the first year Structure and Function course introduce medical students to the basic principles of radiology and the different imaging modalities. Cross-sectional imaging studies can be very helpful in learning basic anatomy. Images are included in some problem-based learning cases during the first and second years, introducing students to how imaging modalities are used in certain clinical situations.

At the beginning of the third year, an Introduction to Chest Radiology lecture and an Imaging Lab are included in the Introduction to Clinical Clerkship week. Medical students are exposed to a wide range of imaging studies while taking care of patients during their third and fourth years.

Radiology UIM Research Summer Fellowship Program

The Northwestern Radiology 6-10-week summer fellowship program gives students underrepresented in medicine (UIM) the opportunity to gain insight into the specialty of Radiology while developing research skills required to perform medical imaging research. Recipients will work closely with mentors in the department of radiology to define study objectives, test hypotheses, and analyze data. They will also have the opportunity to learn about the Radiology residency program. Ultimately, this experience gives UIM medical students a chance to consider academic radiology as a future career option.

The department offers the opportunity to work withmentors to formulate a question, develop the research skills to answer it, and produce a scholarly product. Candidates will work with their mentor to jointly develop a research proposal suitable for summer research. The finalized proposal should identify the Radiology mentor, include a cover letter, a recent CV of the candidate, and a 1-page description of the research project (title, background, aims, hypothesis, study design, timing and duration of the project).

Award Amount: Grant recipients receive up to $5,000 ($ 500 per week for up to 10 weeks). It is to be
used as a stipend for the medical student. Funds are intended to secure time for the recipient and may not be used for non-personnel research expenses.

Eligibility: Applications should be UIMs who are undergraduates or full-time students in medicine, biomedical engineering; electrical engineering, computer science or a rated field. Candidates must commit to work full-time for 6-10 weeks on the proposed research project. The research project must be performed with a mentor in the Department of Radiology at Northwestern University.

Candidates interested in a research project and mentor in radiology should email radiology@northwestern.edu. Visit our UIM Research Summer Fellowship webpage. 

Radiology Clerkship & Electives

Our department offers a four-week general radiology clerkship to fourth-year medical students. In addition, we also offer specialty electives in Body Imaging, Breast Imaging, Neuroradiology and Interventional Radiology. In order to take one of the specialty electives, a four-week general radiology clerkship must first be completed either at the student’s own school or as an elective elsewhere.

Students who meet Feinberg’s general application criteria for the visiting student elective program may be considered for rotations, depending upon availability. We will not offer slots to visiting students until after Feinberg students complete their schedules (the first of May for the upcoming academic year).

Application Instructions

See Class Information on the MD Program’s to view the complete elective catalog under the M4 student information, obtain information about eligibility, and download an application.

Contact Us

For more information about radiology electives, email Samantha Gonzalez.

Research and Area of Scholarly Concentration (AOSC)

All medical students at NUFSM are required to complete an independent Area of Scholarly Concentration (AOSC) project, which provides a practical, mentored research opportunity and often results in peer-reviewed publications. The Department of Radiology has developed a centralized intake process for AOSC students interested in mentored imaging research.

The department offers the opportunity to work with mentors to formulate a question, develop the research skills to answer it, and produce a scholarly product.

Medical students interested in a research project and mentors in Radiology should email radiology@northwestern.edu with the following information:

1. What are your specific research interests in Radiology?
2. What are the dates you are available to conduct research?
3. Do you have a specific research mentor in mind you'd like to work with? We will assign one to you if you do not.
4. An updated CV. 

More information about the AOSC by the Feinberg School of Medicine can be found on their website.

Radiology Society

The Radiology Society at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is an organization for medical students interested in exploring a possible career in radiology. The group is student-run and organizes lunchtime guest speakers on topics in radiology and a shadowing program that pairs first and second-year medical students with radiologists. 

MD Teaching Opportunities

Passionate teachers are critical to the success of Feinberg medical students. The Augusta Webster Office of Medical Education is looking for Feinberg faculty to inspire future leaders by teaching in our MD Program. We offer teaching formats and schedules that can accommodate your needs.