STR Resident Curriculum Web Resource

We are writing to both update you and to solicit your help on a project that we have been working on with Jud Gurney for the last several months, through the Electronic Media and Education Committees of the Society of Thoracic Radiology (STR). As you may recall, the Education Committee of the STR published a document entitled “A Curriculum in Chest Radiology for Diagnostic Radiology Residency, with Goals and Objectives” in the September 2003 issue of Academic Radiology, also available on the STR website. This thorough document categorically lists the anatomic, physiologic and pathologic entities that all residents should have mastery over by the completion of a diagnostic radiology residency, in a multistage format to match successive rotations in thoracic radiology. This is a great opportunity for uniform resident learning based on these objectives. However, not everyone may have access to either good answers or examples of all of the case material necessary to teach on these subjects. Today, residents enjoy using the internet for ready access to educational material, with a preference to "quick hits" with short discussions. However, much of what is available on the internet is not peer reviewed, and the validity of the content is therefore not approved or sanctioned for accuracy.

For this reason, we are developing a web-based resource to accompany the STR resident curriculum. Our project is to provide a web-based resource of cases with explanation to match the STR resident curriculum. The curriculum will be followed closely, with well-illustrated cases and concise, focused text (it is not intended to be a review of the literature!).

We would like to ask all members of the STR members to submit at least one case that can be in the anatomic, physiologic or pathologic categories. You can do this alone, or perhaps work closely with radiology resident or fellow. Naturally, we would like it if you would be so enthused if everyone submitted more than one case! A specific format should be followed for each case, as illustrated by two examples that Mike and I have submitted and detailed on the instructions for authors document.

Mike Holbert and I serve as the editors. All submissions will be reviewed, and where pertinent, recommendations for improvement made. In an effort for consistency of content and quality, the submission of a case does not guarantee that it will be accepted and posted. However, since the material will be peer-reviewed, it can be listed on your curriculum vitae as peer-reviewed electronic education material. This may be particularly helpful for individuals seeking promotion on a clinical-educator track. In addition, the authors of accepted cases will receive a stipend of $50 for each accepted case.

Jud Gurney is our website designer and has done a fabulous job trying to make this the best teaching site out there for residents. He has designed it so that if you have an entity that presents with multiple findings, and have two or more cases that illustrate the findings, you can state a key word in your discussion we will hyperlink to the other examples.

Thank you in advance for your willingness and eager participation. I look forward to being inundated with submissions!!!