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News & Notes
U-M Radiology Residents On Track to Become Leaders in the Field
By Nikolas Charles
Spring 2026
Graduates of our residencies often become leaders in their practices, health systems, and communities. Beginning in July of 2027, new training pathways will enhance radiology residency education at U-M. All diagnostic radiology (DR) and interventional radiology (IR) residents will choose to enroll in one of four national leadership tracks: Health System Administration, Research, Education, or Information Technology.
The four-year educational tracks were established in partnership with the Michigan Ross School of Business and are designed to create national leaders in healthcare. Pilot versions of the courses are already underway, with resident participation optional for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years.
“Our goal is to transform the curriculum of the residency at Michigan Medicine to create national leaders in health care and radiology,” says Dr. Davenport. “Each one of these pathways includes structured education and training elements, such as the research track, which is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) T32 funded service award designed to create physician scientists.” Research track Directors, Drs. Nicole Seiberlich, Vikas Gulani, and Peter Scott, will guide residents to identify appropriate mentors and apply for NIH and Michigan Translational Imaging programs.
Trainees who choose the Health System Leadership track will have their own set of outcomes. Associate Residency Program Director and Health System Leadership track Director Elaine Caoili, MD, MS, will work with Dr. Davenport to advise residents as they complete the Radiology Leadership Institute (RLI) Essentials Program in the R2 year and the RLI Health Care Economics Milestones Program in the R3 year, both sponsored by the American College of Radiology (ACR). One R2 will also be able to attend the optional Association of Academic Radiology Resident Academic Leadership Development (ARRALD) Program.
No matter which track residents choose, core leadership curriculum elements will be constant, including negotiation, teamwork, crucial conversations, and change management. There will also be a designated U-M program director on-hand to ensure each person’s journey provides them with the proper knowledge and tools. “In addition to teaching students how to be radiologists, we will teach them how to think and act like leaders that create positive changes, not just in their local circle but nationally. A huge component of leadership is people skills,” adds Dr. Davenport. “This includes gaining influence, consensus and knowing how to engage with colleagues to solve problems.”
All four Resident National Leadership Tracks include on-campus training and lectures for the first three years supplemented by national involvement in radiology societies and parallel training experiences. The R4 year will culminate with a capstone project that proposes significant national impact. “We envision expanding the tracks in the future based on the residents’ interests,” says Kara Udager, MD, Diagnostic Radiology Program Director. “Some potential new tracks would include Quality Improvement/Patient Safety and National and Global Outreach.”
During the formal launch of the program in July 2027, all incoming R1’s will select the track that most closely aligns with their future career goals as a radiologist. Associate Residency Program Director and Education Track Leader, Aseem Sharma, MD, says “we want these future radiologists to feel empowered to be leaders in their chosen area. In addition to educating them to be excellent general or subspecialist radiologists, we want to give them the wings to fly as high as their aspirations will take them.”
IR/DR Residency Program Director, Shantanu Warhadpande, MD, agrees that the new tracks are aligned with the department’s goals for IR trainees now and in the future. “It’s the missing piece of the puzzle for building strong leaders in our medical specialty,” he says. And while he won’t be leading any of the new tracks, he will still actively participate in the development of courses that allow residents to reach their full potential. “I see my role as encouraging our residents to immerse themselves in both the clinical and leadership training.”
“For an institution like University Michigan, it’s ideal for us to be able to graduate residents that have skill sets beyond diagnostic radiology,” adds Jessica Fried, MD, Associate Chief Medical Information Officer (ACMIO) of Radiology and Radiology Information Technology Track Leader. “There are many things they can do with their career as a leader in radiology. We have designed the IT track to be substantive, but digestible. They will learn about administrative, operational, research, and innovation aspects of informatics, in addition to principles related to quality improvement and quality assurance.”
The track directors expressed their gratitude for the dedication and support of their whole team that includes Erica Stein, MD, Associate Residency Program Director, Janet Bailey MD, Associate Chair for Education, Amy Spencer, Program Coordinator, Jessica Meyers, Fellowship and Medical Student Coordinator, and Sarah Goldie, Assistant Program Coordinator. “The whole team contributes to the success of the program,” says Dr. Davenport. “There is a tremendous need for national leadership. Michigan Radiology will take a more authoritative role in creating long-lasting favorable outcomes. One of our mantras at U-M is to be the number one residency program in the country. We feel strongly that this formal leadership curriculum will complement our medical training and help us achieve that goal.”