Radiology Residency: Resident Life
One of the great strengths of our residency program is the close-knit and supportive atmosphere. Our residents enjoy spending time together outside of the hospital, often hosting dinner parties or meeting up for drinks after work. There is a wide variety of restaurants and bars within walking distance of the hospital’s main campus. The friendships formed during training last beyond residency, as our alumnae who reconnect every year at RSNA can attest.
This vibrant resident social life is augmented by activities organized by the Radiology Wellness Committee, which focuses on promoting trainee well-being. Residents get to take part in Wellness Committee events such apple picking, candlepin bowling and hiking, as well as a workplace visit from the Mass General volunteer dogs. Mass General Brigham (MGB) also ensures the residents feel supported during residency by offering resources such as financial counseling, lactation support and access to mental health resources.
Update: MGB residents recently entered into a unionization agreement. The benefits provided to MGB residents, including to the MGH radiology residents, are currently under review as part of the forthcoming MGB resident union contract. The benefits that have been provided to MGH radiology residents, including those described below, will be updated accordingly once a contract is finalized.
Resident Benefits
Educational Resources
Residents receive annual subscriptions to RadPrimer, StatDx, Medality and E-anatomy. Residents are also reimbursed in full for their annual registration fees to the American Board of Radiology.
Computer Resources
The entire Mass General Brigham uses an Epic-based electronic medical record system, facilitating access to clinical information across a variety of institutions.
An internal, resident-maintained website known as Reshub is an invaluable resource for sharing information within the department.
There are extensive IT resources in the Department of Radiology, some of which have been developed by residents. Residents also have access to Render, a web-based tool that searchers prior radiology reports. This tool is often used for retrospective research projects as well as allowing residents to compile a list of all studies they have read.
Scientific Conferences
Residents who have an abstract accepted for presentation at a nationally recognized radiology conference are given a generous stipend to defray the costs of lodging, transportation and food to attend, with the approval of the program director. Additionally, all residents are funded to attend one major conference, which is typically RSNA week during the third year.
American Institute for Radiologic Pathology (AIRP)
Residents spend four weeks away from their clinical rotations to attend the AIRP course either virtually or in person in Washington, D.C. The department covers the costs of registration and tuition. The department also provides a generous stipend that can be applied to living expenses, travel, and housing if attending in person.
Association Memberships
The department sponsors memberships for all residents in the New England Roentgen Ray Society (NERRS), a local radiologic educational society that coordinates monthly afternoon seminars in Boston, MA and provides clinical coverage for them to attend. Residents have found this exposure to various current topics in radiology worthwhile and are encouraged to attend when possible. Residents are also enrolled in other associations that offer free memberships to trainees, including the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS), the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Massachusetts Radiological Society (MRS).
Resident Lounge and Lockers
The department has a newly renovated resident lounge with several key amenities including a new coffee maker, multiple computers including a PACS station, a refrigerator, a microwave and mail cubbies. Residents also have access to their own personal lockers located centrally within the radiology department.
Salary and Benefits
As employees of the Mass General Brigham, residents receive a comprehensive and competitive benefits package offering selections for every family situation.
Residents are paid a competitive salary according to a standardized scale that is applied to all residents working within Mass General Brigham. The annual salary for a PGY-2 resident starting radiology residency in July 2023 was $82,500. Each trainee receives an additional annual stipend of $10,000 to offset the cost of living and educational expenses. The institution also offers a separate cost of living stipend for qualifying economically disadvantaged residents.
Well-Being Resources
Trainee wellness is a top priority for Mass General Brigham. Mass General Brigham offers an array of resources and programs aimed at improving trainee wellness.
Fitness Facility
A fitness and wellness facility close to Mass General is available to employees at a discounted rate.
Boston Area
Boston's reputation as a center for medicine, scientific research and education is world-renowned. The city itself, with its unique blend of cosmopolitan beauty and quaint, historical charm, offers an exciting diversity of cultural attractions. For the outdoor enthusiasts, Boston is conveniently accessible to both the mountains and the seashore, and most residents enjoy the area during their training years. The New England fall foliage is an annual worldwide attraction and residents frequently take advantage of the locale to ski, hike and sail. Several residents have taken sailing lessons at Community Boating, Inc., located right across the street from the hospital.
In addition, Boston boasts the advantages of a world-famous city. Boston's restaurants are among the most celebrated in the world, with a diverse selection of restaurants featuring both well-established and rising young chefs and a variety of cuisines. We are home to the New England Patriots as well as the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins. The Museum of Fine Arts heads a list of notable museums and the Boston Symphony and Boston Ballet are among the most famous offerings in the performing arts.
Massachusetts General Hospital is located on the edge of Beacon Hill, one of Boston's most famous and historic neighborhoods, which is home to the Massachusetts State House and the historic Charles Street shopping area. The hospital is located just steps away from Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, the Boston Common and Public Gardens, the Back Bay with the Newbury Street area, and the North End, Boston's traditionally Italian neighborhood. Mass General is also located just steps across the Charles River from Cambridge, MA, home to the main Harvard University and MIT campuses as well as a host of biotechnology firms.
Since Mass General is accessible by car, public transportation (the MBTA) and the commuter rail, there are numerous housing options appropriate for residents with different personal and family needs. Many residents choose to live close to the hospital, either in Beacon Hill, North End, or Back Bay neighborhoods, or the nearby Charles River Park apartment and condominium complex. An equal number of residents live outside of the city in the suburbs and commute to work, typically using public transportation. After you have matched in the program, we can help you locate resources to aid in your housing search.
Mass General radiology residents having fun inside and outside the hospital.
