How to establish an interventional radiology interest group (IRIG) at your school:

Do a faculty search and get in touch with interventional radiologists at your home program. Let them know what you are interested in doing. Few opportunities exist for formal exposure to IR during medical school. Thanks to the Indian Society of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (ISVIR), medical students now have an opportunity to explore the field of IR. Even if the faculty does not have time to give talks, they can put you in touch with residents and fellows who are willing and capable to give talks to interested medical students. Feedback from existing interest groups has been very positive regarding attempts to find motivated faculty mentors. Inquire within your institution’s radiology department about the feasibility of setting up an IRIG.

What permissions are required from your home institution?

Ideally, the head of the IR/ Radiology department along with the Dean/ College Administration should give explicit permission for the establishment of such a group, and for its members to attend the IR OT. Templates for permission letters to college administration and radiology department can be found here.

We would suggest that OT timings are such that they do not conflict with the routine medical curriculum of your college. This fact should be highlighted when asking for permission.

Is any funding needed to establish an interest group?

For the most part, there is no funding needed.

What types of educational opportunities should be offered?

• 1. Shadowing opportunities – It is strongly recommended to facilitate shadowing opportunities with interventional radiologists. While talks are educational, seeing what interventional radiologists do for a living is usually a more interesting and satisfying way for students to explore their interests in the field. This comprises of visits to the OT and OPD in the IR department – whenever feasible. The frequency of OT visits should be discussed with the IR department and optimal balance should be sought.
  
  For example: In KEM Hospital, Mumbai, there are 3 visits per week, starting from 4PM onwards.
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• 2. Research opportunities – Research is a great way to get students involved in interventional radiology. IR is a growing, research-heavy field, and this can also serve to cultivate student’s interest in research. IRIG leaders are encouraged to e-mail interventional radiology faculty to see if they perform any active research and if they are interested in working with medical students. If there is mutual interest, ask them to provide some information about their work, and distribute this information to the IRIG members.
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• 3. Activities and Skills Lab - Studies have repeatedly shown that people learn best through active learning and being engaged with the subject material. Having hands-on activities and skills lab is an excellent way to immerse students into the fascinating and exciting world of IR. Here are some ideas to help you get started:
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•     a. Hands-On with the IR Tool Box – Have a box filled with different catheters, wires, balloons, stents, etc. for the students to hold and sort through. This will help them learn the terminology of the many different tools at the interventional radiologist’s disposal. In addition, encourage them to thread wires through the catheter and inflate balloons to familiarize them with the tactile feel of IR.
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•     b. Seldinger Technique Skills Lab – To stimulate performing the Seldinger technique, place a piece of chicken breast on top of a stiff straw. Then, use the ultrasound probe and a hollow bore needle to try to gain access into the “artery.”
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• 4. Regular lectures – Existing IRIGs have had great success with afterschool talks. In the following page of this roadmap, information will be provided on how to access lectures designed by the Society of Interventional Radiology’s Medical Student Council.

Lectures

• 1. Intro to IR
• 2. Peripheral arterial disease
• 3. Interventional oncology
• 4. Carotid disease
• 5. Thoracic aortic aneurysm
• 6. Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• 7. Chronic liver disease
• 8. Miscellaneous IR and trauma
• 9. Leg ulcers
• 10. Deep vein thrombosis
• 11. IR frontiers
• 12. GI bleeding
• 13. Varicose veins

These slide decks are available to download HERE.

How do I advertise to recruit individuals to an IRIG?

Now that you have permission for the establishment of an IRIG, how do you get students to show up?

• 1. WhatsApp groups – Circulate messages on whatsapp and form a dedicated group for this purpose.
• 2. E-mail lists – Let classmates know at least a day in advance of any upcoming meetings/OT visits.
• 3. In person announcements – Announce meetings the day of, during class, or before a school lecture.
• 4. Social media – FB groups, twitter accounts – Sometimes, it is easier to include people in a radiology interest group on Facebook or Twitter. This facilitates participation and communication between students from all years of training.
• 5. Fairs – Many medical schools have interest group or career fairs for junior medical students. Setting up an IR interest group booth is a great way to recruit students.

How should I structure the leadership of my IRIG?

Below are two examples of IRIG Executive Board layouts that might give you ideas for how to structure your IRIG’s leadership and potential roles for officers.

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Example 1:

At Seth GS Medical College and KEM hospital, the IRIG is run by final year MBBS students and interns. Here is an outline of their IRIG board position responsibilities:

• 1. President: Final Year MBBS student or Intern. Oversee and support all board members, organize and lead board meetings, communicate with the Student admin committee about any new club events.
• 2. Mentorship Chair: Consultant who is the Head of Department or Head of Unit.
• 3. Vice- President: Assists and shares the responsibilities of the president. Usually a Third Year MBBS students or Final Year MBBS student.
• 4. Media Chair: Manage communication with the student body and maintain a central hub of information for students at all levels of interest in IR, showcase IRIG events through pictures and event highlights, reach out to students, alumni, residents, and IR physicians to write Q&A blogs.
• 5. Advisors (older students/previous board members): Act as advisors and mentors for younger students, assist mentorship and internal events chairs in inviting IR residents and attendings/consultants to lead IRIG events.

Responsibilities for all board members: If you hear that someone in any class is interested in IR, help them explore the field through IRIG events, our website, shadowing, research, external symposiums/meetings, and mentorship. If they show dedicated interest and get them involved in helping to plan events if they desire.

Day to Day Functioning of the IRIG – Seth GSMC and KEMH

Very few barriers exist to the entry of interested students to the IRIG. A membership simply entails joining the IRIG WhatsApp group. Links to the google forms to sign up for any upcoming events/ OT slots are posted on the WhatsApp group every Sunday. Slots are allocated on a first come – first served basis.

Low barrier to entry is essential in order to encourage greater participation and the eventual success of an IRIG.

What resources are available if my school does not have affiliated IR faculty or residents?

Tips for schools without IR faculty or residents

• • Look up nearby medical schools with an IR Interest Group and ask for their support or contacts
• o Get in touch with them directly or via an ISVIR/IRIG National Chairs (Ritu Shah and Ansh Bhatia).
• • If your school has radiology faculty, ask if they know any local IRs.
• • Look up IR physicians at your local hospital and request to meet with them.
• • Take part in regional IR medical student symposiums and IR conferences such as ISVIR events.
• • Connect with students and physicians on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).
• • Attend ISVIR annual meeting
• o This is one of the best ways to meet others within the field and find opportunities to get involved

Need help setting up your IRIG or networking with other IRIGs in your region?

Sometimes students setting up an IRIG can run into challenges not mentioned in this roadmap. Other times, it just helps to know what other resources are available in your region, or if there are nearby IRIGs that are worth collaborating with for holding regional symposiums or conventions.

You can check our IRIG database on the ISVIR website to see who are your local contacts nearby (you can find a list of existing IRIGs here).

You can directly email ISVIR’s IRIG Chairs (Ansh Bhatia and Ritu Shah) if you have any questions or need advice. Our goal is to make integration of IR education into your school as easy as possible. Let us know how we can help!

 

Want to get involved with interventional radiology on a national level?

Annual ISVIR Conference – attend the national conference that offer talks and workshops geared towards students interested in interventional radiology. Admission is free if you are a member of ISVIR.

• • Also, look around for regional or international conferences that you and your classmates could potentially attend to get excited about IR before and after the Annual Meeting!
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• Indian Society of Vascular Interventional Radiology (ISVIR) Medical Student
• Council (MSC) has a number of social media channels:
• Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkdIn