5 Keys to Thriving in IR Residency with Dr. Kim Scherer (Cornell IR/DR Associate Program Director)

In this episode, Dr. Kim Scherer, Assistant Professor of Radiology at Weill Cornell and Associate Program Director, shares her top five pieces of advice for navigating the challenges of an Interventional Radiology residency.

• You Get Out What You Put In: Residency isn't medical school; there are no weekly tests. Success requires self-guided learning, reading every night, and showing up early to see as much as possible.

• Find Balance: It’s a long six years. Decompressing with hobbies and building relationships with co-residents is vital for sustaining your energy.

• Earning Autonomy: Don't expect full autonomy on day one. It is earned by mastering smaller cases first and proving you know your patients inside and out.

• The Power of Kindness: IR is a team sport involving nurses, techs, and staff. Being nice isn't just polite; it's a requirement for high-quality patient care.

• Stay Engaged: Don't drift away during your diagnostic years. Keep your foot in the door by joining research projects, attending social events, and dropping into the angio suite whenever possible.

Tune in for a roadmap to excelling in your training from a program director who’s been there.