Resident life

Penn Radiology is a tight-knit community where residents support one another both in and out of the reading room, forming bonds that last a lifetime. We feel very supported by our administration and community, which, in turn, enhances our educational and professional experience. You will find us working hard to crush the list at work as a team, then thoroughly enjoying everything Philadelphia has to offer afterward!

Penn Radiology Residency at the Pendergrass Dinner

Community and culture

Every incoming R1 is paired with an R2 Big Sib to serve as a mentor and resource during the transition into radiology. Residents are also assigned to one of three houses — Roentgen, Borns, and Hounsfield — which foster connections and friendly competition across all years.
Additional community-building initiatives include:

Quarterly house dinners funded by the program
Resident Social & Wellness Committee
Monthly Radiology wellness lunches
Access to the penn medicine wellness lounge and gym
Monthly newsletter highlighting departmental events and opportunities.

Department traditions

The Department of Radiology sponsors a wide variety of activities to celebrate the work of residents, attendings, and staff. These gatherings are always well attended and help foster a sense of community.

Annual summer barbecue

At the start of each academic year, residents gather at the program director’s annual barbecue to welcome the incoming R1s, compete in friendly sporting events, swim, and celebrate the new year together.

Holiday party

Each year, radiology faculty, residents, and staff come together for a department-wide holiday celebration.

Pendergrass dinner

One of the highlights of the residency calendar — an evening of food, dancing, and toasts honoring graduating residents and fellows while celebrating achievements across the department

Social events

Residents take full advantage of Philadelphia’s offerings year-round. Regular events include happy hours in Center City, field days in the city’s parks, Escape Rooms, Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary, karaoke, bowling, painting, and radiology trivia nights.

Resident hanging outside of the hospital

Wellness initiatives

Day-to-day wellness is built into the program. The resident lounge features a take-a-book, leave-a-book library (no medical texts), healthy snacks stocked by the program director, and self-serve coffee. Residents on weekend call have the option to skip the Monday morning conference to allow for rest and recovery.

Conferences and professional meetings

Penn Radiology fully supports resident attendance at national and subspecialty meetings where residents are presenting. In 2024–2025, 43 residents presented abstracts or posters at conferences around the world. Recent meetings attended by Penn Radiology residents and faculty include:

Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Annual Meeting
Association of Academic Radiology (AAR) Annual Meeting
American Society of Functional Neuroradiology (ASFNR) Annual Meeting
Eastern Neuroradiological Society (ENRS) Annual Meeting
International Society for Computed Tomography Symposium (ISCT)
Korean Congress of Radiology (KCR)
Society of Pediatric Radiology (SPR) Annual Meeting
Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE)
Society of Interventional Oncology (SIO) Annual Meeting
Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual Meeting

Penn radiology winning aunt minnie award

Penn Radiology was named Best Radiologist Training Program by Aunt Minnie at RSNA 2025!

Living in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is a dynamic, walkable city with a rich history, thriving food scene, world-class museums, and some of the best professional sports in the country. It offers a major-city experience at a significantly lower cost of living than New York or Boston, with easy access to both cities by train.

All Penn Radiology training sites are within about 1.5 miles of each other in central Philadelphia. Most residents walk, bike, or take public transit to work. Popular neighborhoods include University City (West Philadelphia), Center City, and Rittenhouse Square. Residents who prefer suburban living can reach campus directly via regional rail, which stops at Penn Medicine station at the front of the main campus. The Airport Line from that same station connects directly to Philadelphia International Airport.