Radiology Residency Program

Program Structure

HCA Florida Aventura Hospital’s Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program is a four-year training program culminating in candidates who will be eligible for certification by the American Board of Radiology.

Each year, we accept seven new residents into our incoming PGY-2 cohort for a total complement of 28 residents via the National Resident Matching Program. We currently offer only the Categorical position, where residents will perform their PGY-1 year in our Transitional Year program at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital.

HCA Florida Aventura Hospital along with our integrated institutions, HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, HCA Florida Westside Hospital, HCA Florida Mercy Hospital, and HCA Florida University Hospital, provide an educational environment highlighted by 46 fellowship-trained attendings.

We assign rotations at levels of increasing sophistication and experience. Successful completion of our program will enable the trainee to independently perform and interpret diagnostic imaging studies to the highest standards of safety, quality and accuracy.

Each resident will also gain real-world experience in a private practice setting. Educational facilities include upgraded reading rooms at each of the participating sites equipped with individual PACS workstations and ergonomic sit-stand desks. Residents attend daily educational conferences in-person or via state-of-the-art videoconferencing systems at each hospital. The annual didactic lecture curriculum is designed to prepare residents for clinical practice and passing the American Board of Radiology’s core exam.

The program offers in-person biweekly instruction in radiation physics, radiation protection and radiation biology, starting in the PGY-2 year. During their PGY-4 year, all residents attend the American Institute for Radiologic Pathology course, which complements the radiologic pathology education in our program.
Although our main objective is to train exceptional clinical radiologists, we consider research, teaching, and practice quality improvement to be fundamental components of our training program.

All trainees are required to participate in research activities, and dedicated time and funding are given to facilitate participation. Our residents and faculty have presented their work at state, regional, national, and international levels.

Because one of the goals of the program is to improve patient outcomes, each resident is also required to complete a practice quality improvement project. Several opportunities for teaching and consultation are also available.

Additionally, we stress understanding the socioeconomic context for the practice of radiology and fostering interdisciplinary relationships and collaboration with healthcare leaders.

While most of our residents are physically at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, our residents may also rotate through our participating sites of HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, HCA Florida Mercy, and HCA Florida Westside Hospital, depending on where they live and also if they are participating in a radiology mini fellowship.

Pediatric Imaging Rotation

Radiology residents are exposed to pediatric imaging across all five affiliated HCA Florida hospitals, where they interpret a wide range of common and urgent studies involving infants, children, and adolescents. This clinical exposure allows residents to develop familiarity with agespecific imaging considerations, radiation dose optimization, and the evaluation of pediatric medical and surgical conditions in a general hospital setting.

During their PGY3 year, our radiology residents further strengthen their pediatric imaging foundation through a dedicated four-week rotation at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, the largest children’s hospital in MiamiDade County. This highvolume, tertiary pediatric center provides concentrated exposure to advanced pediatric pathology, including congenital anomalies, pediatric trauma, neurologic conditions, and complex multisystem disease. Under the guidance of fellowshiptrained pediatric radiologists, residents gain handson experience with pediatric radiography, ultrasound, CT, and MRI while learning best practices in childfocused imaging and multidisciplinary communication. This combination of community hospital experience and specialized pediatric training ensures graduates are well prepared for independent practice and competitive fellowship opportunities.

Trauma Cases

As part of the HCA Florida Aventura Hospital radiology residency program, IntelliRad Imaging provides comprehensive teaching and direct attending supervision to residents interpreting a high volume of acute trauma imaging. Residents actively read and review trauma studies from HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center, and HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, a Level II Trauma Center. This dual‑center experience ensures broad exposure to high‑acuity, real‑world trauma pathology across diverse patient populations.

Residents gain hands‑on experience interpreting CT, radiographs, and other emergent imaging for complex polytrauma cases, developing confidence in rapid decision‑making and critical findings communication. All studies are read with dedicated subspecialty‑trained IntelliRad attendings who emphasize teaching, case discussion, and structured feedback. This early and continuous exposure to trauma imaging prepares our residents for independent practice and fellowship success while reinforcing the crucial role of radiology as a frontline specialty in acute patient care.

Stroke Centers and Neuroradiology

Stroke imaging is a core strength of our radiology residency program. Our residents interpret a high volume of emergent and inpatient stroke imaging across five Joint Commission–certified stroke centers, providing broad exposure to the full spectrum of cerebrovascular disease. These include Comprehensive Stroke Centers, a Thrombectomy‑Capable Stroke Center, and a Primary Stroke Center, ensuring residents gain experience with both routine stroke evaluation and advanced endovascular triage.

Residents actively interpret CT, CTA, CT perfusion, MRI, and follow‑up imaging for acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients. Imaging is read under the supervision of experienced IntelliRad attendings with an emphasis on rapid diagnosis, critical findings communication, and multidisciplinary collaboration through our stroke communication program. This exposure prepares residents to confidently manage time‑sensitive stroke imaging decisions, understand imaging workflows that drive thrombolysis and thrombectomy, and graduate with the skills expected of radiologists practicing in high‑acuity stroke networks.

During 2025, IntelliRad interpreted more than 3,700 CT brain exams for stroke alerts across its five hospitals in south Florida, in addition to related CT angiograms and MRIs.

Comprehensive Stroke Center

• HCA Florida Mercy Hospital
• HCA Florida Westside Hospital
• HCA Florida Aventura Hospital

Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center

• HCA Florida Kendall Hospital

Primary Stroke Center

• HCA Florida University Hospital

Mini Fellowships

Our radiology residency program offers optional mini fellowships during the PGY5 year, designed to provide advanced, focused training in key subspecialty areas while maintaining the flexibility and breadth of a general radiology education. These mini fellowships allow residents to tailor their final year of training toward their clinical interests and career goals, whether preparing for subspecialty fellowship, academic medicine, or highlevel private practice.

The primary goal of our mini fellowship programs is to bridge the transition from resident to practicing radiologist by offering concentrated, fellowshipstyle experience with increased responsibility, case complexity, and subspecialty mentorship. Residents may choose from breast imaging, body MRI, or Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR). The breast imaging and body MRI mini fellowships are sixmonth focused tracks, while the ESIR pathway is a fullyear PGY5 experience, consistent with early specialization requirements. Each pathway is structured to emphasize advanced interpretation skills, clinical decisionmaking, workflow efficiency, and direct attending collaboration.

A defining feature of the program is its emphasis on handson learning, graduated autonomy, and career readiness. Mini fellows function at an advanced level within their chosen subspecialty, gaining exposure to highvolume, complex cases while working closely with experienced, subspecialtytrained faculty. Upon completion, residents receive a formal Mini Fellowship Certificate, recognizing the additional expertise acquired during their PGY5 year. This unique training model allows graduates to enter fellowship or independent practice with confidence, a strong subspecialty foundation, and a clear professional focus.

How to Apply

Medical students should apply to our residency program via the ERAS® System. Our National Residency Matching Program ID is 2232420C0.

More Information

For more information about any of the below topics in relation to our residency program, please review the HCA Florida Aventura Hospital’s Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program website or contact the program administrator, Jessie Hall.

• State licensure
• Required certifications
• In-service examinations
• Uniforms
• Compensation and benefits
• FAQs

Welcome Letter From Our Program Director, Dr. Brett McKeon

Dr. McKeon has served as our Radiology Residency Program Director since 2020 and finds this to be one of the most fulfilling roles of his professional career. We invite you to read his welcome letter.