Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I apply to the radiology residency program at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields?

A. Program receives all applications through ERAS.

Q. What is the application deadline?

A. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis through November.

Q. How many Letters of Recommendation do you require?

A. Three.

Q: Are both USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 required to apply to this program?

A: For licensing, you need to complete an entire series of COMLEX -or- USMLE. So, you need to have 2 exams completed in one of those series to be considered for our program. However, you do not need to finish both series. You will then complete COMLEX Level 3 or USMLE Step 3 during residency. If osteopathic applicants take COMLEX Levels 1 and 2, we highly recommend sitting for USMLE Step 2 as well. While we still consider osteopathic applications without a USMLE Step 2 score, many other programs do not.

Q. Board Examinations Pass Attempts – Does the program have guidelines on the number of attempts on Board Examinations?

A. With rare exception, passing board exams on the 1st attempt is required to be selected for review.

Q. Do you require clinical experience prior to radiology residency?

A. No. We are a 5-year radiology program that includes the PGY-1 clinical year.

Q. What are this year’s interview dates?

A. Interviews are scheduled during October, November, December and January. Specific dates will be determined in September.

Q. Will you offer virtual interviews?

A. All interviews will be conducted via Zoom; however, there may be opportunities for on-site visits after the interview period ends.

Q. How long is the interview day?

A. Generally 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Q. How many applicants do you plan to interview?

A. 40-60.

Q. How many residents do you plan to accept this year?

A. Four.

Q: How important are Gold and Silver Signals to this program as applications are reviewed? How about Geographic Preference?

A: We want our residents to be excited about the residency program and the region into which they match, so Signals and Geographic Preference are strongly considered. We receive an overwhelming number of applications each year, and these tools are valuable ways for you to indicate your genuine interest in our program and our region.

Q: What type of program are you - Categorical or Advanced? What is the difference between the two?

A: We are a Categorical Program NOT an Advanced Program.

• “Categorical” positions offer full residency training required for board certification in that specialty. In this situation, trainees complete their intern year and residency at the same institution. Applicants only submit one application for these programs.

• “Advanced” positions offer only specialty residency training (PGY-2 and beyond). Applicants must separately apply for both intern years and advanced residencies simultaneously.

Q: What is the difference between a Preliminary Year and a Transitional Year?

A: Prelim Years and Transitional Years are both standalone intern positions.

• “Preliminary” positions offer only one (up to two) year(s) of training generally prior to entry into advanced specialty programs. A Preliminary Year is in either Medicine or Surgery and is spent primarily with those services.

• “Transitional” positions can be thought of as samplings of many disciplines. Every TY program is different but generally trainees rotate through a variety of medical, surgical, and elective rotations. Transitional years are designed for specialties where a thorough understanding of basic pathophysiology and procedures is needed. Although not standalone, our PGY-1 year is structured like a Transitional Year.

Q: How does ranking in ERAS work for all of these options?

A: Applicants first rank all Radiology residencies with which they’ve interviewed, in order of preference (including Categorical and Advanced programs). Then for every Advanced program they’ve ranked, they will create a unique supplemental ranking of any Prelims or TYs, with which they’ve interviewed.

Q: Would you not consider my application if I will have already completed a transitional year elsewhere?

A: Having completed a PGY-1 year elsewhere would not disqualify you. However, we are a 60-month categorical program that includes a PGY-1 year. Therefore, if you were to match into our program, you would be required to complete your PGY1 year again within our program. But again, your previous training would not prevent you from being considered. With that being said, there are questions regarding funding (related to the applicants’ Initial Residency Period) that must be taken into consideration. So, eligibility may depend on what program you have previously completed and any designated funding for you that has been exhausted by another sponsoring institution.

Q. Does the program accept IMGs and if so, which type of Visa is accepted?

A. While IMGs are welcome to apply, we cannot support Visa sponsorship.

Q. Does the program offer Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR)?

A. Yes, we offer the ESIR pathway.

Q. What research opportunities exist?

A. There is a research requirement for all residents. We are affiliated with the Radiology Partners Research Institute, which conducts ongoing collaborative research with academic institutions around the country. Additionally, we are members of the High Value Practice Academic Alliance (HVPAA). Still many residents choose to develop their own research ideas at the local level or in conjunction with their off-site rotations at Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Q: Will the Franciscan Health Olympia Fields Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program have a virtual meet and greet or open house to learn more about your program?

A: In recent years we have offered a casual Q&A session virtually with the residents; our 2020 session is available on our website for viewing. Another virtual Q&A will be taking place this year. Those invited to interview with our program will also be invited to participate in the session. It will then be uploaded to our website for public viewing.

Q. What does the employment contract look like?

A. View a sample of the contract: click here.

For additional information regarding the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program at Franciscan Health

Olympia Fields, please contact our program coordinator, Kelly Deasy, at

kelly.deasy@franciscanalliance.org or (708) 855-7011.