Diagnostic Radiology Residency ProgramJohn Heymann, MD - Residency Program Director

Welcome to the University of Texas Medical Branch Radiology Residency page. The radiology department at UTMB has a long history of excellence in patient care and resident education. Our faculty have a strong commitment to teaching and our program is dedicated to providing residents the educational environment and support needed to become outstanding radiologists. UTMB Radiology is characterized by an excellent diversity of clinical material and a rich tradition of teaching. Exams come from the John Sealy Hospital, a level I trauma center, a large Texas Department of Corrections Hospital, the Shriners Burns Hospital, and numerous outpatient facilities. UTMB Radiology maintains state-of-the-art technology, including two 3T MRIs, two dual-energy CTs, 16 slice SPECT CT, and a DynaCT angiography suite. We are enthusiastic about the future of our residency and invite you to further explore our program.

"I completed my radiology residency at UTMB and then came back as faculty so I put my money where my mouth is. At UTMB you get excellent training in a laid-back, collegiate environment. Volumes have never been higher and particularly with the prison hospital you are exposed to a wide range of uncommon and advanced pathology. We are a level one trauma center and an NIH certified stroke center. UTMB is a resident-driven program with an advanced curriculum that exposes residents to more advanced imaging like MRI, Head and Neck imaging and CTA earlier than many programs. I felt comfortable moonlighting under my own license after completing my second year. My class also all matched their top choice fellowship spot and in recent years we have sent residents to MGH, Johns Hopkins, Mallinckrodt and other top Fellowships. 

The best part about UTMB though is the community. There is a real sense of camaraderie between resident classes and between residents and faculty. As a department, we often get together outside of work for happy hours, crawfish boils and the like. And Galveston is a fun, economical and convenient town, just down the road from the 3rd largest city in the United States (and two major airports).

And finally, while you may not be thinking about it now, the benefits at UTMB are top. First of all, Texas in general is a great place to get a foothold as a doctor with tort reform and no income tax. And Galveston in particular is very affordable so your salary goes a long way. Being just down the street from Houston and right next door to the I-45 corridor, one of the fastest growing regions in the country, provides a lot of job opportunities. UTMB benefits are also great with one of the best employer retirement matches (for residents as well) I have ever seen as well as family health insurance. Not to mention all the department specific benefits like an educational fund to pay for books, review courses and conferences.

I really enjoyed my time at UTMB, but to be honest, that was 4 years ago and we have only grown and improved since then. I think there has never been a better time to be a UTMB radiology resident." 

John Heymann, MD
Associate Professor Neuroradiology
UTMB Grad 2015

Eric Bih – Class of 2019
"UTMB is an extraordinary institution to train at. The wide variety of pathology, the perfect balance of autonomy and mentoring, and the level-specific structured education make our program the perfect place a resident could ask for. We have strong camaraderie and that just makes going to work enjoyable. In addition to the cohesiveness among residents, we also enjoy going to happy hour and weekend gathering with our faculty, who are always friendly and approachable. I am very honored and grateful for the knowledge and experiences that UTMB Radiology has taught me!"

Nita Kommula – Class of 2020
"UTMB radiology residency was the perfect choice for me. In terms of my medical education, I am provided with diverse pathology through the level 1 trauma center, the TDC hospital, multiple hospital sites, and state of the art equipment. The faculty are warm, approachable, and very knowledgeable, often interacting on a first name basis.The resident education and experience have become a premier focus of the department and residents are frequently consulted on how to improve the program. I was also provided the unique opportunity to broaden my horizons in health policy and participate in state level activities through the Texas Medical Association and the Texas Radiological Society with the full support and funding of the department. Finally, living on an island for residency certainly helps relieve some of the stress of call!"

Tiffiny Hunsaker – Class of 2021
"The faculty at UTMB are wonderful! Each department has mentors who willfully sacrifice their time to teach us the necessary fundamentals to become great radiologists. It is rare to find a program that knows its residents individually, creates opportunity for unique interests, and helps you achieve personal goals. UTMB is a family friendly training program where colleagues are friends and its enjoyable to come to work."

Mohamed Elshikh – Class of 2022
"UTMB is a nice place to get trained in especially, in radiology. Being a level I trauma and a tertiary care facility provides our department with a huge variety of cases. In our program, we see all the common pathologies in addition to zebras. This will certainly provide you as a resident with a strong foundation for your future practice either in private or academics. Our fellowship placement also is great. Most of our graduates match to highly ranked fellowships programs. This is certainly is due to the quality of UTMB graduates. The other thing I like about our program is the autonomy we have as residents. I think it is very essential for every trainee to have some sort of a supervised autonomy because it is extremely crucial for our educational growth.Living in Galveston area is really fun. Within few minutes you can enjoy the beach and Texas sun (always there!). Within one hour drive, you will be in Houston and enjoy the huge variety of food restaurants and other activities."