The American College of Radiology (ACR) has launched the American Institute of Radiologic Pathology (AIRP), a four-week course, which will fulfill the requirements previously completed by Walter Reed Army Medical Center's radiologic-pathology correlation course.

The first ACR course will start Jan. 26, 2011, several months after the last course is offered through Walter Reed's Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), making the ACR the only organization to offer the intensive course.

"It's a major undertaking to take over a course like this," says Ronald Freedman, who is ACR's assistant executive director for marketing, business development, research and radiology resident training.

"The radiology pathology course has been a hallmark for decades in radiological residency," he says. "ACR felt it was important to the profession and to the health of patients that this course not end. [ACR] stepped up to the plate to make sure this vital training continues."

The course will follow the same schedule as it currently does through AFIP, being offered five times a year.

In a series of lectures, case reviews and world-renowned guest speakers, the course is a comprehensive review of radiologic imaging with pathologic correlation. The eight sections of the course include gastrointestinal radiology, genitourinary radiology, musculoskeletal radiology, neuroradiology, pediatric radiology, cardiovascular radiology, breast imaging and thoracic
radiology.

While the course will essentially be the same, ACR plans to incorporate innovative technology, like an iPad or similar tablet tool, to "enhance" residents' experience. The ACR's venue can hold 440 residents, 140 more than AFIP.

"We hope we will not be turning away any residents who want to come," says Freedman.

Although the course is not required for radiologic residents, 90 percent of residents take the course because it helps them meet requirements and as Freedman points out, no other course in the world is as comprehensive as this one.

"Most radiology programs in the U.S. and around the world don't have the capability of duplicating something like this," he says, also pointing out that he hopes to get the other 10 percent of residents participating.

"The importance of the program is the breadth of the teaching that's delivered there," Freedman says.