How To Be An Academic Radiologist (HTBAR) is a unique career-development seminar series curated to help our first- year residents discover and plan for career pathways that best fit their goals and passions. The two-week course is highly anticipated by the residents each year and has become a Penn Radiology legacy for over 10 years.

2024 HTBAR Co-Directors Kate Hartmann, Nikki Curnes, Ianto Xi, and Vineeth Gangaram with Presenter and Former Penn Alum Dr. Woojin Kim.

The HTBAR course is all about enhancing residents' understanding of all aspects of radiology. From academics and research to business and operations, the program sets up R1 residents for success by giving them an early look at how radiology works. This skill set allows them to direct their careers, interests, and research efforts in a meaningful way.

Lectures are interactive, resident-centric, and resident-driven. Each year, HTBAR is fine-tuned by the residents to include new interests and engaging, dynamic lectures. The curriculum is broad, including pressing topics in the field such as artificial intelligence, leadership, finance, education, medical malpractice, entrepreneurship, innovation, advocacy, and global health. The R1 residents themselves are part of the lecture program by giving interesting case conference and research presentations to each other. Over the years, HTBAR has continued to morph and evolve to suit the needs and interests of residents and has become a favorite part of the R1 year!.

As an R1 resident, Greg Mittl, MD, MBA, researched new Pennsylvania state legislation pertaining to radiology:

"For my spring HTBAR research project, I designed a survey to assess patient understanding of Pennsylvania Act 112, a new PA law that mandates patient notification if a significant abnormality exists on imaging. Incorporating feedback I received during HTBAR, I went on to present my research findings at the annual department wide research symposium, Pendergrass Day, at the Pennsylvania Radiological Society annual meeting and RSNA 2019! This experience greatly benefited my professional development and introduced me to mentors in the field."

Attendings Dan DePietro, Scott Simpson and Sophie O’Brien spent the morning educating the R1s about the multitude of the ways to be an Academic Radiologist. (2024)

Our librarian Frank Campbell is the best!! Thanks for spending the afternoon with the R1 class sharing valuable library resources!

Roy Rosin is a cornerstone of the course and a perennial crowd favorite. He works on campus at the Penn Innovation Center, equipped with his prior ground-breaking Silicon Valley work in technology. Roy charged the residents with being an innovator and turning conventional thinking on its head. (2019

Residents learn about the depth and breadth of ongoing research at Penn Radiology. Everything from IT solutions to closing the loop in patient care to AI methods in image analysis to animal models of HCC & cancer metabolism to photon counting CT and the Penn PET explorer. (2024)

Former Penn Resident Dr. Woojin Kim speaks with residents sharing the fear, hype and reality of AI. (2024) 

Residents participate in a “strength-finders” session, geared toward learning foundations of leadership and effective executive teams. This exercise helps each R1 to identify strong personality traits and how they can fit together to work better as a team.

A wide variety of projects from lab bench to quality improvement are presented by the residents during the week, showing the different interests of each unique class. Resident presentations allow development of skills in a relaxed atmosphere while demonstrating interesting concepts and research occurring at Penn Medicine.

The HTBAR course sets early radiology trainees down the path to success in any aspect of radiology practice.

HTBAR Co-Directors

Nicole Curnes, MD
Class of 2025

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Katherine Hartmann, MD

Class of 2025

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 Lin (Ianto) Xi, MD

Class of 2027

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Vineeth Gangaram, MD
Class of 2026

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HTBAR 2023 Course Schedule

This course schedule demonstrates the spread of topics that will help residents further their career and research interests.

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HTBAR Distinguished Speakers

During each HTBAR week, leadership figures from academia and industry are invited to spend the day with HTBAR participants and deliver grand rounds to the department. In addition to grand rounds, speakers deliver content-relevant talks to the entire residency during morning lecture, followed by small group one-on-one sessions with HTBAR participants. During these sessions, residents discuss an array of topics with the invited speaker, ranging from career advancement to controversial topics in the field of radiology. A complete list of these prior invited speakers is included here. A few of our most recent distinguished speakers have been Dr. Ruth Carlos, Dr. Judy Yee, and Dr. Richard Duszak.