East Coast health system launches radiology residency program to combat ‘critical shortage’
An East Coast hospital system is launching a new diagnostic radiology residency program to combat a “critical shortage”
Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pennsylvania, announced on Thursday that it has received initial accreditation from the ACGME. LVHN joins about 200 other accredited diagnostic radiology programs, with the inaugural class slated to start in July.
“This new residency program is committed to addressing the critical shortage of radiologists in Pennsylvania by training a new generation of professionals committed to serving its patients,” LVHN said in an announcement shared Feb. 20. “The program seeks to attract residents who are passionate about community-based practice and aspire to make a meaningful impact in healthcare delivery.”
The program is based at the Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest in Pennsylvania’s third most populus city about 48 miles north of Philadelphia. David Pryluck, MD, MBA, vice chair of radiology, education and research, is leading the effort, which is now recruiting PGY-2 residents who have completed their postgraduate internship. Those interested can contact Pryluck directly here.
LVHN expects to hold its inaugural “match” in March 2026 for residents to begin as PGY-2 residents in July 2027. It’s a four-year training program with the health network approved for five radiology residents per year. Participants will be trained across all subspecialties and modalities, and learnings will focus on AI, leadership, quality, economics and the principles of community-based practice.
“By embodying these values, this new diagnostic radiology residency strives to not only meet the immediate needs of LVHN patients, but also to inspire a legacy of excellence in radiology education and patient care,” the health network noted.
St. Luke’s University Health Network in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, also recently launched a new radiology residency program. The first class received over 750 applications for the programs seven initial slots. A recent piece in Academic Radiology explored some of the reasons why DR is seeing growing interest from medical trainees—including the desire for greater work-life balance.
Other physicians involved in the new LVHN program include:
- Devang Gor, MD, MBA
- Stephen Cella, MD
- Ravi R. Desai, MD
- Bret Kricun, MD
- Martha Ksepka, MD
- Robert McEvoy, MD
- Mitchell Storace, MD
- Servet Tatli, MD
- Wen Young, MD
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.