Nevada hospital launches residency program to address radiologist shortage

A new diagnostic radiology residency program at University Medical Center in Las Vegas aims to address the state's staffing shortage by training physicians locally and encouraging them to stay in Nevada. 

The state faces a significant workforce challenge, with approximately nine radiologists per 100,000 residents, representing the lowest rate in the country. Population growth, an aging workforce and limited residency positions are among the factors contributing to the shortage, according to Medicus Healthcare Solutions. 

“When somebody comes through our doors, at some point they’re going to need some image-care guidance,” Eduardo Escobar, MD, chief of musculoskeletal radiology at University Medical Center, said in an interview with Fox 5 Las Vegas. 

By expanding local training opportunities, UMC hopes to address these issues and recruit physicians who may choose to establish their careers in Nevada after completing residency. UMC’s four-year Diagnostic Radiology Program was accredited in September 2025 and its first class started on July 1. 

The program currently has four residents but is approved to expand to 16 across all four years of training. Hospital leaders hope the additional training capacity will strengthen Nevada’s radiology workforce and improve access to imaging services as demand grows. 

For first-year resident Chase Permann, MD, the opportunity fill a key hiring need was one reason why he pursued radiology. 

“That did sway me to go into the career,” Permann said, adding that he hopes the decision will help combat the shortage in some way. 

Currently, UMC has around 31 radiologists employed by the hospital; that figure includes two interventional radiologists who perform between 12 to 14 procedures daily. Annually, the hospital’s radiologists complete more than 345,000 reads.