RSNA Partners with SIIM to Offer National Imaging Informatics Course

Registration is open for the National Imaging Informatics Course-Radiology (NIIC-RAD), a weeklong online course introducing the fundamentals of imaging informatics. The second term will be held online March 8-12, 2021. NIIC-RAD is made possible through a partnership between RSNA and the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM).

“The National Imaging Informatics Course is a weeklong online course experience designed to teach radiology residents the fundamentals of imaging informatics,” said Tessa S. Cook, MD, PhD, who developed the course along with Nabile Safdar, MD and Katherine Andriole, PhD, with support from Michael P. Recht, MD.

Initially developed four years ago to introduce senior residents to the fundamentals of imaging informatics with emphasis on practical concepts and knowledge, the course has now expanded to non-resident participants, as well as the international community.

Course Faculty Are From Across the Globe And Experts in the Field of Imaging Informatics

NIIC-RAD covers not only the business aspects for the specialty, such as the basics of clinical workflow, the hardware and software requirements, standards and patient-centered radiology, but also hot topics like machine learning, data science and 3D printing.

“Imaging informatics affects so much of how we take care of patients every day,” Dr. Cook said. “It’s important to have an understanding of these fundamental principles to be able to troubleshoot potentially when things go wrong, but also to have a better understanding of how our systems work.”

The course consists of a series of live lectures, small group discussions, and a set of enduring content that can be reviewed before or after the live sessions. There are pre- and post-course assessments and homework assignments throughout the week.

Aimed primarily at fourth-year radiology residents, the course may also benefit radiology trainees at all levels, radiology faculty, information technology experts, practicing physicians in other specialties and students from a variety of disciplines.

“This is the first time that imaging informatics education has been made available universally to residents around the world,” Dr. Cook said. “We really tried to leverage the concept of a massive open online course to bring the education to the learners rather than the other way around.”

The first term took place Sept. 28-Oct. 2, 2020. 

For More Information

Learn more at, https://siim.org/page/niic_registration.

Questions can be directed to informatics@rsna.org.