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 since 2008 in its current resident-led format.

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 part of HTBAR, esteemed national speakers are invited. Here, Dr. Richard Duszak (Chair of Radiology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center), delivers a lecture on the evolving landscape of radiology malpractice.

 
Dr. Francis Deng (Assistant Professor of Radiology at Johns Hopkins) shares his insights and advice to residents on creating a career in academic radiology. 

Penn radiology program director, Dr. Mary Scanlon, gives a lecture to residents about creating effective educational presentations.

Residents participate in a strength-based leadership session led by Penn Medicine Academy geared toward identifying individual traits that can complement each other to work effectively as a team. (2025)

Roy Rosin is a cornerstone of HTBAR and speaks to the residents on leading transformative innovation and turning conventional thinking on its head. (2025)

Throughout the program, HTBAR is honored to welcome back esteemed Penn radiology alumni to speak about their careers. Here, Andrew Kapustin speaks to the residents about independent practice models in radiology. (2025)

Panel with Penn faculty Amr El Jack, Alvand Hassankhani and Bidyut Pramanik providing insights on career transitions within radiology. (2025)

Penn faculty Scott Simpson speaks about education and teaching as part of a career in academic radiology. (2025)

Residents participate in a “try the AI” session with Penn radiology alumnus and grand rounds speaker, Howard Chen. (2025)

HTBAR Co-Directors

Vineeth Gangaram, MD
Class of 2026

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 Lin (Ianto) Xi, MD
Class of 2027

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Sriharsha Voleti, MD
Class of 2027

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John Walsh, MD
Class of 2027

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HTBAR 2025 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.