Ultimate Guide for Caribbean IMGs: Building Your IR Residency CV

Understanding the IR Residency Landscape as a Caribbean IMG

Interventional Radiology (IR) is one of the most competitive residency pathways in the United States. For a Caribbean medical school graduate (IMG), the challenge is twofold: you are competing in a high‑demand specialty and navigating the additional scrutiny that often comes with being an international graduate.

Your CV is the document many programs will use to form their first impression—sometimes even before reviewing your personal statement. For a Caribbean IMG targeting an interventional radiology residency, the CV must do three things:

1. Demonstrate academic strength and clinical readiness comparable to U.S. grads.
2. Show specific, credible commitment to IR as a career, not just “radiology” in general.
3. Offset perceived risk factors (Caribbean school, visa needs, USMLE attempts/gaps) with clear evidence of maturity, reliability, and productivity.

Many Caribbean students match into strong residencies every year—including through the SGU residency match and other Caribbean medical school residency pipelines—but successful candidates usually have well‑crafted, strategically planned CVs that tell a coherent professional story.

This guide will walk you step‑by‑step through how to build a CV for residency in IR, tailored to your situation as a Caribbean IMG: what to prioritize, what to avoid, and how to present your experiences in a way that maximizes your chances of an IR match.

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Core Principles of an Effective Residency CV for IR

Before getting into specific sections, it helps to understand what IR program directors and selection committees are looking for on a medical student CV.

1. Clarity and Professionalism Over Flash

Your CV is not a design portfolio. It should be:

• Clean, consistent formatting
• Easy to scan quickly
• Free of spelling or grammar errors
• Organized in standard, expected sections

Many Caribbean IMGs worry about “standing out visually.” In residency applications, you stand out intellectually and professionally, not with unusual fonts or layouts.

Residency CV tips for format:

• Font: 10–12 pt, standard font (Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri).
• Length: Typically 2–3 pages for a graduating medical student.
• Margins: 0.5–1 inch, consistent.
• Use bold for section headers; italics sparingly (e.g., journal names).
• Avoid graphics, logos, or colored backgrounds.

2. IR-Focused Storytelling

You want your CV to clearly answer: “Why IR, and why you?”

This doesn’t mean every activity must be IR-related, but you should create a narrative arc:

• Early exposure to procedures, imaging, anatomy, or technology
• Increasing responsibility in research or clinical roles
• Specific IR-related projects (research, observerships, electives, QI)
• Leadership or teaching that shows you can function in a high‑acuity, team‑based environment

When IR faculty skim your CV, they should quickly see: You know what IR is and have taken tangible steps toward it.

3. Strategic Transparency About Being a Caribbean IMG

You cannot change that you attended a Caribbean medical school—but you can control how your record looks:

• Strong USMLE performance
• Solid clerkship evaluations and honor designations
• Credible U.S. clinical experience (ideally including IR or diagnostic radiology)
• Evidence you can succeed in a U.S. academic environment (research, publications, presentations, U.S.-based mentors)

A well‑structured CV helps reframe “Caribbean IMG” from a liability into a profile of resilience and productivity in a nontraditional pathway.

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Section-by-Section Guide: How to Build a CV for IR Residency

Below is a recommended structure specifically tailored to a Caribbean IMG pursuing interventional radiology residency.

1. Header and Contact Information

Keep this clean and simple:

• Full name (as it appears on official documents)
• MD or expected graduation date with degree
• Email (professional; ideally FirstLast@…), phone number
• City/state of current residence
• Optional: LinkedIn URL or personal academic website (only if well‑maintained and professional)

Avoid:

• Including immigration status or visa in the header (better addressed in ERAS or interviews).
• Multiple email addresses or long personal statements in the header.

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2. Education

Order from most recent to oldest:

• Medical School, Caribbean (e.g., SGU, AUC, Ross, etc.)

  • Institution name, city, country
  • Dates (month/year – month/year)
  • Degree (MD candidate)
  • Distinctions: “Graduated with Honors,” Dean’s List, scholarships

• Undergraduate Degree

  • Degree, major, institution, GPA (if strong), honors (summa cum laude, etc.)

For Caribbean medical school residency applications, consider including:

• Basic science campus (if studied in a different country)
• Clinical campus/hospital affiliations in the U.S. or UK
• Any competitive track (e.g., honors research programs)

If you’re from a well‑known Caribbean school with strong U.S. match outcomes (e.g., SGU residency match historically robust), it’s acceptable to confidently list and not downplay your institution. Your strength will be further supported by performance indicators elsewhere in your CV.

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3. Examinations and Certifications

Residency programs will largely see your scores via ERAS, but including a brief summary on your CV can be useful, especially when networking or sending your CV directly to faculty.

Include:

• USMLE Step 1 – Pass (optionally include score if strong and still relevant to programs)
• USMLE Step 2 CK – Score and date
• Planned/Completed Step 3 (particularly helpful if you will need a visa)
• ECFMG certification status (if applicable)
• Any additional certifications: BLS, ACLS, ATLS (especially relevant for IR’s acute setting)

Residency CV tips here:

• Be factual and concise; do not justify low scores in the CV.
• If you have a failed attempt, don’t highlight it in the CV; it will already be visible in ERAS. Use your personal statement or interview to address context if needed.

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4. Clinical Experience (Core and Elective Rotations)

For Caribbean IMGs, U.S. clinical experience is crucial. This section is your chance to show robust clinical exposure and progression toward IR.

Core Clerkships

You don’t need to list every detail, but you can highlight:

• Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Ob/Gyn, Psychiatry, Family Medicine
• Location (U.S. hospitals especially)
• Notable distinctions: “Honors,” “High Pass,” “Outstanding Clinical Evaluation”

If you have objective high performance, it helps fight biases about Caribbean schools.

IR-Relevant Clinical Experiences

This is where you differentiate yourself as an aspiring interventional radiologist:

• Interventional Radiology Rotations/Sub‑Internships

  • Institution, dates, supervising faculty (if known)
  • Brief bullet points:
    • “Observed and assisted with X number of image‑guided procedures (e.g., angiography, TIPS, embolization, biopsies)”
    • “Participated in pre‑ and post‑procedure patient evaluations”
    • “Attended multidisciplinary tumor board meetings involving IR”

• Diagnostic Radiology Rotations

  • Focus on:
    • Learning to read common studies
    • Exposure to procedural workflows
    • Case presentations or mini‑teaching you provided

• Related Specialties (Vascular Surgery, Interventional Cardiology, ICU, Emergency Medicine, Hepatology, Oncology)

  • Highlight:
    • Managing patients who later underwent IR procedures
    • Developing understanding of vascular access, critical care, or oncology—core to IR practice.

Example bullet (strong):

• Interventional Radiology Elective, XYZ Medical Center, New York, NY (08/2024 – 09/2024)
  • Assisted in obtaining informed consent and performing pre‑procedure histories for patients undergoing angiography, embolization, IVC filter placement, and percutaneous drainages.
  • Presented daily case summaries at IR rounds, focusing on imaging findings, procedural planning, and post‑procedure care.
  • Participated in two QI projects aimed at reducing procedure start‑time delays and improving documentation of contrast usage.

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5. Research Experience and Scholarly Activity

In a competitive specialty like IR, research can significantly strengthen your IR match profile, especially as a Caribbean IMG. Programs look for evidence that you can:

• Think critically
• Work in an academic environment
• Contribute to the specialty

Types of Acceptable Research

• IR-specific projects (ideal)
• Diagnostic radiology projects
• Vascular/oncology/critical care research
• General clinical research with rigorous methodology

How to List Research

For each entry:

• Title of project (or brief description if title is not final)
• Institution, location
• Supervisor (especially if they are an IR or radiology faculty member)
• Dates
• Your role and specific contributions (be concrete)

Example (IR-specific):

• Research Assistant, Interventional Radiology Outcomes Study
  • Department of Radiology, ABC University Hospital, Miami, FL (06/2023 – present)
  • PI: John Smith, MD, FSIR
  • Collected and analyzed data on 250+ patients undergoing TACE for HCC, focusing on 30‑day complication and readmission rates.
  • Co‑authored abstract accepted for presentation at SIR Annual Scientific Meeting 2025.

Even if you do not yet have publications, ongoing IR research projects are valuable to show on your CV. Try to move at least one project to a concrete endpoint (poster, abstract, manuscript submitted) before application season.

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6. Publications, Presentations, and Posters

Separate this from “Research Experience” to highlight output and productivity.

Publications

List in a standard citation format. Separate into:

• Peer‑reviewed journal articles
• Review articles or book chapters
• Non‑peer‑reviewed publications (blogs, newsletters) – these should be clearly labeled as such.

Order: most recent first.

Example:

• Doe J, YourLastName, Smith J. Outcomes of Transarterial Chemoembolization in Non‑Cirrhotic Patients With HCC. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology. 2025;36(4):123–130.

If you are not the first author, that’s fine—many medical students are not. What matters is being included and able to discuss your contribution.

Presentations and Posters

Include:

• Oral presentations at institutional or national conferences
• Poster presentations (especially at SIR, RSNA, ARRS, or local radiology meetings)
• Grand Rounds or departmental conferences where you presented IR topics

Example:

• YourLastName A, Doe J. “Role of IR in Management of Portal Hypertension.” Poster presented at Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual Scientific Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, 2025.

For a Caribbean IMG, even institutional or regional presentations help demonstrate your engagement with academic medicine.

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7. Quality Improvement (QI) and Patient Safety Projects

IR is procedural and systems‑based, so QI work is particularly relevant. Many Caribbean students gain QI exposure through U.S. rotations.

Examples of IR-oriented QI projects:

• Reducing delays between IR consult and procedure
• Improving pre‑procedure checklists (anticoagulation, NPO status, sedation assessment)
• Standardizing post‑procedure follow‑up instructions
• Reducing contrast dose or fluoroscopy time

List these like research projects, but clearly label as “Quality Improvement Project” and emphasize outcomes:

• “Reduced average time from IR consult to procedure by 25% over 6 months”
• “Improved documentation of radiation dose in IR procedure notes from 40% to 95%”

These entries directly speak to your understanding of workflow, safety, and efficiency in an interventional environment.

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Non-Research Experiences That Matter for IR

Beyond research and rotations, your CV should also paint a picture of your professionalism, leadership, and communication skills—all essential in IR, where you deal with acutely ill patients, multidisciplinary teams, and high‑stakes procedures.

1. Teaching and Mentoring

IR is a teaching‑heavy specialty; attendings and senior residents frequently supervise learners in procedural suites and clinics.

Include:

• Teaching assistant roles (anatomy, physiology, imaging)
• Peer tutoring for underclassmen
• Near‑peer USMLE coaching
• Organizing or leading imaging or IR‑interest workshops

Focus your bullet points on impact:

• Number of students taught
• Feedback received (if formal)
• Any curriculum or session you designed

2. Leadership and Organizations

If you held roles in:

• Radiology or IR interest groups (especially if you founded or revitalized an IR group at a Caribbean school)
• Student government or class leadership
• Community service organizations

Highlight leadership responsibilities:

• Coordinating guest lectures by IR attendings
• Organizing shadowing or OR/IR suite tours
• Creating peer‑mentorship structures for other Caribbean IMGs interested in radiology

Leadership shows that you can function effectively in teams and take initiative—critical for IR, where procedures require coordination between technologists, nurses, anesthesiologists, and referring services.

3. Work Experience

Many Caribbean students have valuable prior work experience:

• Scribe, medical assistant, radiology technologist, paramedic, nurse
• Biomedical engineering, IT, or data science roles
• Teaching or tutoring positions

Select roles that demonstrate:

• Patient interaction
• Teamwork in healthcare settings
• Analytical or technical skills (useful in IR’s technology-driven environment)

Example bullet:

• Radiology Department Volunteer, Community Hospital, FL (06/2021 – 08/2021)
  • Assisted in transporting patients to imaging suites and prepared rooms for procedures.
  • Observed workflow in CT, MRI, and interventional suites, gaining familiarity with radiation safety principles and sterile technique.

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Tailoring Your CV Strategically as a Caribbean IMG Targeting IR

1. Addressing Perceived Weaknesses Through Your CV

Common concerns for Caribbean IMGs:

• Non‑U.S. medical school
• USMLE attempts or less‑competitive scores
• Limited home‑institution IR support

Your CV cannot hide these facts, but it can contextualize and counterbalance them:

• Emphasize U.S. clinical experience in reputable hospitals.
• Show longitudinal IR interest (multiple rotations, research, interest group leadership).
• Highlight tangible achievements: publications, QI outcomes, conference presentations.

If you’re from a school with a strong Caribbean medical school residency track record (like SGU), and especially if there is specific SGU residency match data in radiology/IR, leverage that in networking conversations (not necessarily on the CV itself) to reassure programs that you come from a well‑established pipeline.

2. Showing IR Commitment Without Overclaiming

Programs are wary of applicants who:

• Treat IR as a backup to something else
• Seem to be applying widely without focus
• Cannot clearly articulate what IR actually does day‑to‑day

Your CV should demonstrate real but grounded commitment:

• Multiple IR or related rotations
• At least one IR‑related research or QI project
• Participation in IR interest group or SIR student/resident sections
• Attendance at IR or radiology conferences (even virtually)

Avoid exaggeration such as:

• “Performed TIPS procedures” (as a medical student, you “assisted with” or “observed”)
• Taking credit for aspects of research you did not do (you must be able to defend every item in interviews)

3. Versioning and Updating Your CV

Your ERAS application essentially functions as a formal, structured CV. However, you should still maintain a separate, clean PDF CV for:

• Emailing to potential research mentors
• Networking at conferences (QR code on business card linking to your CV or academic website)
• Away/audition rotation applications (if programs ask outside of ERAS)
• Scholarship or award applications

Update your CV every 2–3 months during medical school and especially in the year before applications:

• Add new rotations and evaluations
• Update research projects as they progress from “ongoing” to “presented” to “published”
• Include newly earned certifications or leadership roles

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Practical Action Plan: Building Your IR-Focused CV from M1 to Application

For Caribbean IMGs, planning early is key. Here’s a simplified roadmap.

Basic Sciences (Pre‑Clinical Years)

• Join or start a Radiology/IR interest group at your Caribbean school.
• Seek anatomy, imaging, or physiology teaching assistant roles.
• Begin early research—even remotely—with U.S. institutions, ideally in imaging or IR.
• Develop relationships with faculty who might later support U.S. IR connections.

Transition to Clinical Years

• Prioritize U.S.-based core rotations at academic or large community hospitals.
• Seek out any chance to shadow IR during surgery, internal medicine, or radiology rotations.
• Explore opportunities for small QI projects or case reports involving imaging or procedures.

Dedicated IR Preparation Year (12–18 Months Before Applying)

• Schedule at least one interventional radiology elective and one diagnostic radiology elective in the U.S. (ideally at places with integrated IR programs).
• Expand IR research; aim for at least one abstract or poster.
• Attend virtual or in‑person IR conferences (SIR, local IR society meetings).
• Update your CV and ask IR or radiology faculty to review it and offer feedback.

Final Application Season

• Polish your medical student CV to align with your ERAS entries—no contradictions.
• Use your CV in cold emails to potential mentors or program contacts: attach it concisely and reference IR‑specific highlights.
• Practice explaining any gap or weakness on your CV in honest, concise terms focused on what you learned and how you’ve improved.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. As a Caribbean IMG, do I need IR-specific research to match into interventional radiology?

It is not an absolute requirement, but it is strongly advantageous, especially for a competitive field like IR. Programs understand that not all Caribbean schools have robust IR departments, but they will expect evidence of:

• Some exposure to IR (rotations, shadowing)
• Engagement with scholarly work of any type (research, QI, case reports)

If IR-specific research is hard to obtain, consider:

• Diagnostic radiology projects
• Projects in oncology, vascular medicine, hepatology, or critical care that intersect with IR patients
• Collaborations with U.S. IR departments remotely (data analysis, literature reviews)

Even a well‑executed QI project in an IR or radiology department can meaningfully strengthen your IR match profile.

2. How many pages should my CV be when applying for IR residency?

For most Caribbean IMGs applying to IR:

• 2–3 pages is typical and perfectly acceptable.
• Less than 2 pages may look sparse for a competitive specialty.
• More than 3 pages is occasionally appropriate if you have extensive research, but ensure there is no filler or redundancy.

Program directors are busy; they appreciate concise, high‑yield CVs that highlight your accomplishments efficiently.

3. Should I include non-medical jobs or activities on my residency CV?

Yes, selectively. Include non‑medical roles that demonstrate:

• Leadership (e.g., team supervisor, project manager)
• Responsibility and reliability (e.g., long‑term employment)
• Skills relevant to IR (e.g., engineering, IT, data analysis, teaching)

Frame them in terms of transferable skills: teamwork, communication, problem‑solving, time management. Avoid cluttering your CV with short‑term or minimally relevant experiences.

4. How can I make my CV stand out among other radiology and IR applicants?

For a Caribbean IMG, your CV stands out when it shows a coherent, IR-focused narrative plus evidence of academic productivity:

• Consistent IR interest across multiple years
• At least one meaningful IR or imaging research or QI project
• Strong U.S. clinical experiences with good evaluations
• Leadership or teaching roles related to radiology/IR
• Clear, error‑free formatting and professional language

Pair this with thoughtful networking, strong letters of recommendation (ideally including at least one from IR or radiology), and you significantly increase your chances in the interventional radiology residency and IR match process—even coming from a Caribbean medical school.

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By approaching your CV as a strategic storytelling document—highlighting your preparation, resilience, and specific commitment to IR—you give programs a compelling reason to look past labels like “Caribbean IMG” and instead see you as what you are becoming: a future interventional radiologist.