Essential Questions for MD Graduates Pursuing Nuclear Medicine Residency

Understanding the Goal: Why Your Questions Matter

As an MD graduate pursuing a nuclear medicine residency, your questions during interviews and open houses are not just a formality. They are one of your most powerful tools to:

• Assess if a program truly fits your career goals
• Demonstrate maturity, insight, and genuine interest
• Clarify how well the program will prepare you for the board exam and future practice
• Avoid surprises after you’ve matched

For allopathic medical school match applicants, especially in a relatively small specialty like nuclear medicine, interview days are often intimate. Faculty will remember the quality of the questions you ask. Thoughtful, specific questions signal that you understand the field and are intentional about your training.

This guide focuses on questions to ask residency programs in nuclear medicine, with special attention to:

• What to ask program directors versus residents
• How to tailor questions for nuclear medicine’s unique training environment
• Example interview questions for them that show insight rather than anxiety

Use this as a structured checklist, not a script. Adapt the language to your style and circumstances.

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Questions to Ask the Program Director and Leadership

Your time with the program director (PD) and other leaders (associate PDs, chair, chief of nuclear medicine) is where you assess high-level vision, stability, and training quality. Think strategically about what to ask program director teams that no one else can fully answer.

1. Program Structure, Vision, and Stability

These questions help you understand how the program is organized and where it’s heading.

Key questions:

• “How would you describe the overarching training philosophy of your nuclear medicine residency?”
• “What differentiates your program from other nuclear medicine residencies?”
• “How has the program changed in the last 5 years, and what changes do you anticipate in the next 5?”
• “Can you tell me about the recent performance of your graduates on the ABNM board exam?”
• “Have there been any recent or upcoming changes in leadership, hospital ownership, or institutional priorities that might impact the nuclear medicine residency?”

What you’re listening for:

• Clear, coherent mission (strong clinical training, research, hybrid training, etc.)
• Evidence of responsiveness to evolving technology (PET/MR, theranostics, AI, dosimetry)
• Stability in funding, faculty, and accreditation
• Honest acknowledgment of weaknesses and specific plans for improvement

2. Clinical Training Depth and Case Mix

Nuclear medicine is highly dependent on volume and diversity of studies. The MD graduate residency experience should expose you to:

• General nuclear medicine
• PET/CT (oncologic and non-oncologic)
• Cardiac imaging
• Theranostics (e.g., Lu-177, I-131, other targeted therapies)
• Pediatric imaging (if available)

Questions to consider:

• “What is the typical annual procedure volume for PET/CT, SPECT/CT, cardiac studies, and theranostics?”
• “How is nuclear medicine integrated with radiology and cardiology here? Are there shared services or separate reporting structures?”
• “How early do residents get hands-on experience with therapy procedures (e.g., I-131, Lu-177)? Are residents actively involved in dosimetry and patient counseling?”
• “Do residents have opportunities to rotate through other institutions or affiliated hospitals to broaden case exposure, particularly in pediatric nuclear medicine or theranostics?”

Red flags:

• Vague or evasive answers about volume (“we see a lot” without numbers or ranges)
• Minimal or no exposure to therapies or advanced imaging modalities
• Heavy dependence on outside rotations without clear structure or supervision

3. Curriculum, Didactics, and Board Preparation

Nuclear medicine involves physics, radiopharmacy, radiation safety, and clinical imaging. Ask explicitly about educational infrastructure.

Targeted questions:

• “Can you walk me through the formal didactic curriculum over the course of residency?”
• “How are physics, radiation safety, and radiopharmacy taught and assessed?”
• “What protected time is there for conferences and didactics? Is clinical workload adjusted to allow consistent attendance?”
• “How do you specifically prepare residents for the ABNM boards? Are there in-house review courses, mock boards, or structured exam preparation?”
• “How is feedback given to residents, and how often are formal evaluations conducted?”

Listen for:

• A clearly scheduled, recurring didactic series (not “periodic when we can”)
• Commitment to protected education time
• Robust board-prep strategy and historically strong pass rates
• A culture of regular, constructive feedback

4. Research, Innovation, and Scholarly Activity

Many nuclear medicine programs emphasize research and innovation. Even if you’re clinically focused, research exposure indicates academic vitality.

Questions to ask program leadership:

• “What are the main areas of research or innovation within your nuclear medicine division right now?”
• “What proportion of residents typically present at national meetings such as SNMMI or RSNA?”
• “Are there dedicated research rotations or protected research time?”
• “What kind of support is available for residents doing projects—mentorship, statisticians, access to databases, funding for conference travel?”

Clarifying academic expectations:

• “Is scholarly work required for graduation? If so, what does that typically look like—a case report, original research, QI project?”
• “How do you balance clinical responsibilities with research for residents who are highly research-oriented?”

5. Career Development and Placement

Because nuclear medicine is a smaller specialty, mentorship and job placement support are critical. Your allopathic medical school match experience gets you into residency, but your nuclear medicine program must then open doors for fellowship or practice.

Key career-focused questions:

• “Where have your recent graduates gone—fellowships, jobs, academic versus private practice?”
• “Do you have formal mentorship or career advising embedded in the program?”
• “How early do you start working with residents on post-residency plans (job search, fellowships in diagnostic radiology, theranostics, or hybrid training pathways)?”
• “Do your graduates typically feel competitive in both academic and community practice settings?”

Look for:

• A track record of graduates matching into desirable positions
• Faculty willing to advocate for residents and actively sponsor them
• Transparency about regional job markets and breadth of opportunities

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Questions to Ask Current Residents and Fellows

Residents are your best source of honest, day-to-day information. Use this time to understand culture, workload, and real-life training quality.

1. Day-to-Day Workflow and Workload

You want clarity on what your average day looks like and how intense the workload truly is.

High-yield questions:

• “Can you walk me through a typical day on nuclear medicine rotations—start time, end time, conferences, call?”
• “What does a typical week on call look like, and how is call distributed among residents?”
• “How much independent responsibility do you have in interpreting studies and managing therapies, and how does that change over the course of training?”
• “How often are you staying significantly past your scheduled end time?”

Follow-up probes:

• “If you had a particularly heavy day or felt overwhelmed, how have faculty responded?”
• “Do you feel your workload allows for safe practice and learning, or does service sometimes overshadow education?”

2. Teaching, Feedback, and Faculty Accessibility

Residents’ perception of teaching quality is critical.

Questions to ask residents:

• “How approachable are attendings for questions during the workday?”
• “Do you receive regular, specific feedback on your readouts and clinical decisions?”
• “Are there particular attendings who are especially strong educators or mentors?”
• “Do you feel comfortable admitting when you don’t know something?”

What you’re listening for:

• A culture of safety around asking questions
• Active faculty involvement in teaching, not just service
• Patterns of support or neglect by specific faculty (residents will often hint diplomatically)

3. Resident Culture and Support

Fit and wellness matter. Burnout can undermine even a strong curriculum.

Culture-focused questions:

• “How would you describe the resident culture here—collaborative, competitive, close-knit?”
• “Do residents spend time together outside the hospital, or does everyone mostly keep to themselves?”
• “How does the program respond when someone is struggling academically or personally?”
• “Have there been any residents who left the program or struggled significantly, and how was that handled?”

Wellness-specific questions:

• “Do you feel you have enough time outside of work for family, hobbies, and rest?”
• “Are vacations and days off respected, or is there pressure to come in anyway?”

4. Autonomy and Progressive Responsibility

As a nuclear medicine resident, you want to graduate feeling ready to practice independently.

Practical questions:

• “By the end of your training, how confident do you feel reading studies independently?”
• “At what point in residency did you start feeling like the primary decision-maker for many cases, with attending oversight?”
• “Are there opportunities to function as a ‘junior attending’ or lead on certain services?”

Look for residents who feel challenged but safe, not thrown in without guidance.

5. Hidden Strengths and Weaknesses

Residents often know where the program shines and where it struggles.

Candid questions:

• “What are the greatest strengths of this nuclear medicine program?”
• “If you could change one thing about the program, what would it be?”
• “Have there been any recent system or program-level problems—staffing shortages, equipment issues, leadership changes—and how have they impacted your training?”
• “Knowing what you know now, would you choose this program again?”

These questions often yield the most honest, useful information.

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Questions Specific to Nuclear Medicine as a Specialty

Beyond generic questions to ask residency programs, nuclear medicine requires specialty-specific queries about technology, integration, and future directions.

1. Equipment, Technology, and Imaging Environment

Advanced technology is central to your training.

Targeted questions:

• “What equipment do you have on-site—PET/CT, PET/MR, SPECT/CT, dedicated cardiac cameras, dosimetry tools?”
• “How up to date are your scanners? Have there been any recent or planned upgrades?”
• “Do residents have significant exposure to quantitative imaging, such as SUV-based assessments, kinetic modeling, or advanced post-processing?”
• “Is there a dedicated physics or imaging scientist team that collaborates with residents?”

These questions show you understand that hardware and software matter for both learning and future employability.

2. Theranostics and Emerging Therapies

Theranostics is a rapidly expanding area and a major reason many trainees pursue nuclear medicine residency.

High-impact questions:

• “What therapies are currently offered here (e.g., I-131, Lu-177–DOTATATE, Lu-177–PSMA, Y-90, others)?”
• “What is the resident’s role in evaluating candidates, consenting patients, performing dosimetry, and managing complications?”
• “Do you anticipate expanding your theranostics program in the next 3–5 years?”
• “Are there faculty with specialized expertise in theranostics who regularly involve residents in clinical trials or protocol development?”

You’re looking for programs that aren’t merely dabbling in therapies but truly integrating residents into this growth area.

3. Integration with Radiology, Oncology, and Cardiology

Nuclear medicine does not exist in isolation.

Useful questions:

• “How is nuclear medicine positioned relative to diagnostic radiology here—separate department, division within radiology, or hybrid setup?”
• “Are there multidisciplinary conferences involving nuclear medicine (tumor boards, cardiology-imaging conferences, endocrine boards)?”
• “Do nuclear medicine residents have the opportunity to work closely with oncologists, surgeons, and cardiologists in decision-making for imaging and therapy?”

Programs that sit at the center of multidisciplinary care offer better exposure, visibility, and future networking.

4. Hybrid Training and Flexibility

Many MD graduates are interested in combining nuclear medicine with radiology or subspecialty training.

Questions to clarify hybrid options:

• “Are there established pathways for residents who want additional diagnostic radiology experience or a hybrid training pathway?”
• “Do any current or recent residents pursue dual board eligibility (where applicable) or additional fellowships in diagnostic radiology, cardiology imaging, or interventional radiology?”
• “How supportive is the program when residents express interest in non-traditional or hybrid career paths?”

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Strategic Questioning: How to Ask and When

Knowing interview questions for them is only half the battle. The way you ask—and when—signals your professionalism and insight.

1. Prioritize and Personalize

You will not have time to ask everything. Before each interview:

• Study the program’s website and materials
• Note what’s already clear versus what’s missing
• Select 5–7 high-priority questions for the PD and 5–7 for residents
• Prepare 1–2 questions tailored to each interviewer's role (e.g., therapy specialist, researcher, department chair)

Avoid asking questions that are easily answered on the website; instead, build on that information:

• Instead of: “Do you have theranostics?”
• Ask: “I saw that your theranostics program offers Lu-177–DOTATATE and Lu-177–PSMA. How are residents involved in those therapies, and do you anticipate further expansion?”

2. Balance Depth With Positivity

You can explore concerns (workload, job market, leadership changes) without sounding negative.

For example:

• “I’m very interested in having a balanced training experience. How does the program ensure that educational time is protected despite clinical demands?”
• “Given the evolving job market for nuclear medicine, how does your program help residents navigate career planning and competitiveness?”

Frame questions around your goal of becoming a strong, well-prepared physician, not fear or anxiety.

3. Ask the Right Person the Right Question

• Program Director / Chair: Vision, curriculum, board performance, career outcomes, resources
• Faculty: Specialty areas, mentorship, teaching style, research opportunities
• Residents/Fellows: Culture, workload, daily routine, hidden challenges, lived reality

For example, “How late do you usually stay?” is best for residents, not the PD. “What is your board pass rate?” is best for leadership.

4. Have One Strong Closing Question

At the end of many faculty interviews, you’ll be asked, “What questions do you have for me?” Having one thoughtful closing question leaves a lasting impression.

Good closing examples:

• “From your perspective, what qualities make a resident particularly successful in this nuclear medicine program?”
• “If I matched here, what would you hope I focus on during my first year to get the most out of the training?”
• “What are you most proud of about this program, and what are you most excited to improve in the next few years?”

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Example Question Lists You Can Adapt

To make this practical, here are consolidated lists you can modify for your own style.

For the Program Director / Leadership

1. “How would you describe the philosophy and long-term vision of your nuclear medicine residency?”
2. “What does your recent ABNM board pass rate look like, and how do you support residents in preparing for the exam?”
3. “Can you give a sense of your annual procedure volume by modality—PET/CT, SPECT/CT, cardiac imaging, and theranostics?”
4. “What formal didactic curriculum do you have in place, and how is protected teaching time maintained?”
5. “How involved are residents in therapy services, including patient selection, dosimetry, and follow-up?”
6. “What are the primary research or innovation strengths of your division, and how can residents get involved?”
7. “Where have your recent graduates gone after residency, and how does the program help residents with career planning and job placement?”
8. “Have there been any recent changes in institutional leadership or hospital structure that might affect nuclear medicine training?”
9. “How do you see the role of nuclear medicine evolving at your institution over the next 5–10 years?”
10. “From your perspective, what qualities distinguish your most successful residents, and how do you look for those qualities in applicants?”

For Residents / Fellows

1. “What does a typical day look like for you on the main nuclear medicine rotation?”
2. “How manageable is the workload, and how often do you find yourself staying significantly past your scheduled end time?”
3. “How is call structured, and what is the call burden like in practice?”
4. “Do you feel you get enough hands-on experience with therapies and complex cases to be ready for independent practice?”
5. “How would you describe the culture among residents—supportive, collaborative, social?”
6. “How approachable are the attendings, and do you feel comfortable asking for help?”
7. “Do you feel the program prepares you well for the ABNM boards?”
8. “What are the biggest strengths of this program? What is one area that still needs improvement?”
9. “How supportive has the program been when residents have had personal or academic challenges?”
10. “Now that you’re here, would you choose this program again, and why or why not?”

Use these as templates and adjust based on what you already know and what you most want to learn.

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FAQs: Questions About Asking Questions

1. Is it possible to ask too many questions during interviews?

Yes. Asking excessively many or overly detailed questions can make you seem anxious or unfocused. Aim for:

• 2–4 strong questions per interviewer
• Prioritized topics that really matter to your training
• Brief, direct phrasing

Quality matters more than quantity.

2. Are there any questions I should avoid asking?

Avoid:

• Questions clearly answered on the website or in pre-interview materials
• Overly personal questions about other residents or faculty
• Salary or financial questions in a confrontational tone (these are usually standardized and available through HR or official channels)
• Negative or hostile formulations (“Why is your board pass rate so low?”) instead of constructive phrasing (“How is the program addressing board performance and exam preparation?”)

3. When is the best time to ask about job prospects and the nuclear medicine market?

It’s appropriate to ask about career outcomes and job support during your PD or chair interview, and again in more personal terms with residents. Be professional and specific:

• “How do you help residents navigate the nuclear medicine job market and identify viable career paths?”
• “Have graduates had difficulty finding positions in the last few years, and how has the program supported them?”

4. How can I remember all the information I get from different programs?

Use a structured note system:

• Create a template with headings: Clinical volume, theranostics, culture, research, board prep, job placement
• After each interview day, spend 10–15 minutes filling it out
• Include direct quotes or specific examples that stood out
• Use your notes to compare programs before you certify your nuclear medicine match rank list

This structured reflection helps you move from impressions to informed decisions.

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Thoughtful, well-researched questions will help you evaluate each nuclear medicine residency program and simultaneously show that you are a serious, engaged MD graduate. Use this guide as a framework, adapt it to your voice, and focus on discovering where you will become the most competent, confident, and fulfilled nuclear medicine physician.