Facilities
Bridgeport Hospital
The Radiology Department is a fully digitalized department equipped with 32 and 16-slice CT scanners as well as a 1.5 Tesla MR scanner. The department includes a modern angiographic suite and a suite for uro-radiologic procedures. The ultrasound unit offers state-of-the-art equipment with a dedicated US unit for ultrasound-guided breast procedures. The nuclear medicine unit offers equipment for isotopic studies, including two gamma cameras with SPECT capabilities. The department is also equipped for digital mammography with 3D tomosynthesis and digital stereotactic breast biopsy systems.
A state-of-the-art radiology information system maintains all orders, results and statistics for the entire department. This information system is interfaced with the entire Yale New Haven Health information system for improved patient care. Images from the PACS system can be viewed in the Radiology Department and in all other related clinical and education areas throughout the hospital.
Bridgeport Hospital Outpatient Radiology - Park Avenue Medical Center
Residents rotate at Park Avenue Medical Center for breast imaging and other core rotations. This outpatient facility located in Trumbull, CT, provides the following advanced diagnostic radiology services:
- Bone Density
- CT
- CT and Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy
- Fluoroscopy
- Interventional Radiology
- Mammography, including 3D
- MRI
- PET/CT
- Ultrasound
- X-ray
Yale New Haven Hospital
Residents rotate at Yale New Haven Hospital for pediatrics, PET/CT, and for mini-fellowships including Neuroradiology, Musculoskeletal, and Body Imaging. Yale New Haven Hospital provides the following advanced diagnostic radiology services:
Clinical Rotations
The residency program provides comprehensive, progressive training across all diagnostic and interventional radiology subspecialties. Our curriculum is structured to build a strong foundation in imaging interpretation, procedural skills, and clinical decision-making, with increasing levels of responsibility and independence throughout residency.
During the first three years, residents rotate through core radiology subspecialties in preparation for the ABR Core Examination. Rotations are distributed throughout training to reinforce knowledge, strengthen diagnostic proficiency, and promote the progressive development of expertise.
Core Rotations at Bridgeport Hospital:
- Breast Imaging: mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, image-guided breast procedures
- Body: radiography, GI/GU fluoroscopy, CT enterography, CT urography, CT cystography and CT virtual colonoscopy
- Chest Imaging: radiography, CT, MRI
- Emergency Radiology and Night Float
- Interventional Radiology: image-guided diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
- MRI: body and musculoskeletal MRI
- Musculoskeletal Imaging: radiography, CT
- Neuroradiology: CT, CTA and MRI of the brain, spine, head and neck
- Nuclear Radiology: functional imaging
- Ultrasound: diagnostic ultrasound
Core Rotations at Off-Site Locations:
- Breast Imaging (Park Avenue Medical Center): mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, image-guided breast procedures
- Cardiac Imaging (Yale New Haven): CT, MRI, nuclear imaging
- Nuclear Radiology (Yale New Haven): PET/CT
- Pediatric (Yale New Haven): radiography, US, CT, MRI
Fourth-Year Mini-Fellowships:
During their final year, residents have the opportunity to pursue 3 months of mini-fellowships in subspecialty areas aligned with their individual interests and career goals. Residents can personalize their curriculum to include informatics or global health research. Residents also have access to additional educational resources, including on-demand fellowship courses through Medality. These experiences allow residents to deepen their expertise, refine advanced imaging skills, and prepare for fellowship training or independent practice.
Emergency Radiology and On-Call Experience:
These rotations expose residents to a broad spectrum of acute and complex cases, strengthening their diagnostic efficiency, clinical judgement, and communication skills. The graduated call structure promotes increased autonomy while maintaining a supportive learning environment and prioritizing patient safety. Attending radiologist supervision and support are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
ER rotations include:
- Weekday Late Shift, 1:00 PM-9:45 PM
- Weekday Night Float: 9:45 PM-8:20 AM
- Weekend Day Call, 9:00 AM-9:00 PM
- Weekend Night Float: 9:00 PM-9:00 AM
Educational Programs and Scholarly Activity
Daily Conferences
Dedicated educational conferences are held daily from 7:30-8:30 am and 12:00-1:00 pm. Led by attending radiologists from Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Hospital, and visiting faculty, these conferences cover all major radiology subspecialties. The curriculum incorporates imaging anatomy, didactics lectures, radiologic-pathologic correlation, and case-based discussions to strengthen diagnostic reasoning and preparation for the ABR Core Examination.
Physics Curriculum
A comprehensive physics curriculum is delivered weekly by the Yale medical physics faculty. The curriculum provides essential training in imaging physics, radiation safety, and the technical principles underlying diagnostic imaging.
Interesting Case Conferences
Interesting case conferences are led by the residents monthly, providing opportunities to present and discuss challenging, unusual, and educational cases encountered during clinical rotations and night float. These interactive sessions promote peer-to-peer learning, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving while reinforcing diagnostic principles.
Tumor Boards and Multidisciplinary Conferences
Residents actively participate alongside attending radiologists in multidisciplinary tumor boards and clinical conferences at Bridgeport Hospital, including Gastrointestinal, Thoracic, Breast, and Gynecologic Oncology. These conferences provide valuable opportunities to understand the role of radiology in multidisciplinary patient care, strengthen communication with referring clinicians, and appreciate how imaging findings influence clinical decision-making and treatment planning.
Peer Learning / Morbidity and Mortality Conferences / Grand Rounds
Residents and attending radiologists participate in peer learning conferences and Grand Rounds sponsored by the Yale Department of Radiology on a quarterly basis. These educational forums encourage thoughtful case review, collaborative discussion, quality improvement, and the sharing of expertise to ensure excellence in patient care.
Educational Resources
Residents receive complimentary access to a comprehensive selection of online educational resources that complement our structured curriculum and support independent learning and enhance preparation for the ABR examinations, including:
- STATdx: A comprehensive diagnostic imaging reference and decision-support resource
- RADPrimer: An interactive, case-based radiology learning platform
- e-Anatomy: A detailed cross-sectional imaging anatomy reference
- Medality: An online platform offering advanced radiology education and subspecialty-focused learning
Residents also have access to our extensive online medical library, including medical journals, textbooks, and on-demand educational materials, at no additional cost.
Research and Scholarly Activity
Our Diagnostic Radiology Residency, in collaboration with the Graduate Medical Education (GME) office, actively encourages resident participation in research and scholarly activities. To promote academic development, Bridgeport Hospital sponsors an annual Science and Education Day, at which residents share their scholarly work with their peers and faculty. To provide more opportunities for educational engagement, the program provides:
- 5 conference days to attend one national radiology meeting during residency
- 3 conference days to attend the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Annual Meeting during the final year of training
- Additional conference days, with Program Director approval, for residents who have a first-author presentation at a professional meeting
Our residents regularly present their scholarly work at national radiology conferences, with recent examples including:
- American College of Radiology (ACR)
- American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS)
- American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER)
- American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR)
- Association of Academic Radiology (AAR)
- Radiological Society of North America (RSNA)
- Society of Abdominal Radiology (SAR)
- Society of Breast Imaging (SBI)
- Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR)
- Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR)
Review a sample of publications in the section in PubMed.
ESIR Pathway
Early Specialization in Interventional Radiology (ESIR) pathway is designed for diagnostic radiology residents who wish to pursue additional training in interventional radiology.
Our program has ACGME approval for 2 ESIR positions per year, with ESIR training beginning in the R2 year and continuing through the R4 year. Residents selected for ESIR must complete additional dedicated IR rotations throughout their residency, including rotations at Yale New Haven Hospital during their R4 year. As required by the ESIR curriculum, residents receive advanced procedural and clinical training with rotations in vascular surgery, medical intensive care unit (MICU), and ultrasound. Successful completion of the ESIR pathway allows the residents to qualify for advanced placement into independent IR residency.
Current Residents
PGY-5
Baarkullah Awan, MD
Jordan Hughes, MD
Mohammad Jalili, MD
Edward G. Walczak, MD
PGY-4
Sina Habibollahi, MD
Firouzeh Heidari, MD
Humberto G. Mendoza, MD
Ismail Tahir, MD
PGY-3
Umair Azhar, MD
Aryan Hemani, MD
Rowa Mohamed, MD
Muhammad Mohid Tahir, MD
PGY-2
Shadi Afyouni, MD
Binaya Dhakal, MD
Tarig Elhakim, MD
Sai Dhanush Reddy Jeggari, MD
Life Outside the Hospital
Our residents enjoy living throughout Fairfield and New Haven Counties, with a variety of housing options and vibrant communities within commuting distance of Bridgeport Hospital. Popular locations include Stamford, Milford, Stratford, Trumbull, Fairfield, Norwalk, and New Haven.
We recognize that residency is not only a time for professional growth but also an opportunity to build lasting friendships and meaningful connections. Our program fosters a supportive, collegial environment where residents develop strong relationships with one another, faculty, and colleagues across other residency programs.
The hospital’s House Staff Council organizes social events throughout the year, including welcome celebrations, holiday parties, ice-skating, bowling, hikes, and summer barbeques. Our radiology residents also enjoy organizing their own gatherings, from happy hours and group dinners to soccer and tennis matches. Each residency elects a Social Chair to help coordinate activities and strengthen camaraderie within the program.
Beyond the hospital and the city of Bridgeport, Fairfield County offers a wonderful array of activities with scenic beaches, hiking and biking trails, state parks, museums, and restaurants. Residents enjoy convenient access to New York City and New Haven via Metro-North Railroad, while weekend New England destinations such as Boston, Berkshires, Catskills, Adirondacks, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and skiing.
Our program wants to provide a supportive environment for residents and their families. We believe that the friendships and professional relationships developed during residency are among the most meaningful aspects of training and often last well beyond graduation.
Beyond Residency
Graduate Fellowships (2021-2027)
2027
Baarkullah Awan, MD, Musculoskeletal Imaging, University of California, San Francisco
Jordan Hughes, MD, Neuroradiology, Yale University
Mohammad Jalili, MD Interventional Radiology, Yale University
Edward G. Walczak, MD Breast Imaging, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
2026
Gaurav Cheraya, MD, Musculoskeletal Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
Anisa Chowdhary, MD, Neuroradiology, Yale University
Anish Neupane, MD, Neuroradiology, Yale University
Ismail Yardimcioglu, MD, Neuroradiology, University of Chicago Medical Center
2025
Namita Bhagat, MD, Neuroradiology, Yale University
Rachana Borkar, MD, Neuroradiology, Yale University
Hagar Mahmoud, MD, Abdominal Imaging, University of Pennsylvania
Ahmed Ragab, MD, Musculoskeletal Imaging, Johns Hopkins University
2024
Ashwin Deshmukh MD, Interventional Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis
Rasha Ismail MD, Breast Imaging, Yale University
Gaurav Parmar MD, Interventional Radiology, Yale University
Aishwariya Vegunta MD, MRI, University of Wisconsin-Madison
2023
Anas Bamashmos MD, Musculoskeletal Imaging, New York University
Ashkan Heshmatzadeh Behzadi MD, Interventional Radiology, University of Minnesota
Kareem Elfatairy MD, Abdominal Imaging and Interventions, Beth Israel Deaconess
Ayah Megahed MD, Interventional Radiology, Oregon Health and Science University
2022
Mohamed Elbanan MD, Abdominal Imaging, University of Pennsylvania
Megha Kureti MD, Neuroradiology, Yale University
Mohammed Osman MD, Musculoskeletal Imaging, Virginia Commonwealth University
Amir Rahsepar MD, Cardiothoracic Imaging, University of California, Los Angeles
2021
Muhammad Umer Afzaal MD, Abdominal Imaging, Johns Hopkins University
Gunjan Garg MD, Abdominal Imaging, Yale University
Rahul Hegde MD, Emergency Radiology, Yale University
Harpreet Sawhney MD, Neuroradiology, University of Texas Houston
Application Requirements
Our Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). We have 4 ACGME-approved PGY2 positions in Diagnostic Radiology per year.
To process your application, we require the following materials to be submitted to ERAS by Dec. 1.
- ERAS Common Application
- Curriculum Vitae
- Dean's Letter
- Minimum of 3 Letters of Recommendation (at least one Radiology and one Clinical)
- Personal Statement
- Photograph
- Official Medical School Transcripts
- USMLE Transcripts or COMLEX Transcripts
- USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 Scores
- Additional Requirements for International Medical Graduates:
- A minimum of 6 months of clinical or research experience in the U.S. or Canada. Observerships without direct clinical or research responsibility do not meet these criteria.
- Visa Eligibility and Sponsorship: For applicants who are not U.S. Citizens or Green Card holders, Bridgeport Hospital sponsors both J-1 and currently active H-1B visas. Please note, we will not be able to sponsor new H-1B visa applications at this time.
- Passed USMLE Step 1 & Step 2 on the first attempt.
- Highly Recommend USMLE Step 3 if visa-holder.
- Fluent in spoken and written English.
- Eligible for ECFMG certification.
Invitations for interviews will be sent by email in November. Interviews are typically held in December and January.
Successful completion of an ACGME-approved PGY1 medical, surgical, or transitional internship will be required prior to appointment to a PGY2 position in our Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program.
If you are interested in applying to the Bridgeport Hospital's Internal Medicine Preliminary Internship, you must submit a separate ERAS application to Internal Medicine Preliminary with the NRMP code of 1079140P1. Please note that the application review process and interviews for the preliminary internship will be conducted separately by the program director of Internal Medicine, Dr. Kaltrina Sedaliu, Yale New Haven Health | Internal Medicine.
