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SPRING CME CONFERENCE

Practical Radiology 

Thank you to everyone who attended this year's conference in Clearwater, FL.

Please check back for details on our 2026 Spring CME Conference.

To get free CME and for CME updates, visit and subscribe at https://cme.vrad.com/

 

 

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Join us in Clearwater, Florida for the 11th Annual Practical Radiology CME conference. This year's conference offers an engaging and diverse lineup of radiology CME courses can be readily applied to everyday practice, encompassing critical diagnoses of pediatric and adult emergency radiology. Major topics include thoracic, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, and traumatic pathologies. 

Can’t join us in Clearwater? With our virtual option you can still experience the best this conference has to offer, without leaving your home.
 

PRICING

In-Person: $880

 

Live Stream Registration: $500

Online participants can access recorded sessions anytime, allowing them to complete CME credits at their own pace over the next year.

Residents - FREE (see below)

Are you a veteran or current military service member or a resident? Email education@vrad.com for your discount code.
 
 
 
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"This was the best radiology conference

I’ve ever attended in my career. Great content, great people."

- 2024 Conference Attendee

 

2025 Conference Speakers

 

Benjamin W. Strong, MD
Chief Medical Officer, vRad
Dr. Strong joined vRad as a teleradiologist in July 2004, and served as a medical director within vRad’s practice from October 2005 to October 2012. Dr. Strong is board certified in both radiology and internal medicine. Prior to joining vRad, Dr. Strong worked as an emergency room physician for the IHS, as a private practice radiologist for Inland Imaging in Spokane, WA, and as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiology for the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center.
Summer Kaplan, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Clinical Radiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Dr. Kaplan is a pediatric radiologist in the Department of Radiology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She completed her residency at Temple University Hospital and her fellowship of Pediatric Radiology at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Since 2014, she has been a member of the Society for Pediatric Radiology, serving on multiple committees. 
Manickam Kumaravel, MD
Professor of Radiology, McGovern Medical School

Dr. Kurmaravel is currently a professor in the
Department of Diagnostic & Interventional Imaging at McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston. He has also served as Chief of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Professor of Orthopedics, and team radiologist for the NFL Texans.

Ashish Khandelwal, MBBS, MD
Professor of Radiology, Mayo Clinic​
Dr. Khandelwal has completed extensive fellowship training across multiple subspecialties. In 2016, he trained in Emergency Radiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, following a 2015 fellowship in Cancer Imaging at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In 2014, he focused on Thoracic Imaging and Intervention at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, preceded by a 2013 fellowship in Cardiovascular Imaging at the same institution. In 2012, he completed a fellowship in Abdominal Imaging in the Department of Medical Imaging.
Vincent Mellnick, MD
Professor, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University School of Medicine
Dr. Mellnick is a Professor within the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University School of Medicine. He serves as the abdominal imaging section chief, as well as the co-director of emergency radiology. He is a fellow of the Society of Abdominal Radiology. Dr Mellnick’s research interests focus on imaging of acute abdominal conditions.
David L. Smith, MD
Professor of Clinical Radiology/ Co-Director of Musculoskeletal Research, LSU Health
Dr. Smith graduated from Wake Forest University's Radiology residency program (2009) and from the MRI fellowship at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans (2010). He practices, teaches, and lectures in Cardiothoracic, Abdominopelvic, and Musculoskeletal subspecialties. He is a member of several professional and academic societies and committees and has lectured nationally and internationally on a range of topics in Radiology, including his area of special interest, Interstitial Lung Disease. Dr. Smith is the Director of Medical Student Education in Radiology at LSU Health New Orleans and teaches medical students, Radiology residents and fellows, and residents and fellows from a number of other specialties daily. 
Glenn Hoots, MD
Program Director Integrated and Independent IR/DR
Dr. Hoots serves as an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida Morsani School of Medicine and as Director of Interventional Radiology at Tampa General Hospital, where he also contributes as Co-Director for the Cardiovascular Center, Pulmonary Embolism Response Team, and Endocarditis Team. Additionally, he holds the position of Vice Chief in the Department of Radiology at Tampa General Hospital.
Samir Shah, MD MMM FACR
Chief Medical Officer at Qure.ai
Dr. Samir S. Shah, a highly accomplished radiologist with 20 plus years of experience in practice, serves as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at Qure.ai. In this role, he not only assists the company's product development, clinical research and U.S. expansion but also guides the team with his extensive expertise in teleradiology and healthcare management.

 

"Really outstanding lectures. It is challenging to strike the right balance between providing a satisfying learning experience with in-depth expertise on a subject, while also tying it into daily clinical practice. But these speakers nailed it."

- 2024 Conference Attendee

CME at the Beach = Afternoons Free!

2025 Tentative Agenda - Sequence of lectures may change

For our 2025 Practical Radiology conference you can plan on a schedule with afternoons free! Leaving you plenty of time to enjoy all that beautiful Clearwater Beach has to offer. 

 

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Breakfast

8:45 AM – 9:00 AM

Welcome

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM

The upper gastrointestinal tract can be oft-overlooked site of disease in the emergency department patient, but is frequently be the site of pathology, including inflammation/infection, ischemia, obstruction, perforation, and hemorrhage. This talk will discuss common (and some uncommon) conditions causing these presentations in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, with emphasis on CT findings.

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

This talk will focus on common (and less common) causes of small bowel wall thickening, obstruction, and hemorrhage. The talk emphasizes the need to examine the bowel wall, contour, and contents in conjunction with clinical history in order to provide an appropriate differential diagnosis and better aid our referring clinicians.

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM

Break/ Q&A

10:45 AM – 11:15 AM

11:15 AM – 11:45 AM

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

This talk will focus complications following the most common bariatric surgeries in my practice: Gastric sleeve, gastric band, and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The commonly encountered complications include perforation, hemorrhage, and obstruction. Knowledge of the surgical techniques and complications in both the perioperative period and long-term is crucial for radiologists.

12:15 PM - 1:15 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM - 1:45 PM

This course describes soft tissue lesions in children. We will focus on ultrasound features of these lesions and when additional imaging is needed. Using a case-based approach, we will review common soft tissue lesions in pediatrics.

1:45 PM - 2:15 PM

Volvulus may affect the stomach, small bowel and colon, with differing presentations and patient populations. However, each of these conditions has risk for complications, particularly ischemia. Recognizing these entities and being aware of their mimics and impact on management are the focus of this lecture.

2:15 PM - 2:45 PM

This course describes imaging of abdominal emergencies in children. We will focus on “do not miss” diagnoses. Using a case-based approach, we will review common abdominal emergencies in pediatrics.

2:45 PM - 3:15 PM

The colon is a common site of pathology which may cause presentation to the emergency department. This includes inflammation, infection, ischemia, obstruction, perforation, and hemorrhage. This talk will discuss common (and some uncommon) conditions causing these presentations in the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, with emphasis on CT findings.

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Breakfast

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

This course describes fractures of the upper and lower extremities that are unique to children. We discuss how pediatric fractures are different from adult fractures. Using a case-based approach, we review common fractures in children.

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Break/ Q&A

10:15 AM - 10:45 AM

This course focuses on the subtle radiographic signs associated with shoulder trauma, which are crucial for accurate diagnosis and understanding of stability and long-term risks. By incorporating cross-sectional imaging, participants will gain a deeper insight into the specifics of the injuries, management strategies, and the information surgeons require for effective treatment planning.

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM

11:15 AM - 11:45 AM

This course covers essential aspects of ankle and hindfoot trauma imaging, focusing on soft tissue anatomy and subtle injury patterns. By integrating CT and MRI insights, participants will improve their ability to diagnose complex injuries and avoid common pitfalls, making this training clinically relevant for effective ER treatment protocols.

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM

Lunch

12:45 PM - 1:00 PM

First Read Initiative

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Breakfast

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Interstitial Lung Abnormalities: What we should say about these important incidental findings

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

This course will allow you to recognize intracranial hemorrhage and infarcts in neonates, identify common neonatal chest pathologies on x-ray and list features of abnormal neonatal bowel gas patterns.

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

Break/ Q&A

10:15 AM - 10:45 AM

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM

This course explores the role of imaging in diagnosing and managing musculoskeletal infections, covering musculoskeletal pathologies. Participants will learn to identify critical infection patterns, understand when to consult the clinical team, and use imaging for effective problem-solving and monitoring. The focus on life-threatening and complex infections makes this course vital for timely, accurate management in clinical practice.

11:15 AM - 11:45 AM

This course covers the essentials of hip anatomy, injury pathophysiology, and imaging strategies to diagnose hip and peri-hip pain accurately. Participants will learn to avoid common diagnostic pitfalls and understand the clinical significance of different presentations, enhancing both initial diagnosis and follow-up care with a strong clinical focus.

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM

Lunch

12:45 PM - 1:15 PM

1:15 PM - 1:45 PM

1:45 PM - 2:15 PM

2:15 PM - 2:30 PM

Closing

 

Conference Objectives

  1. Identify imaging approaches to allow prompt assessment of the injured or ill patient.
  2. Develop and utilize a systematic approach to the assessment of traumatic and non-traumatic injuries, from head to toe.
  3. Identify pertinent aspects of nighttime and emergency radiology.
  4. Understand the latest imaging technologies to deliver continuous, high-quality care in emergency radiology.

 

 

 

"Excellent, focused review of topics and cases related to emergency imaging - whether a trainee, new emergency radiologist or seasoned radiologist looking for a refresher. The didactic approach balanced with actual cases and image review is perfect."

- 2023 Conference Attendee

Venue Information 

Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa

301 S Gulfview Blvd, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

 

To take advantage of the group rate at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa, book your room here. This room block closes February 12, 2025.

 

 Visit hotel website for more information →

Nearest Airport

 

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Quick Facts
  • The Clearwater Hyatt features two-room suites, most with full kitchenettes—perfect for families and groups.
  • Located on one of Florida’s most popular beaches.
  • Walking distance to the iconic Pier 60 Boardwalk.
  • Onsite rentals for bikes, boogie boards, sandcastle kits, and more.

 

2025 Sponsors

Learn about our commitment to safety, the community, our policies, and more. Following CDC guidance and requirements set forth by the State of Nevada, masks are required for all guests and employees in all inside public spaces, regardless of vaccination status.

BARCO_cmyk_primarylogo_redRedrick-logo-with-slogan_CMYK[50]

 

For sponsorship opportunities in 2025, please visit our sponsor page >>


 

Cancellations and Refunds:

  • Conference registration canceled on or before Wednesday, Feburary 5, 2025, is refundable in full, less an administrative fee. 
  • Conference registration canceled on or after Thursday, February 6, 2025, will not be refunded.  
  • All conference registration cancelation and refund requests must be submitted to education@vrad.com.
  • In the event an attendee must cancel due to a COVID-19-related circumstances within two weeks of the event, please email education@vrad.com.

Questions? Need Help?

Contact us at education@vrad.com.



 

 

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Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Minnesota Medical Association and vRad. The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

 

CME Statement

The Minnesota Medical Association designates this hybrid activity for a maximum of 15.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.