Your clinical work at UC Davis follows a structured schedule that prioritizes focus and prevents burnout. Faculty work Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm, with VRAD providing coverage from 4:00pm to midnight seven days per week. Residents and fellows handle the overnight shift from midnight to 8:00am. This structure eliminates evening and overnight call responsibilities entirely, allowing you to maintain predictable hours and personal commitments outside of work.
The hybrid work model adds flexibility to your week. Depending on clinical needs, you can typically read remotely one to two days each week, and every faculty member has a remote workstation. However, fully remote arrangements are not available because teaching remains a core component of the role. You will need to interact regularly with residents and fellows, maintaining the educational mission that defines academic practice.
Each shift at UC Davis is designed for focused, single-modality reading. Rather than bouncing between CT, MRI, and ultrasound throughout the day, you will concentrate on one modality per shift. This approach improves diagnostic accuracy and reduces cognitive fatigue. Standard shifts include approximately 24 CT studies, 24 MRI studies, or 60 ultrasound examinations. Oncology-focused shifts trend toward the higher end of this range, while outpatient clinic shifts tend toward lower volumes.
For faculty seeking additional flexibility or income, micro shifts and nano shifts are available. Micro shifts include volume expectations of 7 CT, 7 MRI, or 17 ultrasound studies. Nano shifts run just 1-2 hours in duration, offering bite-sized clinical opportunities that fit around other commitments.
Call responsibilities are limited to body imaging only, with no general radiology coverage required. You will share weekend call with your colleagues, always working alongside a resident. The standard contract covers 12 weekend call days per year, roughly one per month. Any additional call days are compensated at $2,500 per shift, providing an opportunity for supplemental income if desired. Moonlighting opportunities through micro and nano shifts offer further flexibility.
Dr. Carney, Vice Chair of Quality and Safety, tracks and addresses any potential QI concerns that arise from the call coverage system, ensuring consistent quality across all shifts.
Your diagnostic work will center on CT, MRI, and ultrasound imaging across multiple subspecialties. The division provides comprehensive imaging for oncology, gynecologic and urologic conditions, gastroenterology, and nephrology. Specific clinical focus areas include liver, pancreas, gallbladder, spleen, and kidney disorders; gynecologic oncology with dedicated MR imaging for reproductive cancers; and specialized MRI for prostate cancer detection and staging.
Collaboration with other departments varies by subspecialty. The relationship with Hepatology is strong, including liver ablations and transplant team coordination. Nuclear Medicine maintains a good working relationship with a strong team. The Oncology partnership represents the biggest area of opportunity, with significant synergies waiting to be developed. As Division Chief, you will have the chance to build this relationship and expand collaborative care.
While not required, procedural work is available for interested faculty. The division performs cross-sectional interventional radiology (CSIR) including CT and ultrasound-guided biopsies. Currently, only 2-3 faculty members perform these procedures, with Dr. McGahan focusing on kidney and thyroid biopsies and Dr. Lamba handling kidney procedures. Advanced obstetric ultrasound for second and third trimester imaging represents an area of particular need going forward.
UC Davis operates on Epic for electronic medical records, providing a familiar and efficient documentation platform. Visage Imaging serves as the PACS system, and PowerScribe handles transcription with AI-powered natural language processing. QGenda manages workforce scheduling.
The department actively incorporates artificial intelligence tools, currently using Rad AI and the Clairity Breast AI platform for mammogram analysis and 5-year risk assessment. Leadership remains interested in exploring additional AI applications and welcomes faculty input on new technologies.
The main imaging center features primarily Siemens equipment, including three 3T CT scanners plus an extremity scanner, and eight GE 1.5T MRI units. Ultrasound capabilities include MRI Clearview at the main campus with additional units at each community hospital location. The crown jewel is the EXPLORER Molecular Imaging Center, home to the world's first total-body PET scanner developed through a partnership with its creators in China.
Research-dedicated MRI systems and advanced PET/CT equipment are available for faculty pursuing clinical research. Multiple imaging sites throughout the region include the main Radiology building, a newly opened Folsom location with 3 MRIs, ultrasound, and CT, the Rocklin Clinic, and contrast coverage at Point West (Kaiser facility).
This clinical environment combines academic rigor with sustainable scheduling, advanced technology, and genuine opportunities for collaborative growth across multiple subspecialties.