Student internship: Eleni Papadimou

Eleni Papadimou is a fourth-year medical student at the European University Cyprus. She completed her CIRSE student internship at the Hospital Universitario Sanitas La Zarzuela in Madrid, Spain.

By Eleni Papadimou

During my third year of medical school, I took part in a student-led conference organized by my university, where I had the opportunity to attend a roundtable dedicated to interventional radiology. The passion with which my senior colleagues presented each case sparked my curiosity about the field, and I began searching for opportunities to gain clinical experience. That’s when I discovered the CIRSE Student Internship Programme. I was surprised by the quick and straightforward application process and truly excited when I matched with Hospital Universitario Sanitas La Zarzuela in Madrid, Spain, for a three-week summer internship.

On my first day in the unit, I received a warm welcome from my supervisor, Dr. Álvarez Luque, who introduced me to the entire team — secretaries, residents, radiologic technologists, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other staff — making me feel like a true member of the staff. Having completed only my preclinical studies, I was not familiar with radiological procedures in a clinical setting, but the team kindly explained everything — from how the radiological machines work to the steps of each intervention and how to approach patients professionally.

With Dr. Álvarez Luque (second from the left) and other members of the IR team.

Over the next three weeks, I had the opportunity to observe and, thanks to my supervisor’s trust and patience, assist in variety of procedures, such as PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) line insertions, chemotherapy port placements, biopsies, varicocele embolizations, and more. Some of the most interesting cases I would like to highlight include the stent insertion for Nutcracker syndrome, a rare vascular anomaly that is often underdiagnosed. I feel privileged to have observed such a therapeutic approach, typically reserved only for symptomatic cases. Another unique experience for me as a medical student was observing interventional sialography, a quite rare and delicate diagnostic procedure involving the salivary ducts. I also had the chance to observe a TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) procedure, a complex intervention that clearly demonstrated the high level of technical expertise and planning involved in advanced IR. Lastly, IVC (inferior vena cava) filter placement stood out as an especially valuable experience to witness, particularly considering its reduced frequency in many regions due to evolving clinical guidelines.

Beyond that, I was also given the chance to perform my first ultrasound scan under supervision. All these experiences made the internship very rewarding and memorable.

Observing and assisting in IR procedures.

What I realized through this internship is that IR is a rapidly growing field of medicine, often requiring interdisciplinary collaboration as it addresses conditions across nearly every organ system. Moreover, since many IR procedures are performed with the patient under moderate sedation, empathetic listening and clear communication are essential during patient rounds and consultations, not only to ensure informed consent but also to build trust and alleviate patients’ anxiety.

I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to CIRSE for facilitating this experience, to Dr. González-Huebra for accepting my application, to my supervisor Dr. Álvarez Luque, and of course to the entire IR team I had the pleasure of working with for their warm welcome, generosity, and guidance.

As a final note, I highly encourage all medical students to apply for the CIRSE Student Internship Programme, whether or not they plan to pursue a career in IR or another interventional subspecialty. I can confidently say that it offers an outstanding opportunity for experiential learning in an accessible and truly inspiring field.

Snapshots of interesting cases.